THE SON OF MAN'S AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE SIN (Mark 2:1-12)
INTRODUCTION:
It is good to be back with you again, although I appreciate Terry filling in for me on short notice. This morning, we return to the Gospel of Mark. If you remember, before the Easter weekend we finished up chapter one of this book. That chapter ended with the healing of the man with leprosy, and we saw how leprosy was a picture of sin that eats away and disfigures a sinner, a disease for which there is no cure. The only hope for each of us who has the leprosy of sin is to come to the Lord Jesus Christ for healing. That healing takes place as we repent of our sin, recognizing our leprosy and agreeing with God that it is hideous and that we are helpless to do anything about it. But then believing that Jesus Christ can heal us and make us whole and complete in Him. This healing comes through forgiveness which Jesus Christ purchased for us by His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead that proved that God the Father was satisfied with God the Son’s sacrifice for sin. When we repent and believe in the person of Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection on our behalf, He reaches out and touches us and heals us with His forgiveness. This forgiveness of sin is the most important thing that Christianity offers to the world. Only Christianity provides a solution for humanity’s ultimate problem—which simply put is that as sinners we stand guilty before a holy God, who has justly condemned us to eternal hell because of our rebellion and sin. It is important to understand that God does not send people to hell because of sin but because of unforgiven sin. The only difference between those who look forward to eternal life in heaven and those who will experience everlasting punishment in hell is not due to personal goodness, as other religions teach, but is bound up entirely in the word, “forgiveness.” Since Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned…” (Romans 3:23a, NASB95)[1] both eternal destinies are inhabited with people who were sinners in this life. Those who will spend eternity in heaven will do so because of God’s forgiveness and the righteousness of Jesus Christ that is imputed to those who have put their faith in Him. Mankind’s greatest need is the forgiveness of sin. Nothing is more offensive to God’s holiness than sin. Unforgiven sinners will be punished by God’s divine wrath. But God in His mercy, finds glory in offering to all the forgiveness and absolution of sin through faith in His Son and His death and resurrection on our behalf.
As we come into the second chapter of Mark it begins with a message of forgiveness. In chapter one Mark emphasized the divine authority of Jesus Christ in several ways. Jesus preached with authority, we saw His authority and power over sin, Satan, and his demons. We saw His authority as He called men to follow Him, to give up everything and become His disciples. His miracles where authoritative as He showed His power over disease and demons. This morning as we enter chapter two, Mark clearly shows us Jesus Christ’s authority to forgive sin. This truth lies at the heart of this passage. As we open up this historical event it centers on four different characters: the curious spectators, the paralyzed sinner, the compassionate Savior, and the proud scribes. The passage ends by returning to the curious crowd and their reaction at everything they had just witnessed. Let’s pray and then get into this morning’s passage.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles this morning to Mark 2:1-12. Please, if you are able, stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word, and follow along as I read.
Mark 2:1-12,
“When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, ‘Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?’ Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, ‘Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”; or to say, “Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.’ And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this.’ ” (Mark 2:1–12, NASB95)[2]
THE CURIOUS SPECTATORS (Mark 2:1-2)
Remember after Jesus healed the leper, word spread about Him to such an extent that He could no longer enter a town of city openly but had to stay in the unpopulated areas and the crowds were coming out to Him from everywhere. When Mark states that Jesus had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, he is giving a very broad time frame, this phrase could mean weeks or even months, however long Jesus was first preaching in the synagogues and then out in the unpopulated areas. The wording seems to indicate that when Jesus returned to Capernaum, He did so quietly as to not arouse the people. It was not long before it began to circulate through the city that He had returned and was at home. Even though He had come back quietly, when the people learned He was home the curious crowds began to gather. The fact that Mark says Jesus was at home implies that Jesus had decided to make Capernaum His base and to go out from there during His ministry in Galilee. While in Capernaum, it is believed that He stayed at the house of Peter and Andrew.
After the healing of the demon possessed man in the synagogue the last time Jesus was in Capernaum, the residents of the city had gathered at the house of Peter as Jesus healed all the sick who were brought to Him. Again, when the word got out that Jesus was in town, a crowd of curious spectators began to form. The first time Mark said that the whole city had gathered at the door of Peter’s house. This time he writes that many were gathered together, so many that there was no longer room, not even near the door.
