Mark 2:1-12 (NASB)
1When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 8Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? 10“But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 12And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
The immediacy with which the paralytic is seen taking up his mat underscores the authority and power of Jesus Christ. The question of the scribes, “who can forgive sins but God alone?” (V. 7) indicates the leaders’ inability to see Christ as coming from God. Yet, Jesus answers their inquiry with a question of his own, “Which is easier?” (V. 9). The question Christ poses rests in the power and authority which he embodies; for the words of the scribes are true, who but God can do such a thing? Yet, when Christ acts, he addresses their question by showing them that the healing of the body and the soul both rest in God, and are both his to command (v. 11).
How much of your life do you place under the authority of Jesus Christ? Do you allow the truth of his power and authority to be your truth? Do you accept the fact that, “Son, your sins are forgiven,” and you can “pick up [my] pallet and walk?” These are his promises for you, and in Him you must trust. — Pastor Mark