Mark 2:1-12 (NRSV)
Read Mark 2:1-12 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 2When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. Verse 2So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Verse 3Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Verse 4And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. Verse 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Verse 6Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, Verse 7"Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Verse 8At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Verse 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'? Verse 10But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -he said to the paralytic- Verse 11"I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home." Verse 12And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Devotion
It’s a vivid beginning, easy to see on the big screen of our imaginations – a large crowd milling, leaning and stretching to see and hear.
A group brings a paralyzed man to see Jesus. Finding him surrounded they improvise, tearing through the roof and lowering him to Jesus. Such audacity. Such a need for Jesus’ compassion. Great was their love for the man and their determination to bring him to Jesus. They must have believed he could do something for him. When Jesus sees their faith, he immediately proclaims the forgiveness of the paralytic’s sin.
Christian tradition makes much of the role of parents and sponsors at infant and child baptisms. Out of love for the youngster, they vow to raise the baptized in the faith. Their faith will hold and nurture the faith of the little one until the child can walk the walk on its own. Is that not like the paralytic’s friends and family?
Prayer
Dear Christ, bless all those whose faith has carried us into your forgiving presence. Amen.