This crowd was mainly curious spectators, they had not come to hear Jesus’ message, they had come to see His miracles. There were some genuine followers and true believers, but they were the minority. The crowds for the most part remained indifferent to Jesus’ message, only coming to be fascinated by His miracles. Jesus, however, continued to preach to the crowds that gathered, knowing that the Father would draw out the elect from among them. As this crowd gathered crammed in so tight that there was no longer room, not even near the door, Jesus was speaking the word to them, He was preaching the gospel of the kingdom, calling them to repent and believe in Him.
Luke tells us that this crowd included a number of Pharisees, these men functioned as guardians of Judaism. The name “pharisee” means “separated one,” and this meaning defined the philosophy behind the movement. Those who joined the sect of the Pharisees diligently avoided any interaction with Gentiles, tax collectors, or anyone they regarded as a “sinner.” Even their attitude toward the common Jewish people was one of disdain and condescension. They considered themselves to be the most holy of all Israelites, but their “holiness” was entirely external and superficial. Their “holiness” consisted of following their own man-made rules and regulations—which they had added through the years to the Law of Moses. They were very devoted to keeping the people loyal to both the Old Testament law, and the very complex set of extrabiblical traditions they had developed around the law. They were highly esteemed for their apparent spirituality and loyalty to the Scriptures. We will later see this esteem when they are described as seated, the only ones in this crowd to be sitting, apparently with front row seats. Within the sect of the Pharisees were scribes, these were professional theologians and Old Testament scholars, these were the primary teachers in the synagogues. They were responsible both to copy and preserve the Scriptures as well as interpreting them in order to instruct the people. Not all scribes were Pharisees, there were scribes within the sects of the Sadducees and the Essenes. Most in Jesus day were associated with the Pharisees.
There were a few Pharisees that would come to believe in Jesus, most notably Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, but for the most part this group was opposed to Jesus. The reason they were present when this crowd gathered was not out of curiosity or because they wanted to support Jesus’ ministry or learn from Him. These Pharisees and scribes were here because they saw Jesus as a growing threat. Luke tells us that most of them were not even from Capernaum, but from cities around Galilee, and some even from Jerusalem were there. Their purpose for being there was to hear what Jesus had to say in hopes of finding fault in His message in order to discredit Him and eventually eliminate Him.
THE PARALYZED SINNER (Mark 2:3-4)
After describing this crowd of spectators, Mark moves to describe the coming of a paralyzed man on a stretcher carried by four men. His paralysis made this man completely dependent on others. Because paralysis was not seen as contagious, he was not shunned by society like lepers. But most Jews believed that disease and disability were the immediate consequence of sin and for this reason this man was likely stigmatized by many in the community. This man’s history as recorded here is noteworthy not only because of the undeterred determination shown by him and his friends to get to Jesus, but more importantly because of what Jesus did for this man beyond healing him of paralysis.
Arriving at the house where Jesus was teaching these five were confronted by this impassable throng of people. Mark tells us that the four were unable to get their friend to Jesus because of the crowd. When they realized that they were not going to be able to carry their friend through this crowd they devised an aggressive and extreme plan to get their friend to Jesus. There plan required them to carry their friend up onto the roof of the house.
Jewish homes were typically one story with a flat patio roof accessible by an external staircase, so getting their friend to the roof was not an issue. The typical roof was constructed using large wood beams spanning the roof area from an outer wall to the wall opposite it. Then small pieces of wood in between, this was covered with thatch that consisted of grain, twigs, straw, and mud or clay and it could be about a foot thick and packed down to form a watertight seal. Then tiles would be installed on top of the thatch which allowed for a place to sleep or entertain during the hotter months. These four men caried their friend onto Peter’s roof, determined where Jesus was and removed the tiles and began digging through the thatch, their plan was to make a large enough opening in the roof to lower their friend on his pallet down in front of Jesus.
The plan was a good one, but it must have been terribly disruptive. Jesus was no doubt teaching in the large central room with people pressed around Him, when debris suddenly began falling from the ceiling on the heads of those around Him. Imagine the shock and dismay as this hole in the ceiling grew from a small hole to finally large enough to get a man on a pallet through. Slowly the men lowered the stretcher with the paralyzed man down through the hole. According to the parallel passage in Luke 5:19, the four men had calculated well because their friend came down directly in front of Jesus.
