Jesus The God Who Forgives

Introduction

We are continuing working our way through the gospel of Mark.

We will hit the highlights of the book between now and Easter.

In December we saw that Mark skipped a birth narrative, but began with the Baptism of Jesus and the start of His Ministry.

Jesus began His very public ministry in the city of Capernaum.

He entered the town and immediately began to preach about the Kingdom of God.

In that chapter, Jesus also demonstrated His great power.

He cast out demons and healed diseases of every sort.

He left that area and went into Galilee preaching, healing and casting out demons.

The preaching tour is over and Jesus and His men return to Capernaum.

This town was an important place in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus.

Capernaum served as the northern headquarters for His ministry.

It was here that He put His great healing power on public display.

It was here that He preached in power.

It was here, in Capernaum, that Jesus Christ made His very public claims to be the Messiah.

But, Capernaum had a problem!

This city valued the miracles more than the message or the Messiah.

They wanted the spectacular and they rejected our Lord’s offer of salvation.

Let’s read Mark 2:1-12 and see what happened when He returned “home”.

Mark 2:1–12 CSB

1 When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them. 3 They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 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. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: 7 “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 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? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he told the paralytic— 11 “I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.” 12 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!”

People Need To Hear Jesus’ Teaching Verses 1-2

Once the people of the town heard that Jesus was back in town, many gathered to hear Him speak.

So many gathered at the house that there was no room, even the doorway was jammed.

Crowds form audiences to hear Him teach and are the object of His compassion.

Yet, Mark never describes crowds turning to Jesus in repentance and belief.

Now the house He was in was probably Peter’s home.

Like most homes in the area, roofs were accessible by outside stone staircases, were typically flat, supported by beams resting on the exterior walls of the house.

The beams were cross-hatched by smaller poles and sticks, which were covered with thatch, which in turn was covered with a surface of mud.

That’s the physical setting.

Remember the people there want another miracle, but instead Jesus gives them preaching.

He preached “the message”— the word (Gk logos)— to them (2: 2).

This involved proclaiming the Scriptures (our Old Testament) and continuing His call to repent and believe the gospel in light of the coming kingdom of God (cf. 1: 14-15,22,38-39).

“More than any other expression in early Christianity, ‘the word’ defines the essence of Jesus’ ministry” (Edwards, Mark, 75).

As ones who have received His gracious ministry, we need to hear His preaching too.

Preaching was central to the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus.

And, the same should be true for the church!

I love good singing and moving music;

I love hearing testimonies of what God is doing in your life

I love special services;

But nothing can take the place of preaching the Word of God!

Preaching, not just what I do but you to can preach or share God’s word because it is God’s chosen method for reaching into the hearts of the lost with the Gospel of grace, Rom. 10:13–15; 1 Cor. 1:21.

Nothing should ever be allowed to crowd out the message!

We should pray that our church will stay focused on the message.

The primary business of this church is not to fill our pews or our bank accounts.

Our primary business is the proclamation of our Lord’s message.

That is what we are to be about!

That is our business and it is to be our only business!

People Need To Experience His Forgiveness Verses 3-5

Now, right in the middle of Jesus teaching the people in the crowded house, four men bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus.

Obviously, they believed Jesus could heal their friend.

However, because of the crow they could not get in to see Jesus.

So they went with Plan B.

They carried him to the roof and began to dig through mud, thatch and whatever else was in the way.

Can you imagine the scene in the house?

As Jesus preaches, the sound of digging is heard overhead.

After a short time, dirt and wood begin to fall on the crowd assembled below.

Then, blue sky breaks through the darkness and a man is lowered into the room.

Now, I wonder what Peter is thinking.

He probably didn’t like the thought of seeing His house torn up.

He may have wondered if his homeowners insurance would cover the costs of repair.

But, Peter couldn’t stop it!

The same crowd that kept the four men and the paralyzed man out of the house kept Peter in the house!

I wonder what Jesus thought.

I imagine there is a smile on His face as He realizes what is happening.

I am sure that He is amused by the whole thing.

I wonder what the crowd thought.

Surely, this had never happened in a worship service before!

They were no doubt amazed at what was taking place.

Jesus saw “their” faith, probably referring to all five men, but at the very least encompassing the four friends.

In either case our Lord clearly was impressed, and He honored their faith by pouring out mercy on the paralyzed man.

He simply said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Here’s a paralyzed man seeing Jesus thinking he was going to be healed and walk, but he is forgiven.

Imagine that!

The greatest need in your life right now is not a physical need!

It doesn’t matter what you are facing, your greatest need has always been and will always be, spiritual!

Only Jesus can help you there.

Let’s look at what Jesus said to this man for a moment.

Jesus said “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”

That man didn’t realize the full impact of what Jesus was saying to him, but those were the greatest words he had ever heard!

Son—The word translated “son” is the same word that is often translated “child”.

It is a word that conveys the idea of tenderness.

When Jesus spoke to this man He spoke to Him tenderly and He spoke to him as a son.

This is a word that speaks of family!

That is what happens when a lost sinner meets the Master.

We become a child of God.

Forgiven—This word implies that the man’s guilt, shame and sin has been taken away!

