“Now after some days, when he returned to Capernaum, the news spread that he was at home. So many gathered that there was no longer any room, not even by the door, and he preached the word to them. Some people came bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. When they were not able to bring him in because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus. Then, after tearing it out, they lowered the stretcher the paralytic was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”—Mark 2:1-5
The world of infirmities was given access to mankind with the fall–when Satan welcomed Adam and Eve into his sinful domain. Satan–being the culprit–taking captive the one made in God’s own image. Death came into the world, as did every sickness, every dysfunction, every distorted perspective, every broken relationship, and every physically and emotionally crippling frailty. All became a reality for mankind when sin made its mark on the scene. From our original parents on, every human has been born captive, held bound by a sinful nature. Praise Jesus, who came to set the captive free! Our Lord disarmed the powers and authorities of this dark world. He made a public spectacle of them–triumphing over them by the cross–proclaiming freedom for the captive.
When the Son sets you free, you are free indeed! Satan may destroy the body, but he can never destroy the soul, and you can take that to the bank. We are to bring Jesus our hurts and our sorrows and watch for the sunrise of the resurrection. Paul tells us:
“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.” —Galatians 5:1
In our verses for today, the crowds had gathered, so much so that the door was blocked by bodies. Isn’t it interesting that Mark tells us that Jesus did not begin by healing, but by preaching the Word. Surely there were other infirmed present, those seeking the comfort of Jesus’ healing touch, but He begins by bringing them the Word. Earlier in Mark Jesus had said that He came to preach–ever teaching the truth:
“He replied, “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.” —Mark 1:38
Prior to the Sermon on the Mount (found in Matthew)–surrounded by every kind of human ailment and need–our Lord chose to do the same thing. He took time to teach his disciples.
“So a report about him spread throughout Syria. People brought to him all who suffered with various illnesses and afflictions, those who had seizures, paralytics, and those possessed by demons, and he healed them. And large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan River. When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them.” —Matthew 4:24-5:2
We must sit at Jesus’ feet–soaking in His Words–before we are ready to do His work.
As we continue to reflect on the verses today, we see that in the midst of His teaching–right above His head–a mat of suffering slowly begins to descend through the roof. A paralyzed man was lowered by his four compassionate friends of faith for Jesus to look upon and heal. They knew Jesus was mighty to save–mighty to save from sin, mighty to save from despair, mighty to save from sorrow, mighty to save from disappointment, mighty to save from regret, mighty to save from self-castigation, and mighty to save from the blinding tears against fateful circumstances. Jesus is mighty to save! He alone is able to give us peace and the righteousness no matter what our circumstances.
Jesus bypasses the obvious dilemma and goes right to the core of the matter by first healing the condition of this man’s soul. Surely the man was wondering why Jesus missed his immediate problem–it was quite obvious he lacked the ability to walk. Yet Jesus proceeds by going to the man’s most important need. More than likely, unbeknownst even to the paralytic, his need for soul cleansing was greater than his need for legs leaping. Jesus calls the man “Son” and forgives his sins.
Take It to Heart
Jesus constantly spoke the truth in love. He continues to speak to us today through His Word. When we are first filled by and with the Master, we will be equipped to accomplish eternal and profitable things!
Further Reflections
“I was the enemy of God. I was stamping through God’s universe, shaking my fist in His face. And in the very moment when I was shaking my fist in God’s face and tramping through the Creator’s universe, muddying all His streams, that’s when Jesus died for me. And if this is when Jesus died for me, what hope it gives me now! Now, even when I fall, the blood of Jesus is enough. He didn’t save me because I was strong; He saved me when I was weak. He didn’t save me when I was a pretty thing; He saved me when I was a mess. On the basis of this reality, I can have comfort.” —Francis Schaeffer, The Finished Work of Christ
“The end of learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love Him and imitate Him.” —John Milton
“Commend all to God, and then lie still and be at rest in His bosom. Whatever happens, abide steadfast in a determination to cling simply to God … Maintain a holy simplicity of mind, and do not smother yourself with a host of cares, wishes, or longings, under any pretext.” —St. Francis de Sales