Mark 2:1-12

Mark 2:1-12 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . .” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

"He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all" is a major theme in the New Testament. The new covenant of faith in Jesus Christ and his works rests completely on the fact that Jesus came to the people and performed miracles that no man could do. He cast out demons, healed the sick, and raised the dead. These miraculous acts separated him from the rest of the religious elite and gurus of that day and evermore. Others might teach sound messages of love, devotion, judgment, or forgiveness; but they cannot raise the dead, they cannot perform the many miracles that Jesus performed. When this former paralytic walked out of the home in Capernaum in full view of them all, the people were amazed and praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Today, we listen to Christ's words, apply his teachings, and follow his apostles' teaching because of the miracles that He performed. Christianity has existed thousands of years because of Jesus' miraculous deeds. We do not follow Jesus the man just because He was a great teacher or full of godly wisdom. However, sadly, there are many who want to know Jesus as only a good teacher, one who possessed profound and maybe even divine knowledge and wisdom. They turn Christianity into a mere philosophy, a matrix of beliefs. Therefore, Christianity contends with many other ideologies, theologies. Through the ages there have been many people who have started religions by gathering a few devoted disciples and followers around them. Some of those religions still exist today. Also within the church there have been those who have aggrandized themselves by championing their special insights and knowledge of spiritual things, even to the point of equating themselves with Christ, taking on the authority or "robes" of divine prophets or messengers, leading many astray.

But Christians must always remember that Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone. He alone performs miracles that only God, himself, could do. Because of that reality, Jesus has the power to forgive sins, to make people right with God. No other man, no group of believers, no special messenger, no prophet has been given the power to forgive sins. Jesus brought salvation to the world; He is salvation, "the door." Salvation comes through his cross, his resurrection, and his advocacy on the "right hand" of God. No other man or group of men has that power or authority. Jesus is our great advocate; he alone brings redemption and righteousness to us. He alone brings us into right relationship with our Father God. Therefore, serve him alone. Don't serve a theology of great knowledge or wisdom, or acts of goodness. Serve the divine Christ--the way, the truth, and the light. The knowledge and wisdom we do claim to possess is foolishness to the world. They see us as being mad, for who would still believe in this Jesus thing 2,000 years after his death. But we do. We know He still lives, for He lives in us, abides in us. We know him as our Savior. He sustains us, He succors us. His very breath turns our head, for He is inside us. "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." (John 16:7) We are people of the BOOK, and we are people of the SPIRIT. Why? Because, Your sins are forgiven. Get up, take your mat and walk. Walk in freedom, peace, and joy today: Christ your Savior has come; He has touched you, and you will never be the same!