February
20, 2000
Mark
2:1-12
(CEV)
Jesus went back to Capernaum, and a few days later people heard
that he was a t home. Then so many of them came to the house that
there wasn't even standing room left in front of the door.
Jesus was still teaching when four people came up, carrying a
crippled man on a mat. But because of the crowd, they could not
get him to Jesus. So they made a hole in the roof above him and
let the man down in front of everyone.
When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the crippled
man, "My friend, your sins are forgiven."
Some of the teachers of the Law of Moses were sitting there. They
started wondering, "Why would he say such a thing? He must
think he is God! Only God can forgive sins."
Right away, Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said, "Why
are you thinking such things? Is it easier for me to tell this
crippled man that his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get
up and pick up his mat and go on home? I will show you that the
Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth."
So Jesus said to the man, "Get up! Pick up your mat and go
on home."
The man got right up. He picked up his mat and went out while
everyone watched in amazement. They praised God and said, "We
have never seen anything like this!"
=======
1.
First
to the friends. Note that this story indicates that the healing
faith was held by the friends of the paralytic. Jesus doesn't
speak directly to them. Yet, Jesus notes their faith and goes
on to speak to the paralytic. The question for us is the simple
one - who has held the faith for you? and for whom do you hold
the faith? To know this is enough. It gives us strength and purpose.
It is good to be held and to hold in the faith. Long may you be
found in this sort of community of mutual support.
2.
Next
to the paralytic. We might speculate that through his long infirmity
the man had asked why God was punishing him. He probably doubted
that for him there would be a miracle. Did he at least consent
to being brought and dropped through the roof? Would it make a
difference if he did or did not consent? It is good to know that
we don't always have to whomp up some certain amount of faith.
Sins can be forgiven whether we are ready for that or not.
3.
Finally
to the Pharisees. One commentary indicates, "...the simple
people did not know how scandalous [Jesus'] words were. They did
not have enough religious formation to realize immediately that
only God could give absolution. It was the Pharisees and the teachers
of the Law who were scandalized. Their indignation is justified
because neither they, nor the others, nor the disciples yet understand
that Jesus is the true Son of God. Jesus silences them: If I restore
health in the same way God does why would I not forgive also in
the way God does?"
Doctrines or a spelling out
of the parameters of faith are always tentative. They can speak
about where the Spirit has blown but are not all that helpful
in discerning where the Spirit will next blow. What are the current
doctrines of the church which are holding back forgiveness?