Mark Explained Part 1 | Who Jesus IsSample

Day 3 | Mark 2 | Proof

Hello everyone. Welcome back to our journey through Mark’s gospel. Chapter 2 today, which starts with one of my favorite Bible stories. But first think about this one.

Jesus made some kind of claims. Big claims. Big enough to get him in trouble - big enough to get him killed. See this is the challenge for any who might try to take Jesus as a great philosopher or teacher or healer or revolutionary or whatever you might say. Jesus claimed to be much more. We’ll see that as we read on. But the thing is - a claim is just words. Anyone can claim to be anything. How do you prove it? More to the point - how did Jesus prove it?

The story in chapter 2 begins with Jesus in a town called Capernaum. The people of the small town heard that Jesus was there - and the crowd showed up. In verse 2:

"They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them" (Mark 2:2).

Before I move on, notice that. Jesus preached the word. Remember chapter 1. There were lots of miracles - lots of excited people - but Jesus said that He came to preach! That doesn’t mean the miracles didn’t matter. Remember, they were called signs. Follow the signs. 

And though Jesus was there to preach, there was a man who desperately needed a miracle. Verse 3:

"Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, 'Son, your sins are forgiven'" (Mark 2:3-5).

Time out. Do not miss the gravity of the statement that Jesus just made. Rewind the tape there. “Son, your sins are forgiven.” That’s not even what the man came for. No one said anything about forgiveness. The man is paralyzed. Clearly his friends brought him to be healed!

But no matter how pressing the need - no matter what you’re going through - there is no issue in life as big as sin and forgiveness. 

And Jesus just says it, “Your sins are forgiven.” Now watch what happens. Verse 6"

"Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 'Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?'" (Mark 2:6-7).

Now the teachers of the law were religious leaders, responsible for maintaining God’s truth. Unfortunately, we’re going to find out soon that they were rather self-righteous and judgmental - the kind of religious people we don’t like. But at this point, understand that the teachers are doing their job. 

Who can forgive sins but God? To claim to forgive someone’s sins was to claim to be God. That’s blasphemy. And no one argued with that logic - not even Jesus. What did Jesus do? Verse 8:

"Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? (Mark 2:8-9).

I love this question. You gotta think about this one. Which one is easier to say?

“Your sins are forgiven.” It’s easy to say - because no one can tell if it worked. But it’s much harder to do! Only God can forgive sin!

But say, “Get up, take your mat - and walk.” Now there - there is a real challenge. It’s easier to do of course. Well, not easy, but nowhere near as big as forgiving sins. But to say it out loud - to a paralyzed man - was to put it all on the line. Everyone’s watching. A few seconds and everyone will know if you’re the real deal. 

So in verse 10:

"'But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.' So he said to the man, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.' He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!'" (Mark 2:10-12).

Now that is how Jesus throws it down. Which one was harder to say? Get up and walk, of course. But Jesus says both. Why? Because he wanted them all to know something. He wants us to know something about the Son of Man. That name is an important Old Testament name for the Messiah. Jesus uses the name Son of Man to remind them that the Messiah had to be human. 

But he wants them to know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins - something only God can do. So he does it. He says the harder one, “Get up and walk.” But he does it as a sign. Remember - follow the signs to where they are pointing. And this one is pointing very overtly at who Jesus is - and specifically, to His authority. And there’s that word again. Authority: power with the right to exercise it. Jesus has the authority to forgive sin. 

A side note here for you who have trouble forgiving yourself. If you say, “I know God forgives me, but I can’t forgive myself.” Remember that sin is not yours to forgive. You don’t have that authority - only God does. And if Jesus calls you forgiven, because He paid the price. It is done. Your place is to accept the truth. 

And take note of why this man was forgiven. Jesus “saw their faith.” Forgiveness comes by faith in Jesus. Your part is faith. 

Also take note that after the miracles many stubborn hearts still refuse to believe. Understand that miracles don’t produce faith, but faith produces miracles.

Well, that about does it for me. I’ll see you back here for chapter 3.

Join us next time as we continue the journey one chapter at a time. And remember, faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word.