Mark 2:1-12

The Son of Man Has the Power to Forgive Sins (2:1-12).

The idea of the authority of Jesus continues. Having been revealed as the drencher in the Holy Spirit, God's beloved and Spirit anointed Son, the proclaimer of the Kingly Rule of God, the authoritative teacher, the exorcist of evil spirits by a word of command, the healer of all diseases, and the cleanser of the skin diseased, possessing an authority that ignores uncleanness, He is now revealed as the One Who has authoritative power on earth to forgive sins. And in this incident we also have the first indication of the opposition that will finally result in His death. His authority is now coming in conflict with other who claim to speak with authority, although as we have been told, in their case it is a second hand authority (Mark 1:22).

Analysis of 2:1-12.

a And when He entered again into Capernaum after some days the news went round that He was in the house, and many were gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, no, not even about the door. And He spoke the word to them (Mark 2:1).

b And they come, bringing to Him a man sick of paralysis, carried by four men. And when they could not come near to Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was, and when they had broken it up they let down the mattress on which the paralysed man lay (Mark 2:3).

c And Jesus, seeing their faith, says to the paralysed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5).

d But there were certain of the scribes sitting their and reasoning in their hearts. “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but one, even God?” (Mark 2:6).

e And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, says to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts?” (Mark 2:8).

d “Which is easier? To say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven', or to say, ‘Arise take up your bed and walk'?” (Mark 2:9).

c “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins,” he says to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise. Take up your bed and go to your house” (Mark 2:10).

b And he arose, and immediately took up the mattress and went out in front of them all (Mark 2:12 a)

a With the result that they were all amazed and glorified God saying, “We have never seen anything like this” (Mark 2:12 b).

Note that in ‘a' the crowds gather to receive the word through both preaching and healing, and in the parallel they are all amazed at what they have witnessed of both. In ‘b' the paralytic is brought to Jesus on his mattress, and in the parallel he arises, takes up the same mattress and walks out. In ‘c' Jesus declares that the man's sins are forgiven, and in the parallel He specifically evidences the fact by calling on the man to rise and walk. In ‘d' the scribes question His right to forgive sins and in the parallel Jesus questions them concerning whether it is easier to declare forgiveness or to speak the word which heals. Centrally in ‘e' Jesus questions the genuineness of the thinking of the Scribes (teachers of the Law).