The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins

The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins

Mark 2:1-12

Key Verse 2:10

Good afternoon! I really thank God for helping me to serve CMINA prayer meeting at last Friday. We couldn’t have prayer meeting for 2 months due to my Korea trip. When I prepared it, it was hard for me to prepare the short message. I had struggled whole day for writing the message. What I could do was just kneel down before God of His help until 6pm that day. Our meeting would start at 8pm. I couldn’t give it up. God finally gave me the word of Mark 9:23, 29. “23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” I personally experienced the power of the prayer as I prepared this message.

For a while, I have thought what the meaning of forgiveness of sin is? Should it be revealed as the result outwardly or not? Some might think that believing Jesus is not much different with ordinary life. The forgiveness of sin is not much different for my life. As I thought about those questions, I was looking for the right passage about the answer of those questions.

Today’s passage describes the event of Jesus’ healing upon a paralytic. He saw the faith of his four’s friends and healed a paralytic.

Jesus intentionally declares toward a paralytic “Son, your sins are forgiven” instead of “son, your paralytic is healed”. What does today’s passage teach us?

Let’s study it together!

1. A paralytic was healed.

Look at 1,2. 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.

When Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered at the house that there was no room left, not even outside the door. Jesus preached the word to them. Jesus’ first priority was always on his preaching ministry. He believed that the word is the source of life. He preached the word so that he might plant the truth of God in their hearts and set them free from their bondage to sin. He preached the word so that he might bring them back to God’s kingdom.

What was happening behind while he was preaching? Look at verse3!

3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.

The paralytic friends heard that Jesus had come to a home town. They already heard Jesus many miraculous healings. So they brought his paralytic friend at that house however so many people gathered outside as well as the door. There was no room to be able to reach to Jesus. There was no way. They did as much as they could. However, the situation was to give it up. The reality was no way. If they just accept their currant situation, they had to give it up. However, they didn’t give it up. Let’s read verse 4!

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. What a crazy they were!

what can we learn through verse 4?

1. Whenever we come to Christ, there is aways the hinderance because we are living under warfare.

Our life of faith is not like walking smooth road like asphalt but walking of like rough mountain or like walking dry desert or sometimes walking on water. It means it is impossible to do without faith. There are many examples in the Scripture. One of examples is Daniel’s prayer in Daneil 10. Daiel earnestly prayed for 21st day. However, nothing was responded. After 21st days was passed, God answered it in Daniel 10:12-13. 12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days.” It means the prince of the world hindered Daniel’s prayer to reach toward God. It took 21 days. If Daneil gave it up at middle of prayer, he couldn’t receive the answer of his prayer. He constantly prayed it until he received God’s answer.

The other example is healing of Naaman, who had suffered by leprosy as 2 King 5 describes this story.

He came to Elisha from other country to be healed because he heard many healings and miraculous signs by his Hebrew servant. He was the commander of the army of the king of Aram which was the strongest nation at that time. If he arrived there with such a long journey, He expected that Elisha would come to him and put his hand on his head and earnestly prayed for his healing. But, Elisha just sent the few words through his servant. “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”( 2Kings 5:10)

Naaman was so ignored and insulted. So he didn’t want to do it. However, the servant of Naaman pleaded to do it. So he washed his body in Jordan. Until he washed six times, nothing happened. After he washed 7times, he was completely healed.

We sometimes start something with great hope by faith. However, when we hear people’s eyes of opposing and criticizing attitudes and looks insulted, we want to stop it. We are also afraid keeping our faith and our first faith became shrunken and give it up on the middle of it. we say “I obeyed it but it doesn’t work”. But four friends overcame all hinderances.

1. Faith in Christ enables us to overcome all hinderances. They surely trusted that Jesus would heal his friend. Their faith enabled to overcome all hinderances. Faith is much stronger than any hinderances or circumstances.

One of great example is the event of healing of bleeding woman. She had suffered by a discharge of blood for twelve years as Mark 5:21-34 describes it. Even though she went many famous doctors, she spent so much moneys and her disease became worse. He lost all hope. After she heard the news of Jesus’ healing, her dead hope was revived to hope of healing. She had faith, “if I touch even his garments, I will be made well”(Mark5:28). However, think about her situation! You know blooding illness was uncleaned illness. Whoever had this illness, they should not come to near people in Leviticus 15:2-3. Otherwise, they would be stoned. Jewish society was very strict toward the law. Her approaching near many people was so dangerous. Moreover, her touching toward Jesus’s clothes was really unthinkable and scary for her to have life risk as a blooding woman. Her faith in Jesus enabled to overcome all fears of death. As soon as she touched Jesus’ clothes, her blooding illness was completely stopped and healed. Jesus who acknowledged it, looked for a woman who secretly touched her. “who touched me?” Jesus actually wanted to heal inner fear and wound for her. When she exposed her with terrify heart, Jesus embraced her as daughter of God, praised her faith and declared her salvation. “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease”(Mark 5:34-35)

How could four frends overcome that impossible situation? Because they surely believed that his friend could be healed if they brought him to Jesus. Their compassion heart toward his sick friend was desperate. So They looked for any possible way to bring him to Jesus. They might think digging to make tunnel to reach to Jesus. Where they desperately sought the way, they could find hidden way, removing roof.

