Mark 2:5-12

Faith alone pleases God. Religion may tried to cloud the issue with piety or add works to it’s power but it does not stand true. King David was a sinner and made many mistakes in his life but He  believed in God totally without reservation and was called a “friend of God”.  Jesus went to many cities but the greatest numbers of His miracles happened where faith abounded. In the measure that we believe we can receive His blessings. Place your faith in God and in the unmerited gift He has given us in Jesus Christ and miracles happen! 

Not only did the four men have faith, but the paralytic himself had it too. When Jesus announced to him, your sins are forgiven, He was implicitly acknowledging the paralytic’s trust that He was the Messiah.

The crowd’s reaction showed that they understood the significance of Jesus’ miracle. It is possible that some scribes and Pharisees joined in the acclamation. But permanent, life-changing faith is what Christ sought, not temporary adoration from the crowd.

Mark 2:5-12

⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,  “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 

⁶ And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, ⁷ “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 

⁸ But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them,  “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 

¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, ¹¹  “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” ¹² Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”