THE COMPASSIONATE SAVIOR (Mark 2:5)
As this man was lowered by his friends in front of Jesus and the stunned people, the reason for this large hole in Peter’s ceiling became obvious—the man had been brought to Jesus to be healed. Every person in the room could see the man’s physical need, but only Jesus saw this man’s greater need, his spiritual need, more than physical healing this man needed forgiveness of sin. Now obviously, the man wanted physical restoration, but Jesus knew that he longed for more than that; Jesus addressed the more serious need first. His words to the paralytic must have been a shock to everyone in the room. Mark writes, “And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ ” (Mark 2:5, NASB95)[3] As shocking as this man’s entrance through the roof had been, Jesus’ statement was even more astonishing.
Sinners, sinful mankind has no greater need than forgiveness. This is the one and only way for reconciliation to God, that reconciliation brings blessing in this life and eternal life in the next. Remember what the angel said to Joseph when he announced to him that Mary was not unfaithful. He said in Matthew 1:21, “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, NASB95)[4] God’s forgiveness by grace alone apart from works is distinctive to the gospel and the Christian faith. It distinguishes the true message of salvation from every false system of self-righteousness and merit-based religion.
Mark wrote that Jesus’ response to this man was due to seeing their faith, not just the faith of this man, but the faith of his friends also. This faith seems to indicate that it was more than just a belief in Jesus’ ability to heal. The forgiveness that Jesus granted to this man indicates a genuine, repentant faith. This man and his friends must have believed that Jesus was the one who offered salvation to those who repent. The paralyzed man knew he was a guilty sinner, that he was spiritually disabled and in need of forgiveness. This man went home that day justified. Through faith in Christ, he received forgiveness. This is true for every sinner who believes. Salvation is received by grace through faith in Christ.
Recognizing this man’s faith and desire for salvation, Jesus compassionately and authoritatively forgave him of his sin. The Greek word that is translated “are forgiven” refers to the idea of sending or driving away. This same idea is seen in Psalm 103:12 where the psalmist writes, “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12, NASB95)[5] Complete pardon was granted to this man by divine grace, this man did nothing and could do nothing due to his paralysis. Jesus obliterated this man’s guilt, and in that very moment this paralyzed man was delivered from a future in everlasting punishment in hell to a future in eternal heaven in the presence of his God and Savior.
THE PROUD SCRIBES (Mark 2:6-11)
Jesus’ declaration of forgiveness was just the thing those proud scribes were looking for to attack Jesus and discredit Him. Mark writes, “But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, ‘Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?’ ” (Mark 2:6–7, NASB95)[6] Their premise that only God can grant full forgiveness of sins, was completely and absolutely correct. The justification of sinners belongs to God alone. God is the Supreme Judge, only he can grant eternal pardon to wicked people. Since every sin is an act of rebellion against God and His law, the right to forgive, as well as the right to condemn, belongs to God alone.
Because of this declaration of forgiveness, Jesus was claiming a level of authority that belongs only to God. Because of this the scribes saw Jesus as a blasphemer. The worst form of blasphemy was when a sinful human being claimed to possess divine authority and equality with God. For a mere mortal to act as if he were God was the most flagrant, grievous offense of all. It was this form of blasphemy that the scribes believed Jesus was committing. Eventually, they would use this same accusation of blasphemy to justify His death.
Jesus responded to their accusation of blasphemy by demonstrating His deity in three important ways. First, He read their minds, Mark writes that immediately Jesus was aware in His spirit that the scribes sitting there were reasoning this in their minds. The fact the Jesus knew these scribes’ thoughts proved His deity, only God is omniscient. These men did not need to say what they were thinking because He already knew what they were thinking.
Second, Jesus did not deny or argue against their basic theological premise, that only God can forgive sins. In fact, He affirmed this to be true. Jesus knew that they were accusing Him of blasphemy, accusing Him of claiming equality with God. That was His whole point. His claim to be able to forgive sins was nothing less than a claim that He was God.
Third, He backed up His claim to be God by demonstrating His supernatural power. Knowing the scribes’ thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’?” (Mark 2:8b–9, NASB95)[7] Jesus was not asking the scribes which is easier to do, since both are beyond human capability. What Jesus was asking is which of these statements is easier to claim as a convincing reality. Without a doubt, it is easier to say that someone’s sins are forgiven since there is no observable way to confirm or deny the reality of that claim. On the other hand, telling a paralyzed man to get up and walk is something that can be immediately tested.
