Jesus Heals The Paralyzed Man

Mark 2:1–12
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

Jesus chose Capernaum as the headquarters of His Galilean ministry. This was a commercial city on the main road of traffic between Egypt and Damascus. We find Jesus back in this city in a crowded house preaching the Word. Four men came carrying their paralyzed friend on a stretcher. They could not get to Jesus because of the crowd so they went up on the roof, made a hole and let the man down through the hole to Jesus’ feet. When Jesus saw their faith He healed the man. In seeking to bring their friend to Jesus, we notice:

1. The determination of the four.  - (v.  3) “And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.”
2. The difficulties they faced. - (v. 3b) “......bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.” In a very real sense, these four men were willing to bear the physical burden of their friend in order to get him to the One who could help him.
3. The deliverance they fostered. - Jesus said, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee” (v. 5). As usual there were some scribes sitting there “reasoning in their hearts” (v. 6), “Who can forgive sins but God only?” (v. 7) Jesus knew that they resented His implication that He could forgive sins. They were actually right in their theology that God alone can forgive sin, but wrong in their deduction that Jesus was an imposter and not the Son of God.

Their hostile response reveals three things:

1. They admit that Jesus can do something they are unable to do - forgive sins.
2. That blasphemy is a serious charge - whoever blasphemes the Name must be put to death (Lev. 24:16).
3. Jesus knows hidden thoughts even as God does - prophets are said to perceive all things in their spirits (Lk. 7:39).

Application

___ I need to ask the question: Who am I the most like?  

___ The paralyzed man  

___ The crowd

___ His friends  

___ The religious leaders