Forgiven

There are others who think that the great legacy of Christianity is that it provides a certain kind of love and sacrificial affection for people, social responsibility.

Others think that it provides a kind of tranquility in life that they call peace. There are some who think that what Christianity really offers people is fulfillment in life, or sense of satisfaction, or purpose.

Summing it all up, there are folks who think that Christianity’s greatest benefit is to provide people a measure of religious happiness.

It's true that there is contained in the pages of Scripture a moral standard, an ethical standard.

I agree with you that Christians are marked by love and peace and happiness.

I agree with you that Christians express social responsibility based upon a higher motivation than any other people and there is amazing fulfillment, purpose and satisfaction in Christianity.

But none of those is the great benefit of Christianity, those are simply by-products of the great benefit.[1]

Where Christianity marks itself out from all other religions on the planet. It alone addresses man’s greatest need.

There are religions that offer ethics and morality, and social responsibility, and family values, and a measure of love and peace, somewhat a measure of fulfillment, satisfaction, maybe even a certain measure of happiness.

But what is man’s greatest need? The greatest need of man simply put is to escape the wrath of God poured out on sinners eternally in hell.

Only through the Christian gospel can anyone escape the wrath of God poured out on sinners eternally in hell.

1. The seekers of the healing

Mark 2:3–4 (ESV)

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.

Four men struggling with a litter on which lay a paralytic, prone and motionless, approached the fringe of the impossible crowd.

Their few attempts to get through met with noisy rebuffs. So they rested the mat and mopped their perspiration as they glanced from the thin, worn face of the paralytic to the crowd.

They conferred, picked up the stretcher, and moved around the crowd to the side of the flat-roofed house. Possibly there was an outside stairway leading to the roof, as some homes had, or perhaps they ascended the neighbor’s roof and stepped across to the crowded house.

Whatever the case, after much hauling and pushing they had their friend on the roof, where they rested long enough to catch their breath. Then they did an amazing thing: they began to tear a hole in the roof!

The typical Syrian roof was constructed of timbers laid parallel to each other about two or three feet apart. Then crosswise over the timbers, sticks were laid close to each other, thus forming the basic roof.

Upon this was laid reeds, branches of trees, and thistles.

The whole thing was overlaid with about a foot of earth, which was then packed down to resist water. All told, the roof was about two feet thick. During the spring, grass flourished on these primitive roofs.

These men were digging through the roof!

Those inside the house heard the shoveling, then the pounding amidst loud conversation as the men dug away the dirt, tore the branches, and pried the roofing loose between the beams. Debris began to fall on those in the house, and then there was a crack of light which widened to the size of a man!

We can be sure there were some shouts exchanged between those inside and those on the roof, especially if this was Peter’s mother-in-law’s house!

Finally there was a warning from those above, and down came the paralytic’s bed on ropes. What a picture! Above, with the light streaming past them in dusty beams, four sweaty, impish, determined faces; below, the Pharisees and scribes shaking dirt from their robes; and in the midst, the Prince and the paralytic.[2]

a. They really loved him

They even “vandalized” another’s property to achieve their end. They ignored the protests and judgments of those around them for the sake of their friend. Perhaps he was “family”—a beloved brother or uncle or father. Maybe he was simply a neighbor with whom they had grown up and played together. Whatever the relationship, they loved him! And whatever happened that day—healing, rejection, whatever—the paralytic was a very rich man. He had something for which some people spend millions and yet never find.

God was going to work in his life because his friends loved him. God is especially pleased to work when there is such love.[3]

Christ’s healing power is unleashed in the world—through love and through faith.

Oh, how they loved their helpless friend! Oh, how the world must be loved by us—truly loved! They believed Christ was the only way!

Their belief wrought persistence, invincible determination. They would not be denied.

It also brought creativity, so that they found a way. It was sacrificial, for it really cost them.

b. His friends had great faith.

Mark 2:5 (ESV)

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

They believed Jesus could heal. They went to some very extreme points to get him down there. They had to believe that. Certainly the paralytic had to believe it.

First of all, he would be embarrassed to be seen in public anyway because any such kind of infirmity was deemed as a judgment of God against the man and people like that didn’t tend to go out in public.

So this man really believed Jesus could heal him and his four friends believed it to some degree and we know they did because in verse 5 Jesus sees their faith. The people coming through the roof say nothing … at least nothing’s recorded … not even, “Excuse me. Hate to interrupt your talk, but …” But Jesus speaks and this is so amazing in verse 5.

“Jesus seeing their faith … Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ ” That is a really interesting statement.[4]

Was this some … some supernatural kind of faith? No … no, they believed He could heal … why?

Because He had been doing it. This is natural faith. This is human faith.

It’s the same faith you exercise when you go to eat in a restaurant. You’ve never been in the kitchen in your life and probably shouldn’t ever go to the kitchen. But there’s something about human experience that teaches you that this is something that could be counted upon and that’s exactly why these men did this. There is evidently faith that Jesus can heal.