Jesus intentionally did not heal the paralyzed man until after He declared His authority to forgive sins. Remember that disease and disabilities are consequences of living in a fallen world, in other words it is sin and its effects that are the root cause of all sickness and suffering. By healing the paralyzed man, Jesus would demonstrate His power over the effects of sin, thus proving His authority over sin itself. The Lord Jesus as a result performed the undeniable miracle of physical healing so that everyone watching could know that the Son of Man had authority on earth to forgive sins. This is the first use of this title “Son of Man” in Mark’s Gospel. This title was one of Jesus’ favorite titles for Himself. This title is used over 80 times in the Gospels and every case except for two Jesus used it of Himself. It was a messianic title that was first used by the prophet Daniel in identifying the Messiah in Daniel 7:13-14. By using this title Jesus was identifying Himself as the Messiah.
With compassion Jesus again turns His attention to the paralyzed man on the floor in front of Him, and says, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” (Mark 2:11, NASB95)[8] This miracle would be undeniable proof of whether or not Jesus had power over sin and its effects. Even more so, it would prove whether or not He truly had the authority that He claimed to possess. The scribes wanted to accuse Jesus of blasphemy, but blasphemers do not know others’ thoughts before they are spoken, they cannot forgive sins, and they cannot validate their claims by healing people who are paralyzed. By performing this miracle, Jesus proved to all who were there that day that He was not a blasphemer. If He was not a blasphemer, then He was God as He claimed.
THE SPECTATOR’S REACTION (Mark 2:12)
When Jesus told the paralyzed man to get up and to pick up his pallet and go home, He was putting His claim of divine authority and equality with God to the test. Verification came instantly. The man stood up, picked up his pallet and went out in the sight of everyone. When Jesus healed someone, they experienced complete and immediate recovery. No rest and recuperation period were needed, nor were their lingering effects of the disease or disability. For this man it was same. The moments the words left Jesus’ mouth, the man could feel again, and strength came back into every part of his body. He did not need to go to physical therapy for months to relearn how to walk or to rebuild his strength. Jesus had made him whole again and He stood up and picked up His pallet and walked home. The crowd, utterly amazed at what they had just witnessed, parted, and let him pass. The parallel passage in Luke 5 tells us that this former paralytic went home glorifying God. He glorified God for the healing of his body, but more importantly, he glorified God for the forgiveness of his sins.
The crowd who witnessed what had taken place responded with surprise and astonishment, unlike the scribes and Pharisees who continued to reject Jesus in spite of the undeniable signs that He performed. Their desire to trap Him and get rid of Him blinded their eyes to who He truly was. Mark writes concerning those who witnessed what took place by writing, “…they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this.’ ” (Mark 2:12b, NASB95)[9] They could not believe what their eyes had seen, and their ears had heard, and they responded by glorifying God.
Remember that most of this crowd were just thrill seekers, and this response was a further demonstration of their superficial faith. They had seen more than they had hoped. In the parallel passage in Matthew 9 verse 8 says, “But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.” (Matthew 9:8, NASB95)[10] Even though the crowd was awestruck and glorified God, they still viewed Jesus as a mere man to whom God had granted authority. Many remain unconvinced of Jesus’ deity even with this unparalleled demonstration of God’s power and authority seen in the miracle. They were witnesses to His miracles and were awestruck by them, but they still refused to believe that He was God.
CONCLUSION:
The miracles of Jesus were signs validating His claim that He possessed divine authority to forgive sinners. The Lord Jesus Christ not only had the power to forgive sinners, but He is the One who made forgiveness possible as He became the perfect and final sacrifice for sin. The words that Jesus spoke to that paralyzed man more that 2000 years ago are the same words He speaks today to all who come to Him in repentance and faith. He says, “your sins are forgiven.” Christianity offers this world what no other religion can offer, the forgiveness of sins. Jesus Christ made that forgiveness possible through His death on the cross. He offers this forgiveness to all who are willing to repent of their sin and believe in His person and His death and resurrection on our behalf. Mike read to us from Isaiah 55 this morning and I want to repeat the first two verses that He read in closing this morning. Isaiah 55:6-7, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6–7, NASB95)[11]
[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[11]New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.