When they went up and tore roof dust came down around Jesus who preached the words. The quite environment was messed up and Jesus’ preaching must be stopped. People probably must be angry toward them. It was such a rude and insane attitude. The house owner must shout “crazy guys, stop to break his house. When they focused people’s opinion and situation, they couldn’t challenge it. However, all things couldn’t stop their faith to heal his friend. So they removed the roof above him, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. Their way was crazy to others.

Part two- Son, your sins are forgiven

How was Jesus’ opinion? His opinion was completely different with people’s opinion. Look at verse 5. ” when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

He saw their faith and greatly cheered them. What can we learn from this verse 5?

1. Jesus saw their faith and blessed their faith. Jesus pleases our faith in Him. faith in Jesus is much more precious than gold. Hebrew 11:6 teaches us how to please God. “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him”.

How would know God who created the heavens and earth? It is by faith. Hebrew 11:3 testify us. “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” How would we be saved? It’s by faith in Christ who died for all my sins and rose from the dead to redeem us from the curse of sin. 16 “For God so loved the world,[i] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Without faith in Christ, we don’t know God nor are we saved.

In verse 5, is there significant word of “their faith” instead of “his faith”. Jesus saw friends’ faith. we don’t know his faith or the response of the paralytic. He might criticize them or agree their action. He followed their action which comes from faith. They had faith in Jesus and brought him to Jesus in spite of impossible situation. Jesus saw their faith and please it and healed him. It may be related to Acts 16:31-32. 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

The jailer led his family to listen the word of the Lord so that they accepted Jesus as their savior and Lord.

1. True faith always follows action as fruit.

If you study Hebrew 11, it is started “by faith” “by faith” and then follows their action of faith. Enoch walked with God not for just few days but he lived by faith more than 300 years. By faith, Abram left his home, his old life style to live by faith in God. our ancestors of faith always follow their actions as the fruit of faith.

James 2:17 tells us. ”Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” ….20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;…. 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Ephesians teaches us the new life of faith in Christ in Ephesians 4:21-24.

21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

The daily life of faith means not to be led by our sinful desire but be led by the Holy word of God by the help of the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit dwells in you. To live by faith is the struggle of our daily life.

Part three- The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.

Look at verse 5 again! “Son, your sins are forgiven”. Why did Jesus proclaim that your sins were forgiven instead that you were healed?

Firstly, It indicates that the cause of his paralyzed is sin. it is sure that there was no sickness, illness, harmful diseases before sin came into the world. Illness came into this world due to our sin and leads us to death. all sicknesses doesn’t come from the consequence of sin based on John 9 about a born bland guy. His disciples even thought about sin of his parents as the result. But Jesus tells them. “ It was not that this man sinned or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him”.(John 9:3)

Anyway, People don’t know how serious sin is in our days. they think our Fundamental matter is economic or educational or technological, or psychological, or moral matter which is visible phenomena. They even ignore God, the scripture, eternal life, sin and God’s punishment. The Scripture teaches that all misery came from broken relationship with God due to our sins. The reality is that this world lost God and God’s reign but is controlled by the power of darkness. Sin follows God’s judgment at His time.

Sin destroys our outward and inward image of God. It finally leads us to eternal punishment. It should be solved. That is why people desperately look for other religions or good deed and son to be reduced by their fault or sin. The dilemma is that we cannot solve this fundamental matter of sin.

Second, Jesus has the authority to forgive sins.

God can forgive sins. He is deity. He participated in the creation work with Father God, and Holy Spirit. He almighty and highest and eternal God. but He incarnated into this world as an ordinary baby to solve the matter of our sins. He was born to die for our wage of sins and rose from the death. that is his ultimate purpose why he incarnated into the lowest from the highest. When he died on the cross, He even declared “it is finished” on the Cross in John 19:30. It means he fully paid the requirement of the law who demand us to do so that he set us free from the guilt and punishment of our sins. Jesus who fulfilled God’s redemption on the Cross and resurrection can declares “ Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”

However, what was the response of teachers of the law? (3).

When Jesus purposely revealed Himself as Son of God, the teacher of the law positively rejected Him. Moreover, they thought Jesus as “blaspheming” which means that despise God badly. It was great sin which was worthy to be stoned.

They don’t know that Jesus is deity. So Jesus rebuked their stubborn heart and challenged toward their unbelief. Look at verse 8-11! “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 challenged their unbelief through the authority of His words to reveal the evidence of forgiveness of sin.

He commanded toward him. “rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” In verse 11. What happened to a paralytic? “He rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all.”

His words are Scripture. His words still have the authority and power. Isaiah 55: 9-11 tell us about the authority of his words. 9“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Whenever it proclaim in us, it will fulfill what he says those who trust Him. “

Think about his life change after he received the forgiveness of sin. A paralytic guy could walk and run. His outward shape was dramatically changed. If we receive the forgiveness of our sins, all condemnations were gone. we become children of God. it is the most dramatical change. what do you think about yourself?

In conclusion,

Jesus please our faith and bless it. True faith should be exposed through life as fruit. Jesus has also the authority to forgive sins. He is deity. Do you believe Him?