"But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house"

 

 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.  Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.  And He preached the word to them.  Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.  And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.  So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."  And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

 

- Mark 2:1-12 

 

Yesterday we read that, as soon as Jesus and His disciples had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.  So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her.  And she served them.  At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.  Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.  And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.  When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."  But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."   And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.  Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing, be cleansed."  As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.  And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.   However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

 

 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.  Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.  And He preached the word to them.  This is again the family house of Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, mentioned in yesterday's reading, above.   We note that by now in Christ's ministry, He has become so well-known that there was no longer room to receive the people, not even near the door.  No doubt people are drawn by Jesus' reputation for healing, and they come to Him for this.  But note that He first preached the word to them.  

 

 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.  And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.  So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."  And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"   My study Bible asks us to note about today's reading that one purpose of Christ's coming into the world is to forgive sins, freeing humanity from its bondage.  To forgive sins is a greater power than to perform a physical healing, for, as the scribes correctly note, God alone can forgive sins.  Thus, to grant the paralytic physical healing was the easier task.  Although Christ is fully God and holds the authority to forgive, my study Bible says, He condescends to those gathered and heals this man in order to draw people to God, whom they then glorified.  Additionally, we observe that faith is indispensable for salvation; it is collective as well as personal, my study Bible notes, for it is the faith of the friends of the paralytic who help in his healing.  There are three signs of Christ's divinity revealed:  He knows the secrets of hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7, 2 Chronicles 6:30); He forgives sins, which is a power belonging to God alone; and He heals by the power of His word.

One thing we might notice immediately about today's reading is related to our commentary on yesterday's reading (here).  That is, it is Christ's acts which speak so eloquently to reveal God to us.  Above all, it is Christ's compassion that is expressed through what He does.  No doubt, His first act is to teach, to preach the word of the gospel of the Kingdom to the crowd in the house.  But in this work of preaching the word, Christ is revealing Himself as the Good Shepherd.  In chapter 6, just before He feeds a multitude in the wilderness, Mark tells us that "Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things" (Mark 6:34).  The other qualities of divinity revealed by what Jesus does are listed by my study Bible, which I've noted above:  He knows the secrets of people's heart, He forgives sins, and heals by the power of His word.  Let us not forget that the power of God's word is part of all creation, as in "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3), and that Christ is the Word (John 1:1).   Jesus, as part of the unfolding of His ministry, allows His identity to be "shown forth" through what He does.  He does not speak about Himself until it is time to do so, after He has been revealed through what He does, such as at the Last Supper to His disciples, or when He chooses to reveal Himself to one who will come to faith, such as the Samaritan woman in John 4 (whom we note is an outsider, a Gentile).  But Christ's way of life is most important for us as example, for we as His disciples are also drawn to this life where it is our actions that speak for us -- where what we live and do speak more eloquently than our declarations.  The spoken word is important and essential, but like Christ, we should endeavor that our words serve a purpose and reflect the reality of the Kingdom we wish to reveal and to bear into the world, and there we come to another good contemplation for Lent.  How can we let our actions speak for us?  How are we capable of using our words for their greatest effectiveness, including knowing when it is better not to speak, and not to reveal (Matthew 7:6)?  Lent is a good time to ponder how we can become more like Christ; that is, how the words we choose really matter, including the ones we omit.  But most especially we might wonder how our actions can reveal who we are, as Jesus taught (see Matthew 7:17-20).   It is said that we become "like" that which we love (Matthew 6:21).  Guided by faith, how will our expression, our works, express our love for God?