The Paralytic Gets Forgiveness

Introduction

This morning is our last teaching in our Easter Series called “The Last Words of Christ”. You might wonder why we would continue our Easter Series after Resurrection Sunday last week, and part of the reason is that I don’t want us to think that we ever put the celebration of Jesus resurrection behind us.

Everything that we believe as Christians hinges on the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. All or hope in this life and the next is wrapped up in the fact that Jesus rose from the grave and appeared in His resurrected body to hundreds of witnesses. So even though our series has been called, “The Last Words of Christ” - the words that Jesus spoke on the cross were not the last word.

He spoke even louder with His resurrection so that we continue to say, “Christ is risen!” He is risen indeed.

And we began this series with the very last words Jesus spoke on the cross and today we will finish that reversal by looking at the first recorded words that He said while he suffered and died for us. Luke records them in chapter 23 verse 34 where it says:

Luke 23:34 (ESV)

34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

And just like the rest of the teachings in this series, these last words of Jesus were not new ideas presented to us just in the last moments of his life here on earth. They were also taught by Him in his life. One man especially understood how the forgiveness of our sin is so deeply involved with other aspects of our life. Here is a picture of his story.

VIDEO: The Paralytic

Tension

Maybe you remember hearing this Bible story. This story is often told with an emphasis on the loyalty of the friends who loved this man enough to dig through a roof to lower him down to Jesus. These loyal friends had no doubt heard that this rabbi, this Jesus of Nazareth had been healing all kinds of people so they were convinced that He could heal their friend too.

What they didn’t yet realize was that Jesus was more than that. That He came to be and to do so much more than they had initially realized. So on His way to meeting the very real physical need of this man, Jesus addressed a more pressing spiritual need.

Which I believe begs the question for each one of us, Why do we go to Jesus?

Is it primarily to ask Him to intervene in some aspect of our daily struggle in this physical world?

Or do we go to Jesus just when our spiritual condition needs attention, like when we need our sins forgiven?

May I humbly suggest that we should come to Jesus for both of these things and that there is great danger when we allow either one of these aspects of our lives to completely eclipse out the other.

That is what we are going to look at today, so to start with if you wanna open your Bibles with me to Mark chapter 2, page 837 in the Bibles in the chairs and we will first look at this former paralytic man’s story to see how his miracle was...

“...a miracle that doesn’t just change me, that changes the world.”

Let’s stop and pray and then we will dive into these things together.

Truth

We find this story in all three of the synoptic Gospels but we are going to follow it from the Gospel of Mark chapter 2 beginning in verse 1 where we read...

Mark 2:1–12 (ESV)

1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.

So this was during the famous season of Jesus’ ministry. The strength of his words in teaching and power of his miracles made the news about Him spread like wild fire. So when the new broke that Jesus was in town, the house he was in became greatly crowded because Jesus was there.

3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.

Now I am looking to focus us on a big picture principle this morning, but that doesn’t mean that I am downplaying the significance of these friends and the love that they clearly had for this man. The story shows them doing so much for their friend and to be that dedicated is admirable.

And Jesus does recognize this group of friends, but not exactly for their love. Verse 5 says

5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

This was a response to “their” faith - not the faith of the paralytic alone - and of course it would have brought questions to everyone in the room at this moment. It was obvious that the man was brought there to be healed physically, but Jesus addresses the spiritual need first.

This is one of only two times in the Gospels that we hear Jesus declaring someone’s sins have been forgiven. Both times it was in a very public setting where religious leaders were a part of the crowd. So verse 6 says...

6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

I love how Mark shows us that these religious leaders got it both horribly wrong and exactly right at the same time. They were right to recognize that it is “God alone” who can forgive sins, but they were wrong to condemn Jesus for blasphemy.

Because that was exactly Jesus’ point, by forgiving this man’s sin, He was saying that He was God...but since these men were not speaking it out loud, Jesus had to verbalize it for them.

8 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? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?

What an incredible set up, or really what a pointed opportunity for these religious leaders to see exactly what they were missing. They knew only God could forgive sins, but here Jesus is doing it. But they also knew that God doesn’t heal though people who blasphemed His holy name.

