Mark 2:1 – 12
(Focus on the reaction of the crowd)
2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 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 paralyzed 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!”
I’ve put myself in the crowd, close to the front, stage left. Ironically, that is where I stand at rock concerts. Its loud, sweaty and at times smelly. I’ve come early to get a good spot. I’m tall so can see what’s going on. We are all there united to see what’s the deal with this amazing teacher – JESUS! The words he is saying are to grasp on to, people are everywhere. Everyone is captivated. I look around and see people outside trying to get in. It’s jammed packed!
What the heck? There is a hole on the roof and a paralysed guy is being lowered down, then after Jesus sees the helper’s faith, heals the guys sins (didn’t see that coming), some law teachers call Jesus a blasphemer! Jesus heals the guy, tells him to get up pick up his mat and go home. So, with the place packed to the rafters, he pushes through the crowd! (He wasn’t just a little bit healed!) We’ve never seen anything like this!
I go home (just like a rock concert) celebrating what I’ve just seen and telling anyone that will listen.
That same Jesus from the passage (and how I imagined it) has forgiven my sins! I’ve never seen anything like this.
Tim Collard – Creek Road Campus