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I. The first thing we hear in this passage is that Jesus was considered to be home.

A. His home or was it that he just spent time there more so than other places?

B. Is home perhaps a place where Jesus was expected to return to often?

C. I believe that home is a place where we are welcomed; where we are asked to return to.

This passage is considered to be a healing miracle, but it is so much more. For many of us here our churches are a place of confrontation and conflict. How we deal with conflict is always an important factor in the success of our ministry.

We see that many were gathered for the return of Jesus. I can imagine that his return was rumored long before he actually walked into town. For those of you here who receive this kind of welcome in your churches, don’t you feel like your home? Is this church? Scripture says that he preached the word to them.

(NRSV)

4 And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.

Is this when the miracle begins? Jesus is speaking to the crowd and we could probably conclude that he was bringing the house down (A little humor)Have you ever dreamed that one day you are preaching and it is so impactful that you bring the house down?

(NRSV)

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Notice that scripture implies that this was a joint effort here and it was not just the paralytics faith, but the faith of all concerned that led him to heal the man. People this is Christianity. At my church I often ask them to define what Christianity is. In our Christian lives shouldn’t we be walking definitions of Christian faith?

Then the conflict. (NRSV)

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Did Jesus bring this conflict upon himself? I believe so. As pastor, sometimes we have to bring up difficult things in an attempt to teach. So a possible conflict for you, which is easier healing or forgiving?

In this passage there was no verbal request for healing. The actions of the men digging a hole in the roof was enough. What do you think the impact would have been on those privileged enough to be in that room? Doesn’t this question get answered by the individuals in the room? Are you in that room?“Son, your sins are forgiven.” Jesus knew when he said these words that judgement was coming; he must have seen it in their eyes or felt it in their spirit. Or perhaps because of the following he had he knew the hearts of many were against his teachings.

Perhaps as pastors we do not question these things, healing or forgiving, but I will guess that the world around us, and in our churches do.

If you are the scribe in the room, Jesus’ healing is blasphemy. But the problem for the scribe is that the healing happens before their very eyes. (ESV)

7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

In many ancient miracle accounts, the faith attributed to the petitioner means that the individual recognizes the deity’s ability to grant the request. (The New Interpreter’s Bible) The lack of faith is always attributed to the inability to heal. In other words, if you had enough faith you would be healed. Doesn’t this limit the power of an all powerful God?

Jesus puts it right back on those who he feels are trying to discredit the act of healing. (NRSV)

8 At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?

To the paralytic, what did he hear when Jesus said your sins are forgiven? We all sin so Jesus was not wrong. The healed, most likely are not concerned with why they were crippled but that they are now whole.

In order to go deeper into what is happening in Capernaum we need to understand what had previously happened. In the previous passage Jesus heals a leper. (NRSV)

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

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40 A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Before Jesus leaves Capernaum he is received and honored. People are believing in the message he is preaching. But then the healing of the leper. This perhaps brings more understanding to which is easier to do, Healing or forgiveness. Jesus must make a decision, reach out and touch the leper, which is not acceptable because they were considered unclean.

Jesus’ dilemma is whether to touch and heal the leper or walk away with his ability to teach these people. He later, after touching the leper with compassion, walks away rejected by the establishment. Is this your dilemma? The true joy of this situation is also Jesus’ greatest show of compassion, he chooses to heal despite the loss of many in that city who turned from his teachings.

Mark 2:10–12 ESV

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

Then notice what happens. (NRSV)

Jesus Calls Levi

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13 Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them.