So they were backed into a corner and Jesus shows them the only way out...

10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 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!”

It is a powerful story, but let me propose Jesus’ question to us today.

Which IS truly easier? To say, “Your sins are forgiven” or to say “Rise, take up your bed and walk’”? Well at face value neither one is easier than the other because talk is cheap…but what about the “doing”?

How would you be able to judge if someone actually had the authority to forgive sins? You can say the words, but who is to say that it actually happened? But to claim to have the power to tell a paralytic to walk? The evidence for that is immediately available…and the man got up and walked.

Notice how Jesus connected something deeply spiritual, the forgiveness of sins, to something deeply physical, the ability to walk. Jesus healed all kinds of people, but this time it was about more than just helping someone with a physical challenge. It was about showing them that Jesus power to heal was just the beginning. This drew the people in... so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

And it is certain that the man on the mat never forgot what happened to him that day either. He got up and went on his way because Jesus spoke healing words over his paralyzed condition, but also over his eternal condition. he authority and power of Jesus changed that man's body but it also changed his life. How could he ever forget the other words Jesus spoke to him? "Your sins are forgiven."

Fast forward from this miraculous moment of healing and forgiveness to a final scene in Jesus' life. On that Friday morning outside the city gates of Jerusalem the festival of Passover was approaching so there would have been crowds of people in this scene as well.

Passover was such a significant Jewish holiday that every Jewish person was expected to attend, so it is feasible to believe that this formerly paralyzed man could have been a part of the passing crowds.

Imagine what would have been going through his mind if he happened to be passing by when the same man who changed his life hung there on a cross along the road to the great city.

We read of this from Luke 23,

Luke 23:33–34 (ESV)

And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Can you imagine what it might have been like for this man, the one Jesus healed, if he was one of the people who stood by watching this unfold? What he would have been thinking as he heard Jesus say those words recorded in verse 34?

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34

But that would not have been the only connection that he could have made between this event and his first encounter with Jesus. For the religious rulers were a significant part of these events as well. But they went from inner thoughts of blasphemy that day to public words of contempt today...

35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”

Do you hear what they are saying? Over and over again Jesus demonstrated to the world that He was more than just a good teacher, more than just a miracle worker. People were beginning to believe, so these religious leaders are here trying to tear that all down with their jeers and mockery. That is what we can see was happening in the physical world.

But I believe that there was more happening in the spiritual world. I believe that our enemy the devil was doing his evil best to try and tempt Jesus to use his power and authority to end the torture and pain. To use the same power that healed the broken body of the paralytic to heal his own broken body in that agonizing moment.

But Jesus had already asked the Father for another way, the night before, and the answer was clear. There was no other way. Even after that, when Peter tried to find another way - the way of force when he drew his sword and attacked the guards Jesus intervened.

Matthew 26:52–54 (ESV)

52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

If Jesus had taken the bait, responded to the jeers, showed his power once again to lessen his physical pain then it would have not purchased us the salvation that it did.

When it comes to our salvation, the physical and spiritual are not “independent” of one another, but rather inter-dependent on one another.

Listen to this parable Jesus spoke in Matthew 25:31-46. It is known as the parable of the sheep and the goats and I am going to just read it to you and not ask the operator to try and figure out where we are since it is long and much of the text is repeated. So listen to Jesus as He says...

Matthew 25:31–46 (ESV)

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

And one of things that is worth noticing is how both the sheep and goats had the same response? Did you catch that? Neither one of them ever remember seeing Jesus in need let along choosing to not help him. And it doesn’t say that they never helped anyone in any of these ways…maybe they did these things for some other people…but somehow they did not do these things for Him.

In both cases, the positive and negative, Jesus says that what you do for the “least of these my brothers” is what you have done for me. And again there is a body in view here, but this time it is the body of Christ. Not that charity and benevolence outside of the body of the Christ can be neglected, but there is something to how Christians treat the body of Christ that shows that they have a saving faith.

In other words, there is a spiritual drive among born again Christians to be active in meeting the physical needs of those in the body of Christ.

