~The Paralytic Healed~

by Dewey Fox

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (Mark 2:5)

To get us started, let us read Mark 2:2-12. It will set the tone for the story. It’s an exciting story about the forgiving grace of our wonderful Jesus Christ.

2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Can you imagine the commotion that cutting a hole in the roof of the house made? They did what they had to do to get to Jesus. There is no mention of it disturbing the preaching of Jesus. It’s possible, the way the Bible reads, that this house may have been Simon Peter’s. As bold and with the personality of Peter we would all wonder why he didn’t stop the men from tearing a hole in the roof. Everyone was probably so engrossed with the preaching of Jesus that they may not have noticed. Jesus certainly didn’t stop them.

What did Jesus do first as recorded in verse 5? He said “Son, your sins are forgiven.”Jesus was first interested in the man’s soul. He forgave him of his sins. He looked beyond the sickness and straight into the heart. Jesus knew that the physical body would wear out and die; dust to dust. But to live with Jesus for eternity, man must be forgiven by God.

Wherever Jesus went, He preached the “Good News.” Let’s look back again at Mark, chapter 1 and verse 38; He said to them , “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” Look at what Jesus said; let us go somewhere else so that I may preach the Word. It reminds me of Luke 2:49 when at the young age of twelve He knew what He had come for. This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. And He said to them, "Why is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" [LUKE 2:49] [NKJ] And then in Mark 2:2 what happened? Mark tells us; Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. [MARK 2:2] [NKJ] Jesus was preaching The Word. No loud speakers, no TV screens, just to those gathered around Him in this small house. This should be an example for us. Speak and preach the Words of Jesus to everyone all the time. You know, there is no preacher like Jesus!

Brother Dewey E. Fox