Jesus Has the Authority to Forgive Sin
Truth Taught- Jesus proves to everyone that He has the power and authority to forgive sin
As we enter into Chapter 2 of Mark’s Gospel, we arrive at what has been called Jesus’ conflict in Galilee. This section covers Chapters 2-3.
What is this conflict? With Jesus and His teaching comes a new era in redemptive history. This is the era that the old establishment seeks to fight against. Jesus provokes sustained conflict from the Jewish leadership to the point where they decide He must be put to death.
Jesus shows us further proof that He is the Messiah who has come into the world.
Mark 2:1–12 (ESV)
2 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 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. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 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?” 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.” 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!”
1. Jesus Returns to Capernaum, Preaching (2:1-2)
2 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.
If you remember from a few weeks ago, Jesus had gotten so famous after healing the leper that He was being overrun with those who were bringing their sick, to the point where Mark tells us…
Mark 1:45 (ESV)
45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
Now, Jesus does enter back into Capernaum where again He is found out and people come running to Him for miracles and healings.
Also, we must remember Jesus’ focus on preaching over and above miracles and signs and wonders.
Mark 1:35–39 (ESV)
35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Our text today mentions that Jesus went back home. This is probably the home of Peter where Jesus healed his mother-in-law.
So, after a few days, our Lord’s presence could no longer be hidden. A large crowd gathered within the house and out in front of the doorway. So many people and Jesus begins preaching to them. Here, it tells us that He begins preaching to them the word.
And he was preaching the word to them
Here, this is Mark’s shorthand for God’s Word concerning the nearness of the Kingdom of God and the necessity for repentance and faith.
Proverbs 28:13 (ESV)
13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
These same elements are with us today. We too must be concerned that God’s Kingdom is near because Christ has come and that we too must seek faith and repentance for our sins.
I pray you take repentance and faith seriously and that you are everyday seeking to follow Christ more and more.
2. Jesus Saw Their Faith (2:3-5)
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. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Jesus sees their faith. He sees the faith of all five, the paralytic and his four friends. Jesus always sees faith because faith is the main component of salvation.
Romans 10:13–17 (ESV)
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Interpreting Paul’s answer: Right after stating that all who call upon the name of the Lord—that is, those who believe in Jesus Christ—will be saved, Paul asks, “How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?” His answer is not, “Oh, they don’t really need to believe in Jesus. They can just live up to what they know about God.” His answer is, “They can’t! That’s why we need to go and preach the gospel to them!”
Bottom line: Conscious faith in Christ is necessary for salvation.
John 3:36 (ESV)
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
The only way to be saved is to believe in the Son—to hear the message about Jesus, turn from your sin, and trust in him for salvation.
John 1:12–13 (ESV)
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Our Lord recognizes this bold move on the part of the five as great faith. Beloved, faith is determined. Faith will access Jesus when there is no viable option. Faith says, I’m coming to Christ and I don’t care who sees me or talks or wonders if I’m crazy or not.
These four men carry their friend up on top of (what we think was Peter’s house) and start taking of the roof. Every tile they remove gets them closer to Jesus. Our Lord sees this boldness as faith. They believed Jesus as God’s Son had the power to heal their friend.
So, the man is lowered down right in front of Jesus. I can just see the scene…The man is lowered to the ground in front of Jesus and our Lord looks up and can see all four faces of the men looking down. They witnessed the event from the second story.
Look with me and let’s read carefully Jesus’ unexpected response. In our fallen condition, we think the most important thing here is that Jesus would heal this man of his paralysis. That’s what he wanted. That’s what his friends wanted. That’s what we would want if we were there too. Our health and wellness trumps everything. However, there is something far greater than having good health.
So, they lower him down with faith that Jesus can heal him and Jesus sees all their faith and speaks to the paralyzed man and declares him not healed of his paralysis but healed of his sin. This is a far greater healing Jesus offers…listen to me our sin problem is an eternal barrier between us and God it would be far better to enter heaven unable to walk than enter hell whole.
The reality for us is this seems disconnected somehow. It seems that Jesus’ words are out of place here.
3. Amazing Grace or the Letter of the Law?
” 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?”
Jesus has been healing just about everyone and He’s been teaching with great authority…in steps the Scribes who instead of praising God for great grace shown to the man, they basically try to tell Jesus to stop! You’re not allowed to do that!
Every time except once, Scribes are seen in a negative light. They are the ones who seek rules rather than grace.
In the Bible it is very clear that only God can forgive sin.
Isaiah 1:18 (ESV)
18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
Isaiah 43:25 (ESV)
25 “I, I am he
who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,
and I will not remember your sins.
Psalm 103:2–5 (ESV)
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Jesus is doing something here that is very important to see. He is not saying as the prophets did that God will forgive your sin…
2 Samuel 12:13 (ESV)
13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
Jesus does not speak like this. He does not say, the Lord has put away your sin.
5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
He declares this man’s sins forgiven as only God could. So, the assessment of the Scribes is correct. Only God can forgive sin so either this man is a blasphemer or He is God. In our Lord’s case, the Son of God just as Mark has declared right from verse one.
Mark 1:1 (ESV)
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Since only God can forgive sin and Jesus forgives sin then Jesus has to be God. Jesus does not speak for God but as God. This is crucial and separates true Christians from the rest of the world. Belief in Jesus as the Divine Son is vital for salvation.
4. Your Sins Are Forgiven (2:8-12)
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.” 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!”
How do we know Jesus forgave this sinner? Jesus could have said, son your sins are forgiven and left it there. If He did that, how would we really know? Anyone can say your sins are forgiven and there’s really no way to tell.
The healing comes after the fact that Jesus, seeing the man’s faith, has already forgiven his sins.
Here, Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man. Some get this statement wrong. The Son of Man strangely enough does not refer to Jesus’ humanity. It is another term for His divinity.
Daniel 7:13–14 (ESV)
13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
So, Daniel standing in heaven witnesses the ascension of Jesus Christ. The disciples are on earth watching Jesus ascend until they can no longer see Him. As soon as Jesus leaves their sight Daniel is in heaven and he picks Him up. Daniel watches the great event as the Father awards His Son His eternal Kingdom.
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 tells the Scribes…So that you will know that the Son of Man…you know God the Son who will receive the Kingdom that Daniel saw in his vision, has the authority to forgive sin…rise pick up your bed and go home.
This is such a wonderful picture of salvation…Church rise from your slumber Jesus is calling us. Jesus has forgiven all our sin. Rise up Church step into the sunshine and feel the warmth of salvation on your face.
So, Jesus causes the paralytic to walk before the eyes of His critics. Their sight confirmed the fact that Jesus does have the authority to forgive sin.
Have you come to Jesus for forgiveness. Does Jesus see your faith in operation. Have you trusted Christ like this paralytic did. He has the authority and Jesus stands ready to forgive.
Words of Blessing
Leave a Reply