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!”

~Mark 2:5-12

Jesus Sometimes Gives What I’m Not Expecting

Imagine you are one of the four friends and the paralytic who fought through the crowd and dug through Jesus’ roof. What do you think you went there for? What would you expect from Jesus?

I imagine I would expect nothing short of physical healing.

Instead, Jesus pronounces, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Disappointing? Why forgiveness and not physical healing? Is it because I broke through Jesus’ roof?! Is it because my ailment is a result of sin in my life?

 

Jesus Always Gives because He Loves

No matter my unmet expectations and my lack of ability to comprehend Jesus’ wisdom and ways, I can’t deny that Jesus’ motivation in providing for me and guiding me is nothing short of love.

Even in today’s passage, we see evidence of Jesus’ love for the paralytic. Did you notice that Jesus addresses him as “Son”?

For starters, “Son” is Jesus acknowledging that the paralytic is truly a fellow Israelite. What is more, I do believe that “Son” is Jesus acknowledging that the paralytic is a true Israelite, full of faith in Jesus as the Christ. And, of course and therefore, Jesus is addressing him as “Son” as a term of endearment and affection as spiritual family.

Jesus loves this paralytic as God only can.

 

Jesus Always Gives What We Need Most

At the end of the day, what we can be absolutely sure of is that Jesus always, without a shadow of a doubt, gives and provides what he deems we need most. 

Who would doubt Jesus’ wisdom? Who can doubt Jesus’ counsel? Who would question Jesus’ way?

And so we see Jesus provide forgiveness of sin to this beloved paralytic. Why?

For one, Jesus wants to save this paralytic from the one who can destroy the soul, not just the body. Jesus understood that new, strong legs without a redeemed soul to accompany a good life by earthly standards would be futile from an eternal perspective.

What’s more, Jesus understands, as should we, that all sickness and disease are a result of the fall. The fall is a result of sin. Jesus deals with the root issue of the paralytic’s condition. (Of course, to clarify, we are not saying that the forgiveness of sins automatically leads to miraculous healings.)

What we need most is to be reconciled with God so that any measure of goodness and blessedness in this life can avoid perishing in futility on judgment day. Put differently, the glorified life in the new creation that we will inherit by way of Jesus completing his work of redemption will have a joy complete. The joy will be complete because it will be the fulfillment of the goodness and blessedness of this life lived on earth by faith in Christ. The joy will furthermore be complete because it will be a vindication of any sadness and suffering endured on account of following Christ during this life on this earth.

In today’s passage, Jesus argues as much with the Scribes and makes the point that forgiveness is the greater need. Jesus demonstrates and proves his Messianic calling by doing what only the prophecied Messiah can do: both forgive sins and heal the lame.

 

What Does This Mean for You and Me?

First, we’re to live life daily from the place of being reconciled to God, from the place of being forgiven. Remembering daily that we are recipients of God’s grace sets the foundation for increased Christ-likeness. How can we not walk in humility and a desire to overflow the fruit of the Spirit if we are constantly in view of God’s amazing grace to us? How can we be arrogant and idolatrously self-sufficient if we remember that Jesus met us in our spiritual “paralysis”?

Second, we’re to live life daily in view of our authoritative Saviour. What power and authority our Jesus wields! What command over life and all its chaotic circumstances! What hope for our life stories to be redemptively woven into his victoriously reigning gospel story!

 

Prayer

“Father in heaven, help me to trust that you are always good. Help me to trust that you are always working out your goodness for your glory in my life. Help me be glad in knowing that my story has its deepest and happiest meaning when intertwined into your Kingdom story. Amen.”

 

Questions for Reflection (try journaling your answers):

  • What are you waiting on God for these days? 
  • What unspoken expectations do you have of God? 
  • Are you open to the fact that your unmet expectations of God are perhaps rooted in your own will, even being idolatrous?
  • Take time to articulate your gratitude to God for reconciling. Make statements of faith that express your trust that God has provided your deepest need in Christ Jesus and trust for his timely and wise unfolding of his will in your life.