And it’s such a strong faith because they think He’s going to heal this man or they wouldn’t go through all of this,

they’re going to have to pay for the repair of the whole roof.

They’re going to have to embarrass the man if it doesn’t happen. They have such confidence. Why? Because Jesus not only could heal, but He healed everybody. We’ve already learned that. There’s no hesitance.[5]

Do we believe Christ is the only way? Has our belief wrought persistence in our lives? Has it brought creativity? Has it brought sacrifice? Do we truly love our families, our neighbors, our weekday colleagues?

2. The Healer and Forgiver of Sins

“Son you’re Sins are Forgiven”

But there was something more with this paralytic than just human faith because although Jesus saw the faith of all of them, He narrows His statement down and He said specifically to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are … what?… forgiven.” Not the rest, but yours. And He saw in him a faith that was not visible to everybody else.

Now Jesus doesn’t forgive sins unless the sinner repents and believes, right? So what did Jesus see in this man? What kind of faith? Not a natural faith, not a human faith, but a spiritual faith. This is more. This is not just healing, this is salvation.

Jesus didn’t need anybody to tell Him what was in the heart of a man because He knew what was in the heart of the man.

He saw the real kind of faith,

the faith that saves, the faith that doesn’t come from experience but comes from conviction and that comes from sovereign regeneration.

And He said in a very endearing expression, “Son.” Luke adds that He also called Him, “Friend,” which is endearing and sympathetic. “Your sins are forgiven.”Jesus knew what he really wanted. [7]

3. The conclusion of the Scribes

Mark 2:6–7 (ESV)

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?”

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

Now what is fascinating about this, please, it says in verse 6, they weren’t saying this, they were just thinking it.

The heart is equal to the mind in the Hebrew thought. He’s reading their minds. And they’re saying in their minds, not out loud, why does this man speak that way? He’s blaspheming. “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And they’re right.

He’s a blasphemer and that is correct.

He is either a blasphemer or He is God. That’s the point of the whole story. Either Jesus is a blasphemer, or He is God. And, folks, that’s it, there’s no middle ground. Don’t come to me that He was a nice-well-meaning teacher. No.

He is either the one who can forgive sin or He is not. If He can, He’s God. If He cannot, He is a blasphemer.

And if He is saying He can do something that He cannot do and is a fraud and a deceiver. There’s no middle ground.

Now in their minds, He’s a blasphemer and they knew what the Levitical Law said. Leviticus 24:10–16, later in verse 23, “Kill the blasphemer … kill the blasphemer.” We now have blasphemy out of His mouth.

We have the Levitical Law which sentences Him to death. We got what we want.

4. The greatness of the gift of forgiveness.

Mark 2:8–11 (ESV)

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’? 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.”

Jesus pronounced forgiveness first to trap the Pharisees with the implications of the healing he was going to perform. Verses 8 through 11 reveal his logic:

Now Jesus knows they’re thinking this, so He speaks to them.

What a shock that must have been. He read their minds.… He’s aware of their thoughts. Now if you’re debating whether Jesus is a blasphemer or God, you can start here.

Blasphemers don’t know what people are thinking, only God does

His physical miracle verified his moral miracle! What could the Pharisees say?

And if He is God who can create and cause a quadriplegic or a paraplegic in a moment to be completely well, completely whole, completely restored, He is God. And if He is God, then He can forgive sin, something only God can do.

If He displays the power to heal, if He displays the power to do creation miracles, He has to be God.

And if He is God, then He has the authority to forgive sin.

If He has said take up your bed and walk, and the man takes up his bed and walks, that is evidence that He is God,

and it validates the fact that He said your sins are forgiven. That also becomes reality. Only God can do both.[8]

I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.

Jesus says, “To show you that I have the power, that I am not like the rest of you, I’m going to heal the man.” He heals him, and he walks out. Jesus is trying to say, “Yes, I am who I said I was.” The Greek word for get up … In verses 11–12 Jesus says,

“Get up,” and he got up. It’s a kind of unusual Greek word that Mark actually uses in chapter 16 when it talks about what happened to Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. On Easter Sunday he got up.

Which Is Easier?

How do you prove that? What’s the evidence of that? How do you know when someone’s sins have actually been forgiven? That’s not verifiable. You can’t say it with evidence that it is actually true.

Now, on the other hand,

Jesus says, “Is it easier to say, ‘Get up, pick up your pallet and walk?’ and be believable?” It is because if He does it, then you have proven it, prove you have the power to make it happen and everybody will affirm that what you said is true

Jesus purposely waited to heal the paralyzed man until after He declared His authority to forgive sins. Disease and disability are consequences of living in a fallen world, meaning that sin’s permeating effects are the root cause of all sickness and suffering.

By healing the paralyzed man, in demonstration of His power over sin’s effects, Jesus proved His authority over sin itself. The Lord thus performed the undeniable miracle of physical healing so that everyone watching may know that the Son of Man had authority on earth to forgive sins.[9]

5. A Paralytic Healed

Mark 2:12 (ESV)

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!”

