Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

Meditations of the Gospel of Mark

July 31, 2020

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

“Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man,

“My child, your sins are forgiven.”

Mark 2:5

Mark 2: 1-12

The scene in this healing drama is played out on two levels. The first is simple, and perhaps just a bit facetious. Mark says Jesus was back at his home in Capernaum, which leads me to conclude the house that was packed with visitors was his own home. There he was teaching God’s word when four men tear a hole in his roof and lower a paralyzed man strapped to a mat. Perhaps the sin Jesus is referring to is the sin of destroying his property.

But then the drama takes a turn. The teachers of the religious law who were present objected because only God can forgive sins. Exactly. When Jesus makes the statement, “So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Mark 2:10), his use of this Messianic title makes it clear to all that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth.

My Takeaway: I receive the paralyzed man’s story as an invitation to look deeply within myself. Where does my self-sufficiency end? Where am I lost without God? I also see another invitation. The paralyzed man’s friends took huge risks to help their friend, who could not help himself. Their friendship was love that is self-sacrificing for the good of another. Is there anyone in my life who needs me to love them like that? Am I willing to love like that? Are you?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Copyright © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

• Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

• The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.