Mark 2:1-12
After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that he was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren't able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, "Son, I forgive your sins." Some religion scholars sitting there started whispering among themselves, "He can't talk that way! That's blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins." Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, "Why are you so skeptical? Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, 'I forgive your sins,' or say, 'Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking'? Well, just so it's clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both . . ." (he looked now at the paraplegic), "Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home." And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised God, saying, "We've never seen anything like this!"
Here is yet another episode where we find Jesus the rock star, who everyone swarmed and couldn’t get enough of, and masses of desperate people, who would do anything to get some “face time” with the Savior. The difference between the last reading and this one is we get a picture of the complete healing Jesus provides. Here is a paraplegic (with good friends) who is lowered into the house because the crowds are so large they couldn’t wedge themselves into the door. It goes to show us what a little imagination, creativity, and desperation can do. Using our imagination, we can see Jesus cracking a smile in joy, impressed by his great faith.
Then Jesus does his thing. He forgives the man’s sins. He cleanses his heart. He transforms the man, beginning with the inside. And the man could have been satisfied with that. Content with his forgiveness and salvation. Happy to be touched by Jesus. But that was only half the story. The rest of the healing was still to come. Jesus not only cleanses the man spiritually, he touches his physical body as well. And the man picked up his mat and walked away praising Jesus.
There are many profound principles permeating this story. First, we see the Godly order of change - it starts with the inside and then moves its way outward. Genuine change begins with the heart and is always followed by outward actions. Secondly, we witness the value of Godly friends. This guy’s friends loved him so much that they lifted him up (or down in this case) in his hour of greatest need. They dropped him into the hands of Jesus, not into the claws of sin. Third, despite the thronging crowds, each of us are special to Jesus.
He loves us, even amongst the crowd.
