More than he bargained for
April 4, 2008
Mark 2:1-12 This is one of those stories that I have become so familiar with since childhood that I’ve never really thought about what it means. This morning as I read, I was struck by the extraordinary grace of our Lord. Jesus gives the paralytic so much more than he bargained for.
The man wanted to be healed. He probably thought one of two things, either that was all he could ask of Jesus, or his infirmity was his biggest problem. Jesus, though, gives the man what he really needs, “Your sins are forgiven.” Sure, physical healing would have transformed the man’s life on earth, but to say your sins are forgiven means now that man has hope infinitely beyond his earthly life. And, to show that he has the power to forgive sins, Jesus heals the man.
So, what if the Scribes hadn’t been sitting there thinking, “He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus says, “…that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…I say to you rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” The text seems to imply that His main reason for healing the man physically was not that the man asked, but that others might see and believe. Hmmm… so forgiveness of sins, leading to eternal enjoyment of God (beginning here on earth and never ending but only increasing) is the gift of Christ to the paralytic. Even if he hadn’t been healed, would it really have mattered?
