Advent 2025: Mon 15 Dec
Mark 2.8-12 Religion challenged
8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, ‘Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralysed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take your mat and walk”? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So he said to the man, 11 ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’
The Holy Spirit was at work in Jesus. It was not instinct on Jesus’ part that alerted him to the rumblings in the room nor was it the catching of glances or sensing disapproving or shocked expressions on faces – it was the prompting of the Holy Spirit, a word of knowledge, as Paul the Apostle described it. The Holy Spirit within Jesus revealed to him just what the religious leaders were thinking. The Holy Spirit gave to Jesus all knowledge that was supernatural. Jesus the man had to rely on the Holy Spirit, because the Word had emptied himself of omniscience when he became Man.
Jesus understood that they were struggling with their own understanding of their faith – and they would struggle unless they opened their hearts to take in what had just happened. The narrative here does not suggest that the teachers were being combative. We can only surmise that they were deeply confused. It follows then that Jesus would not necessarily be angry or combative with them but desired to enlighten them, See Jesus’ actions as a demonstration of his authority rather than a crushing blow to the teachers.
He instructs the man to get up. He gets up. Would you just get up if you’d spent years without working legs? Would you just stand up when your legs had never been able to carry weight, let alone balance you and walk you away? Wouldn’t you be filled with fear that you were about to prove that you were a fool to even try? You’d fallen enough times to know that you’d hurt yourself yet again if you tried to get up.
But he got up. His strength was restored to enable him to do it. His balance was restored to enable him to remain upright. His legs were restored to walking. He walked out.
Do you think he was a bit of a non-entity? He said nothing. He walked out, apparently without a word of thanks or an expression of joy or a bounce in his step! Some of Jesus’ “patients” made a noise; some danced; some shouted praise to God; some just went on their way; a former-leper foreigner came back to thank Jesus. It takes all sorts!
Jesus demonstrated his authority to forgive through his authority to heal.
The man had come into the room a sinner. Jesus recognised this, and even though the man did not openly confess his sin Jesus forgave him. Could it have been more than he was able to bring to the surface? Sin is not easy to confess when we are ashamed of ourselves. It’s important for our own Christian journey to cast our burdens of guilt onto Jesus, even if we can’t quite find adequate descriptive words. Remember this parable. He left the room on his feet, freed from sin and released from the disability. His faithful friends’ faith more than made up for his passivity. Once they’d cleared the mess up I expect they went away rejoicing!
Does Jesus get your praise? When did you last shout out for joy? Make it today.
Father God, you gave us your Son, Jesus. In his life I have an example for holy living. In his death I have forgiveness. In his resurrection I have certainty of eternal life. I dare to say it out loud. Amen.
Glad sounds abound. Every voice shall prepare a song for the coming Saviour. The original words contain six verses, of which four are generally published. It’s good to know the full extent of what the writer proposed and wonder what caused some verses to be cut over time.
Paul