Mark 2:10
But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
Pieces of the roof began to flake away almost in a methodical fashion. Gentler than the winds of a storm, and more intent that the furious blast of a gale, the roof lost its secure fix, and a gapping whole appeared. Whimsically, faces appeared looking down through the whole. All under the roof fell victim to their innocent invasion of privacy as they sought help.
The details of this story color the pages in our minds of one of the most illustrated encounters with the miraculous power of Jesus. A lame man needed help. And the crowd pressed in to hear Jesus preach, so to the point that no one could enter the home. Therefore, the ingenuity of the friends of the paralytic tore back the roof and lowered the lame man down right in front of Jesus. When our Lord saw the faith of the friends, He exclaimed to the one paralyzed, “my son, your sins are forgiven.” There are two amazing realities presents in this one statement.
Jesus said, “my son,” to one who had not yet known Jesus. But, O how Jesus knew him. And Jesus had compassion on Him. The simple address, “my son,” describes how Jesus reached out to him and initiated not simply a physical healing, but brought him in as one forgiven and claimed as God’s own.
Jesus spoke to the paralytic these words, “your sins are forgiven.” Mark’s Gospel intensified this story with words intended to be surprising and even shocking. The man, once identified with a fallen world of sin, in this instance became one forgiven and cleansed. Certainly, the religious leadership of Jewish law became offended, and simply thought to themselves, “this is blasphemous.” Jesus, knowing their thoughts, responded, “which is easier to say, ‘your sins are forgiven’, or ‘take up your bed and walk’?” What a phenomenal inquiry that could only come from the One with all authority. And, Jesus left this question to their human reasoning: of course, it is easier to say sins are forgiven, for no immediate outward proof would be required for such a private transaction of the soul. Nevertheless, in one simple statement Jesus countered the questions of the religious leaders, brought spiritual renewal to a lame man, and restored His physical health. That one simple statement! “Get up, take you bed and walk home” (Mark 2:11). I love that Jesus sent the healed man home. This represents that the healing was not a spur of the moment phenomenon for only the benefit of the immediate audience. This miracle was intended to totally change this lame man’s way of life. And O how he walked home that day literally changed from the inside out.
But, if you think that Jesus’ miracle was primarily the healing of the lame man, you have missed the essence of Jesus’ nature. For, the greater miracle that day represents the greatest miracle of all – the internal regeneration of the soul through the forgiveness of sin. Sins forgiven! This is the miracle of rebirth.
How numb has your own heart become to this miraculous reality: the forgiveness of sins. This has happened to you! If you have trusted Jesus, your sins are forgiven. This is not a token representation of the Christian life – this is the miracle of all miracles. And, it has happened to you. You too walk as one with whom all things have been made new. This is your identity: forgiven.
Your forgiveness defines everything about you. You have been made brand new. Take up your mat and walk. Your mat of guilt. Your mat of self-loathing. Your mat of regrets. You mat of being victim. Your mat of being discarded. Your mat of shame. You mat of being the object of someone’s hate. Take it up. Take up that mat, for it no longer holds you down. Take it up as a sign that you no longer live by the identity of your mat, for it no longer defines you. Walk on, you who are redeemed. For this is who you truly are as a child of God. Forgiven. FORGIVEN. THIS IS YOU!
Blessings.
READ
Read Mark 2:1-12 and rejoice with the one who carried his mat and walked.
