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Book: Mark
 Print ( PC Only )
Mark 2:5 Your Sins Are Forgiven
I. The story.
A. Jesus was in Capernaum, and when the people found out they
began to gather at the house where He was staying.
B. So many had gathered that there was not room in the house to
hold them.
C. Four men came carrying their friend on a stretcher.
1. You have met this type before.
a. They are good buddies.
b. They are determined to get help for their
friend.
c. They are not the type to be deterred by the
crowd.
d. They are daring and innovative.
e. They climbed on the roof and removed some of
the roof tiles that they might let their
friend down in front of Jesus.
D. Can you imagine the commotion, as Jesus is perhaps teaching,
they hear all this noise on the roof, and presently a man is
slowly descending on a cot in front of Jesus.
1. I picture Jesus as sort of chuckling when he saw him
coming down.
2. The owner of the house was probably dismayed, and
in a state shock.
II. When Jesus saw their faith, He said, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."
A. The threefold reaction to the statement of Jesus.
1. The one is recorded by Mark, the scribes that were
sitting there were thinking, He is being blasphemous,
for no one can forgive sins but God.
a. They were correct in their belief that no one
can forgive sin but God.
b. David in his request for forgiveness declared,
against Thee, and Thee only have I sinned, and
done this great evil in your sight.
c. Whenever you sin, you are sinning against God.
It may have disastrous consequences on yourself
or others, such as if you murdered someone and
were caught and had to come to trial. Your sin
has brought you into shame and disgrace, as
well as destroyed another's life, but the
sin is against God, for it is God who said,
"Thou shalt not kill."
2. I can imagine that the friends of this man were
thinking, "No, no, that is not why we to all the
trouble of bringing him here, we want him to be able
to walk again."
3. To the man himself, I believe that there was great
relief, I believe that the words of Jesus brought a
sudden burst of joy to his heart. "My sins are
forgiven, praise God."
a. The man had palsy, which is short for
paralysis. Now the paralysis can be caused
by many different things. It often follows a
massive stroke. In the Bible days, it often
was the result of syphilis, and such was
probably the case with this man.
b. He was probably guilty of
promiscuity, and had contracted syphilis,
and as the result of the progression
of this disease, became paralyzed.
c. His paralysis would be to him a constant
reminder of his sin, he was probably
tormented by his sense of guilt.
d. A guilt complex is often related to many
forms of neurotic behavior. For they believe
that a guilt complex creates a subconscious
desire for punishment, which is manifested
in neurotic behavior which sub-consciously
is designed to bring punishment.
1. You need for someone to say,
"Your crazy." or "You are an idiot."
2. Inwardly you are saying, "Oh thank
you, I needed that, that is why I
did that stupid thing for which I am
feeling guilty, I am crazy."
e. A guilt complex is hard to live with, it is
a constant torment. Thus the words of Jesus
to this man, "Your sins are forgiven." must
have brought extreme comfort and joy.
III. Jesus addressed one of the reactions, that of the scribes. Their
accusation of blasphemy, because they knew that only God can
forgive sins.
A. Jesus said to the scribes, "What is easier to say, your sins
are forgiven, or rise take up your bed and walk."
1. Obviously it is easier to say, "Your sins are
forgiven."
a. The work of forgiveness is an inward work
that cannot be outwardly manifested.
b. How can anyone challenge whether or not it
really happened? There is no visible or
physical evidence, for it is a spiritual
thing.
c. They may just be empty words, how can you
prove that you are speaking with authority
and power?
2. If you say, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." it will
be quite easy to judge whether there is any power in
your words for if the man struggles but still lies
there, it is obvious that your words have no real
power. But if he gets up and walks, then you have
immediate proof that your words do have power.
B. Jesus said, "That you might know that the Son of Man has power
on earth to forgive sins, He then turned to this man who was
paralyzed
and said, Rise, take up your bed and go on home."
1. When the man immediately got up and picked up his bed
and walked out, they were all amazed, and began to
glorify God. They were saying, "We have never seen
anything like this before.
2. But Jesus was proving that He had power of earth to
forgive sins. This man walking out the door carrying
his cot, was proof that there was real power behind the
words that Jesus spoke.
C. That is not all that was proved by this man walking out the
door. Their premise was, "Who can forgive sins but God." This
man walking out the door carrying his cot was proof that Jesus
is God.
1. Jesus called Himself by the title of Son of Man, that
is one of the titles that was to be given to the
Messiah.
DNL 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son
of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the
Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
DNL 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom,
that all people, nations, and languages, should serve
him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which
shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall
not be destroyed.
2. Jesus was demonstrating that He was the promised
Messiah.
a. Another prophecy concerning the Messiah was
given by Isaiah who declared, "For unto us a
child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the
government shall be upon His shoulder, and His
name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the
Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince
of Peace, and of the increase of His government
and peace, there shall be no end."
3. He is God, and He is the promised Messiah, that man
walking out the door is visible living proof.
C. If indeed His words have power and are true, then we had better
look at what else He said.
1. He said, "I am the resurrection and the life, he that
believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he
live, and he that liveth and believeth in Me, shall
never die."
2. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man
cometh to the Father but by Me."
3. He said, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him,
should not perish, but have everlasting life."
4. He said, "He that believeth in Me is not condemned, but
if you do not believe in Me, you have been condemned
already, and this is the condemnation, that light has
come into the world but you will not come to the light,
because you love darkness rather than light, because
your deeds are evil."
5. Jesus declared that a person can become so steeped in
evil that he will actually hate the light. This is
certainly manifested in our world today, the hatred
that men are beginning to express toward the light.
True Christianity is coming under attack as never
before by the liberal elements of our society who want
to live in their darkness without being reproved.
6. They would seek to silence the voices that speak our
against the darkness in which they desire to live.
D. Jesus, who is God, who proved that He spoke with power and
authority as God, said, "Come unto Me all you who are weary and
heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Your soul, tortured by
the guilt of your sin, can be at rest today, if you will but
come to Him, you can hear His words of love and authority
saying to you, "Your sins are forgiven."
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