Authority to Forgive Sins. Mark 2:6-12.
Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, “Rise, take up your bed and walk?’”But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he said to the paralytic -“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Dear New Israel,
Jesus seems to have deliberately provoked the dispute with the scribes because it would occasion an important lesson for everyone.
Criticism (vv. 6-7). The scribes were the people who studied and taught the Law. They correctly understood that only God could forgive sins, yet here was Jesus granting absolution! Their conclusion, which they did not voice publicly, was that Jesus was blaspheming. Blasphemy generally is to speak evil against God. But to make oneself God or make such a claim was the worst possible blasphemy.
Challenge (vv. 8-10). The scribes were dealing with someone of a kind they had never imagined before. They did not voice their criticism of Jesus, but he perceived it anyway and challenged them. The question Jesus poses must have intrigued the scribes, because the option of declaring one’s sins forgiven was not available to them. Clearly, Jesus wanted them to think about the issue and before they could come to a conclusion, he offered to prove to them that he had the authority to forgive sins, in essence, that he was exactly what they thought impossible – God.
Confirmation (vv. 11-12). Jesus commanded the paralytic to rise, pick up his bed and go home. He was clearly stating that if he could do that, and the power to do it was from God, then God approved his claim to authority to forgive sins. No one expected a miracle of that magnitude from any quarter other than God. If God enabled the miracle despite Jesus’ claim that he could forgive sins, then God must agree. The marvel at the miracle seems to have overshadowed the controversy, at least for the moment. The crowd went praising God, not caring about the dispute. The scribes were so keen on the letter of the law that they failed to see the wonderful things that were happening. But the crowd did and gave glory to God.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.