So He got into a
boat, crossed over, and came to His own city Capernaum. Immediately many gathered
together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.
Now
it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and
teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee,
Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
Then
behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring
in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring
him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down
with his bed through the tiling
into the midst before Jesus.
When
Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven
you.”
And
some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why
does this Man speak blasphemies
like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
But
immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within
themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your
hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed
and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to
forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your
bed, and go to your house.”
Immediately
he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that
all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
A
Little Background
When
Jesus had been rejected in His own hometown of Nazareth, he went to Capernaum where he
established his base of ministry. After healing Peter’s mother-in-law, and then
the late-night healing ministry, He told the disciples that He would go to
other towns to preach the kingdom and to minister, for that was the purpose of
His coming. He spent some time traveling around to various villages, and then
He returned back to the house in Capernaum where He had been staying.
Some
Explanation
Pharisees and
teachers of the law...
We often see the scribes and Pharisees together. The highly educated scribes copied
the Scriptures and taught them. The Pharisees interpreted the law. They made
quite a tag team that dogged Jesus since He had gained their attention at the cleansing
of the temple at the time of the Passover. From that point on, they were
scrutinizing Him and looking for ways to discredit His teachings. Jesus did not
hide from them, but openly confronted them.
Reading
the gospels in harmony allows us a fuller understanding of the context of
Jesus’ message. At His birth the angels had declared Him to be “Christ the
Lord” (Luke 2:11), that is the anointed One, Messiah. John was sent to prepare
the people for the Promised One (Luke 1:15-17). Andrew, Philip and Nathanael
had all identified Him. (John 1:41-49) He revealed Himself to the outcast woman
at the well (John 4:25, 26). Jesus never denied who He was, but He did not declare
it openly because the Jews only saw Messiah’s role as kingly deliverer.
But
these Jewish leaders would not accept the totality of Jesus’ identity as
Messiah. They refused to see the Messiah also as the suffering servant of Isaiah
53. Jesus would be the suffering servant in order to fulfill the prophecy of
the Promised One in Genesis 3:15. Because Satan has power over us through the
tool of sin that keeps us bound to him, Jesus must be our Savior first and
foremost. Jesus would be put to death (a “strike on the heel”), but because His
blood sacrifice fulfilled God’s righteous requirement for atonement, He would
rise again bruising or crushing Satan’s head.
Why does this Man speak blasphemies...? The Jews recognized that Jesus
was declaring His deity (godhood) by forgiving the man’s sin. He also demonstrated
His deity by His omniscient knowledge of the Jews’ inward thoughts.
Son of Man... Jesus identified Himself as
Messiah by using the title “Son of Man” (a direct reference to Daniel 7:13-14)
and the title He used most for Himself.
The
final proof of His deity and His claim of authority to forgive sins is the
miracle itself—the paralyzed man stood up and walked. In a culture dominated by the law, the
common understanding of the source of all disease and affliction was sin. We
will see later that Jesus counters this belief. However, in this case, it is
implied that the man’s paralysis was indeed the result of some sin. Perhaps he
had been injured in some foolish or sinful behavior. Jesus had not yet atoned
for sin; therefore, it is this man’s particular act that caused his paralysis
that Jesus is granting him forgiveness for. The Jews understood Jesus’ action
correctly. He had no power give the man forgiveness unless He was indeed God.
Observations
and Insights
My
attention is captured by the dedication of the men who bring their friend to Jesus.
It took
determination, resourcefulness, perseverance, and a willingness even to
destroy property—to break into the roof. Jesus
saw their action as faith.
Staying within the context of the passage is key here to rightly divide (teach correctly)[2] the truth of this text. The context is Jesus identity as Messiah demonstrated by His ability for forgive sins. Though it is not stated explicitly, we know that the essence of Jesus’ teaching was repentance and faith in the Gospel (Mark 1:15). I believe that the man was under conviction of whatever had caused his malady. This is the nature of the man’s faith and that of his friends. The healing was Jesus response to their faith in Him as God in flesh.
Staying within the context of the passage is key here to rightly divide (teach correctly)[2] the truth of this text. The context is Jesus identity as Messiah demonstrated by His ability for forgive sins. Though it is not stated explicitly, we know that the essence of Jesus’ teaching was repentance and faith in the Gospel (Mark 1:15). I believe that the man was under conviction of whatever had caused his malady. This is the nature of the man’s faith and that of his friends. The healing was Jesus response to their faith in Him as God in flesh.
I realize
I have a Messiah problem. I confess I identify
with the Jews. I want a Jesus who fixes my problems, heals all my ailments, and
comes through when I summon His help. I easily forget that Jesus, the Messiah who
saved me from sin, continues to sanctify me. He sets me apart to Himself. By
the Holy Spirit, He shows me my sin and draws me to confess it[3],
lay it down[4],
and rise again.[5]
He calls me to know Him, the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of
His suffering. It is then that I can “...press
toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”[6]
Notice: the prize here is not whatever miracle I may be looking for. The
prize is the upward call of God in Christ (Messiah in all the fullness of its
meaning)—that is Jesus.
I
pray for each of us today to know the Lord in a fuller, richer way as we read
and study His Word together. May the Shepherd Himself be your prize.
[1]
Note:
Much of the Harmony readings will be pieced together like a puzzle putting the
four Gospels together into one narrative. I am copying the order or format from
A Simplified Harmony of the Gospels,
George W. Wright, Holman Bible Publishers, 2001. However, I am using the New
King James rather than the HCSB. This order is from the research of Wright and
is open to discussion. Of course, you can also read the passages side by side
separately if you prefer.
[2]
2
Timothy 2:15
[3]
1
John 1:9
[4]
Hebrews
12:1
[5]
James
4:10
[6]
Philippians
3:10-14
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