The Audacity of Jesus
Early in September, I took on a challenge to read through the gospels starting with the book of Mark. To be honest, Mark has usually been my least favorite of the gospels. It's so short, fast-paced, and seemingly inelegant (to me, at least). I prefer John for its poetic language or Luke for its detail. However, when I reread the book of Mark a few years ago, I started to see this gospel in a different light. We see Jesus through His actions, and we have to decide who He is. The Son of God, as the Roman centurion claims in Mark 15, or just a man?
Mark 2:1-12 (CSB)
When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them. They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Right away Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins” – he told the paralytic – “I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.”
Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
“Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’?” Either is easy to say; neither is easy to perform. The entire Mosaic law was established to remind the Jews of God’s holiness and that only He could forgive their sins and restore them to Himself. And here Jesus is, forgiving a man’s sins. Back in Exodus, God tells the people, “The LORD – the LORD is compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7). The scribes were rightfully outraged. If Jesus were just a man, He would be blaspheming by equating Himself with God.
Jesus does not leave the religious leaders gasping in outrage; instead, He tells the paralytic to get up and walk. Immediately, the man gets up and walks. Now, based on the text, it's hard to say how the scribes reacted. They may have been part of the "everyone" who was "all astounded and gave glory to God,” or they may have continued to be outraged over Jesus’ supposed blasphemy.
After all, it was not until the cross that a human proclaimed Him as the Son of God (Mark 15:39). Peter may have proclaimed Him as Messiah, but a Roman centurion called Jesus the Son of God for the first time. Given that the scene with the paralytic takes place in chapter 2, I am going to assume that it was one of Jesus' early miracles in His ministry. People are in awe of Jesus yet still question His authority.
Jesus’s authority is perhaps the biggest sticking point for people. Where does Jesus get His authority? He does not leave us guessing. He tells the people in Mark 2, “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins” – he told the paralytic – ‘I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home’” (v. 10). Exodus tells us that only God has the power to forgive sins; through this miracle, Jesus is proclaiming His divinity. He has power over life, over nature, over health, and most importantly, over sin. Jesus shows us He is God. Will we gasp at His outrageous claim or give glory to God?
I invite you to journey with me as I explore 4 passages in the book of Mark. You can find the accompanying Reading & Study Guide under the Study Guide tab.