This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying ‘We have never seen anything like this.’” What a moment! The paralytic, illuminated by the dusty shafts of light from the hole, was leaping and whooping it up! His four friends were yahooing down through the opening. The crowd was oohing and aahing. The Pharisees and scribes were frowning.

What a display before the wondering crowd! Who is to say that the paralytic and his four friends did not dance down the street while the multitude clapped in rhythm?

And as he went home, he bore something far more impressive than his bed. It was a clean heart,

the greatest miracle of all—no guilt, no bitterness, no tension.

Someday those newly restored limbs would wither. But there would remain in him a well of water springing up to everlasting life, for his sins were forgiven.

The Gospel

The only reason Jesus can forgive him and heal him is because someday Jesus is going to lay down in death and rise for our justification. In the end, here’s the point.

If somebody wrongs me, I can forgive. In that sense, you might say, it’s easier than trying to heal a paralyzed man, but for Jesus to forgive all our sins, that’s infinitely harder than saying, “Take up your bed and walk,” because it means dying. It means going to the cross.

The story of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare, a remarkable depiction of the terror of guilt, not being forgiven. Unforgiven, you might call it.

Lady Macbeth helps Macbeth, her husband, murder some people, and it unhinges her mind. She walks around at night … She sees blood on her hands and she tries to wash it out and she can’t. That’s her guilt, of course. “Out, damned spot! Out, damned spot! Oh, who knew that the old man would have so much blood in him? Not all the perfumes in Arabia can sweeten this little hand.”

Later on, Macbeth, talking to a doctor about his wife, whose mind has gone, calls guilt “that perilous stuff that weighs upon the heart.”

That ache, that sense of inadequacy that I think in modern people is more in the background. You don’t realize to what degree it’s weighing on your heart, but it’s there.

In her case, it drove her mad.

Why? Because guilt is indelible. It is not easy to get out. This is why Jesus is saying, “Which is easier: to forgive sins or to heal?” The ultimate answer is guilt, sin, is not easy.

Lady Macbeth can’t get it out. “I can’t get the stain out.” The reason we have this voice in us that gives us that sense of condemnation is we know …

Whatever your moral standards are, whether it’s the standard of love or justice or integrity or purity, whatever it is, you’ve violated them, and you can’t just wash it off. You can’t just turn over a new leaf. You can’t just say, “I’m going to try harder and live a better life.” There’s something indelible about the spots. You can’t get the stain out yourself, the damned spot

Jesus comes to you and says, “I’m that person. I’m going to the cross. It’s going to take a lot.”

Malachi 3 says about the Messiah, “He will be like a refiner’s fire and like a fuller’s soap, and he will purify you.”

Jesus says, “I can get the stain out. I can get rid of all that, but I’m going to have to go to the cross to do it.

I am doing it, so come to me.

So go to him and trust him. Don’t worry about having to get his attention, because if you go to him to trust him and to ask for forgiveness, you will find that he has been trying to get your attention, so eager is he to bless you.[10]

The Lord can do anything he wants. He can heal any disease he pleases. But the greatest miracle, the only one that is eternal, is that he forgives sin. Has he ever said to you, “Your sins are forgiven”?

As we noted earlier, Luke says of this event, “And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. ” That power was unleashed by the love and the faith of a helpless paralytic’s four friends. And that is how it is unleashed today to a world paralyzed in sin. We must love the world. It begins by loving those we can see—our family members, our neighbors, our colleagues at work—and then extending that love to those we cannot see. We must begin where we are. Determine to love those in your circle of influence.

Finally, along with love, we must believe that Jesus Christ is the only One who can heal the paralyzed. It is simply a matter of believing his own words: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Do we, without qualification, believe this? If we do, then we will be persistent, creative, and sacrificial in bringing our friends to Christ. [11]

[1]MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2014). John MacArthur Sermon Archive. Grace to You. [2]Hughes, R. K. (1989). Mark: Jesus, servant and savior (Vol. 1, pp. 62–63). Crossway Books. [3]Hughes, R. K. (1989). Mark: Jesus, servant and savior (Vol. 1, p. 63). Crossway Books. [4]MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2014). John MacArthur Sermon Archive. Grace to You. [5]MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2014). John MacArthur Sermon Archive. Grace to You. [6]Hughes, R. K. (1989). Mark: Jesus, servant and savior (Vol. 1, p. 64). Crossway Books. [7]MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2014). John MacArthur Sermon Archive. Grace to You. [8]MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2014). John MacArthur Sermon Archive. Grace to You. [9]MacArthur, J. (2015). Mark 1–8 (p. 105). Moody Publishers. 2 2. Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume 17 (Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1971), p. 167. [10]Keller, T. J. (2015). A Paralytic Forgiven. In The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive, 2014–2015 (Mk 2:1–12). Redeemer Presbyterian Church. [11]Hughes, R. K. (1989). Mark: Jesus, servant and savior (Vol. 1, pp. 65–67). Crossway Books.

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