The first word brought him into the family; the second brought him into fellowship!

It is sin, in all of its ugliness and horror that stands between the sinner and God, Isa. 59:2.

But, when a lost person comes to Jesus for salvation, all their sins are instantly and eternally forgiven, Psa. 103:12; 1 John 1:7.

They are brought into perfect fellowship with the Heavenly Father!

Jesus can forgive our sin, erase our past and do away with our guilt and take us into His family.

People Need To See Jesus For Who He Truly Is Verses 5-11

Now among the crowd were some scribes or teachers of the law, the experts in the “Bible”.

We aren’t surprised by the reaction of the scribes, the religious leaders of Israel.

Upon hearing Jesus forgive the man’s sin, they immediately accuse Him of blasphemy, the very charge they will use to get Him crucified (14: 64-65).

To their credit they at least understood the significance of Jesus’ actions here.

They recognized that the proclamation of forgiveness was not a passing comment but a declaration of deity: “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

This was a serious charge with serious consequences.

They understood Jesus’ words to be dishonoring and disrespectful to God.

Blasphemy was a grave offense, punishable by death from stoning (Lev 24: 15-16).

Jesus’ words are indeed blasphemous— unless He is in fact God!

Who is this guy claiming to forgive sins?

The scribes were correct: only God can forgive sins!

That is exactly and precisely what Jesus was asserting, and He will prove it momentarily by healing this man.

In Jewish thinking even the Messiah could not forgive sins!

God and God alone has that authority and right.

Those first-century Jews knew exactly what was going on: if He can forgive sins, then Jesus is God.

Jesus immediately knew what they were thinking (another evidence of deity: omniscience).

He immediately confronts them with two direct questions (vv. 8-9).

“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, pick up your mat, and walk’?”

Jesus knew, as did they, it is one thing to say it; it is something else to prove it.

Jesus Is the Son of Man (Mark 2: 10-11)

Jesus introduces us to a specific title that will become His favorite self-designation.

He refers to Himself as “the Son of Man.”

The title is found 81 times in the Gospels.

Why did Jesus use this term so often, and what did He mean by it?

Why did He not more often use the term “Christ” or “Messiah” or even “Son of God,” since that is truly who He is?

A look at the way the term is used can help answer those questions.

Sometimes Jesus shows Himself to be the Son of Man who is serving (2: 10; 2: 28).

At other times Jesus is the Son of Man who is suffering (8: 31; 9: 9,12; 10: 33,45; 14: 21,41).

Finally, Jesus is the Son of Man who is coming in glory (8: 38; 13: 26; 14: 62).

The title occurs more often after Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ and Jesus begins to teach clearly about His own death (8: 29).

In the Old Testament the term is used in several different ways.

One is that it simply means “human being.”

However, in Daniel it refers to the One who will come to establish God’s kingdom.

Jesus uses the title to refer to Himself with both connotations.

As God incarnate, He is a human being who identifies with sinful humanity as He serves and suffers on our behalf.

As God, He is the coming Lord of glory.

Jesus avoided the term “Christ” (Messiah) because He was a much different kind of Messiah from what the Jewish nation anticipated in the first century.

He first came to suffer, and then He would come in glory. Claiming the title “Son of Man” allowed Him to refer to the total scope of His Messianic mission without all the political overtones.

Only in this present text is the forgiveness of sins linked to the divine title “Son of Man.”

People Should Glorify Jesus For What He Does Verses 10-12

In spite of opposition from the religious aristocracy, this story has a happy ending.

Those who bring the hurting in faith to Jesus will not be disappointed.

William Lane says, “The announcement [of forgiveness] and presentation of radical healing to a man in his entire person was a sign of the kingdom of God drawn near. The paralytic experienced the fulfillment of God’s promise that the lame would share in the joy of the coming salvation.”

The promise of Isaiah 35: 6 is realized here: “Then the lame will leap like a deer.”

Jesus Forgives Our Sins (Mark 2: 5)

Coming in faith to Jesus, this hurting man received more that he expected and exactly what he needed.

He received the full forgiveness of his sins.

He and his friends believed Jesus could meet their deepest needs.

And He did.

Often we think we know what our greatest need is, but really we are only focusing on our circumstances.

In reality the problem you are facing today is not your spouse, children, or parents. It is not your job, boss, or coworkers.

It is not your lack of resources, shortage of time, or insufficient income.

Just like this young man, your greatest need is for the Messiah Himself.

Jesus Heals Our Diseases (Mark 2: 10-12)

As a proof of His power to forgive sins, something we cannot see, Jesus healed the paralytic, something everyone could see.

He is simple and direct in His statement: “‘ But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ He told the paralytic, ‘I tell you: get up, pick up your mat, and go home.’”

The man responds with the obedience of faith and does just that “in front of everyone”!

The response of the man and the crowd is appropriate.

Even the Pharisees and teachers of the law, could not deny this man had been healed and his sins forgiven.

Nor could they deny that it had all been done by this man named Jesus.

They may not like it, but they could not deny it!

Jesus is the God who forgives sin.

The question you answer is clear

Is He your God?

Has He forgiven your sins?