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
Jesus’ pronouncement of the paralytic’s forgiveness is controversial in some hearts. He can’t do that, some think, only God can.
Why not? Jesus asks. Is it easier to forgive the man’s sin or to put life in his legs that he may walk the walk on his own?
Why Jesus calls himself “Son of Man” here is disputed. Some say Jesus is establishing his humanity, bolstering the objection that he had no authority to forgive sin. Others say it refers to the messianic figure in Daniel 7, to whom authority over the earth is given. That might be even more blasphemous to those already troubled.
In response, allow me to paraphrase a scholar I admire: Jesus in the flesh shows how like us Jesus is, experiencing all that paralyzes us. Jesus in his divinity shows how unlike us Jesus is, over which Jesus has been given authority. Our sins are forgiven and we are empowered to walk the walk.
Prayer
Thank you, dear Lord, for turning either/or into both/and. Amen.