The physical and spiritual go hand in hand and neither one should eclipse the other but work interdependent on one another.

Maybe nowhere is this more profound seen than in the bodily resurrection of Jesus. That word “bodily” is an important distinction for Christians. It was not the spirit of Jesus, nor just the idea or teachings of Jesus that was resurrected after three days. It was Him in his physical body.

And the Bible shows us how Jesus went to great lengths to make sure that the disciples understood the importance of this. Near the end of the Gospel of Luke it says...

Luke 24:36–43 (ESV)

36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.

38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

Yes the resurrection was a deeply spiritual act, but it also had a physical outcome. Jesus appeared before them in a body, a flesh and bones body. The resurrection of Jesus is not just about the lasting power of the thoughts, feelings and ideas of Jesus - it is about having a new body! And the disciples just couldn’t believe it.

41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.

Can you picture the scene? It is almost comical! All these disciples are standing there with their jaws wide open and Jesus is like, “Hey you guys got anything to eat?”

This simple act was a powerful demonstration of a spiritual reality manifesting itself in physical ways. Jesus was just as physically alive as you and I are - even more so because He had his perfected body. The body that three days earlier had every sin hung on it as it hung on the cross was now not effected at all by the corruption and deterioration of our sinful world.

For those who are “In Christ”, this is our hope! This is our destiny. That our spiritual condition of being right with God through faith in Jesus will result in receiving new physical bodies that are no longer ravished by the penalty, power or presence of sin in our world. Because .

The Penalty of sin was paid for by the death of Jesus

The Power of sin was conquered by the resurrection of Jesus

And when Jesus returns, He will take us all away from even the Presence of sin and bring us home in our new physical bodies.

Application

And I took this opportunity today to emphasize the importance of the interdependent relationship between our physical and spiritual lives when it comes to the resurrection because…It is easy to get off track on this in either direction.

To start considering the things of the physical world as somehow unimportant in light of the “higher” spiritual things or to become so consumed with the physical things that we ignore essential spiritual things.

And this has always been a problem in the Christian Church. I have taught you before about the how the early Church fathers fought against this idea in something that eventually was called “Gnosticism”.

The term Gnosticism was based on the Greek word “gnosis” which means “special knowledge” and along with the Greek influences of the first century some early Christians unwisely began to think that to pursue the deeply spiritual things of Jesus meant that we should ignore or “rise above” the physical parts of our world. They would show their commitment to Spiritual transcendence by either neglecting their physical bodies till they were drooping skin on bones or involving their bodies in all kinds of immoral practices to prove that their physical body didn’t really matter.

But the body God gave us does matter. Jesus was clear on that.

And when I say it like that, some of you are already beginning to see how this idea is coming at us in our world today. It is no longer called Gnosticism, but it is the same worldview just framed in a modern way.

This is the worldview that teaches that the physical body you were given doesn’t matter, all that matters is what you know, feel and believe on the inside. And to be clear...the feelings, thoughts and ideas that come into our minds are not wrong in and of themselves - but how we act them does have moral implications. Because when you take a stance that says that the body you were created in is completely irrelevant to who you are...then you are buying into a worldview that is in direct opposition to the Christian worldview. It is modern Gnosticism and the Bible condemns it straight out.

In the public square right now, we are being bombarded with messaging around this worldview in topics like transgenderism, gender confusion, LGBTQ rights and even the abortion debate is wrapped up in this with bio-ethecist now see how they can no longer reason that a human embryo is not human - so they say it is human, but it is not yet a person.

And these are just some of the conflicting worldviews that come about when we under value the physical body. And of course the pendulum can swing the other way as well. We may not want to get too fired up here over other peoples struggles because there is just as much danger in putting too much emphasis on the physical body to the neglect of who we are spiritually.

And we will talk more on this in the Table Talk Groups following the Service.

Landing

What a topic Jesus opens up for us when he asked,

Mark 2:9 (ESV)

9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?

But what a message he sent while dying for us on on the cross he said,

Luke 23:34 (ESV)

34 ...“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”...

Let me invite the worship team up, I’ll pray and we will praise God in body and spirit for the forgiveness He has so richly given us.