(Continuing a study of Mark, Friday afternoons, as part of Bridges at Sam...)
After preaching in the cities of Galilee, Jesus returns to Capernaum, the home of his disciples.
Mark 2:1-5, Faithful friends raise a roof
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
One of my favorite stories! As Jesus moves around, crowds follow him. The home (as suggested by William Barclay) was probably quite open and the crowd would have flowed in and prevented any path to Jesus. But the roof was probably a place to sit in hot weather and designed to support people.
After preaching in the cities of Galilee, Jesus returns to Capernaum, the home of his disciples.
Mark 2:1-5, Faithful friends raise a roof
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
One of my favorite stories! As Jesus moves around, crowds follow him. The home (as suggested by William Barclay) was probably quite open and the crowd would have flowed in and prevented any path to Jesus. But the roof was probably a place to sit in hot weather and designed to support people.
Why did Jesus first offer to forgive? Why did he do it in that order, forgiveness (when not asked) before healing (which was the obvious request)?
Mark 2:6-12, The Sabbath interferes
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...."
He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."
He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Don't miss the sadness in the pharisaic legalism. To the religious leaders, rules trump everything.
Imagine the reaction of the religious teachers when the man gets up!
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