The Ministry of Jesus in Galilee
Mark 1:16—8:30
A New King (1:16—3:6).
Kingdom is Near (1:15)
Popularity (1:16-45).
Conflict (2:1—3:6).
Forgiving and Healing a Paralytic (2:1-12).
Just as one had broken down societal barriers to see Jesus, another breaks down physical barriers to see Him.
Chapter 2 details some pushback Jesus will receive from those in charge.
He has already broken some of the traditions that are criticized later.
He broke a tradition by casting out the demon and healing Peter’s MIL on the Sabbath.
He also touched a leper.
Only now He has caught the attention of those in authority: scribes & Pharisees (2:6; Luke 5:21). They have come to check Him out.
Who were the scribes? The scribes were those tasked with making copies of the Scriptures up to that point. They were very knowledgeable in the Law and so taught it to the people. One could describe them as lawyers, though not as we think of the term. There is a lesson here on how knowledge puffs up (1 Cor. 8:1). Gaining knowledge is a good thing, but we must not neglect love.
Jesus returns to Capernaum (2:1-2).
His popularity had died down a little bit, at least enough for Him to return.
He had been going around Galilee preaching and healing (1:39).
More recently, He had been in more remote places due to His fame (1:45).
“He was in the house” – many believe to be Peter’s house, though there is no definite article there in Greek, “He was in a house.”
It seems likely, though, that He was at Peter’s home again.
Recall, that Peter’s home was modest, but maybe a little larger than most.
Despite His time away, His fame did not die down much at all.
He was still carrying out His purpose: to preach the word!
A paralytic comes, carried by four men (2:3-4).
One commentator believes the paralytic was a child based on the word Jesus uses to address him, “Son,” but more accurately, “Child.” Matthew agrees, but Luke says, “Man,” or more accurately, “Person.”
Whatever the case, they care for this person deeply, enough to not let a little thing like crowds and walls get in the way.
They did not make excuses and were determined to see Jesus.
These people were problem-solvers!
How determined are we? What excuses do we make? For not worshiping, for not studying, for not doing the right thing?
Houses back then had outside stairs to the roof.
Mark says they “uncovered the roof” and “had broken through” – more literally unroofed and scooped/dug it out.
Roofs back then were made of a composition of mortar, tar, ashes, and sand, which is spread upon the roof and rolled hard.
Underneath this mixture were clay tiles which were lifted to let the man down—Luke mentions tiles (Luke 5:19).
These four men led their friend to Jesus. Make friends that will help you when you’re down, that will bring you to Jesus. Be the friend that will help when others are down, leading them to Jesus.
Jesus saw their faith and forgave the sins of the paralytic (2:5-7).
No doubt the paralytic and his friends were expecting to be healed, though this was a nice surprise.
It shocked the scribes as well who rightly stated that only God could forgive sins (Isa. 43:25).
One could argue that Jesus was merely announcing His sins had been forgiven, as Nathan had told David (2 Sam. 12:13).
Later, though, Jesus says He had the power (authority) to forgive sins (2:10).
It was blasphemous to say you could do something only God could do. You were elevating yourself and bringing God down to our level. In that way you were speaking evil of Him—blasphemy.
Forgiveness of sins: Miracle 1.
Jesus heals the paralytic to prove He can forgive sins (2:8-12).
Reading their minds: Miracle 2.
Sure they were surprised that the thoughts of their heart were known to Him, or maybe they thought it was just a good guess—whatever the case, we know He could read their minds.
Which was easier to say? “Your sins are forgiven” or “Arise and walk”?
Both are easy to say, but there is no empirical proof of forgiven sins. If you said the latter, you could easily be labeled a fraud if the healing failed to occur.
This shows the purpose, again, of miracles—to prove the message, and to prove Jesus (16:20; Acts 2:22; Heb. 2:3-4).
Son of Man is first used here in Mark. Perhaps a reference to Dan. 7:13-14, a reference to the Messiah. It highlighted His humanity, while the title Son of God highlighted His divinity. Son of Man was mainly used by Jesus to refer to Himself. Perhaps it was a title that wasn’t clear to them yet so He wouldn’t be accused of further blasphemy.
The people were amazed yet again at what Jesus did, but this time they had the presence of mind to glorify God.
So what do we learn about Jesus here?
He has the power to forgive sins!
And He could prove it through miracles.
