Mark 2 1 12

Religion-Mark Mark 2: 1-12 After some days away, Jesus returned to Capernaum and had become so popular that there was not even standing room at the house where he was staying due to all the people who had come to see him. Four men came calling, carrying a man on his bed with palsy. Because it was so crowded they were unable to enter the door, so they took the roof off and lowered him down to Jesus.

When Jesus, impressed by their faith, said to the sick man, "Son thy sins be forgiven thee," the scribes thought in their hearts that Jesus was blasphemous (Mark 1: 5). He knew they were thinking he did not have the power to forgive, so he asked them which is easier, to forgive sins or tell this sick man to rise and carry his bed. Jesus then turned to the man with palsy and told him to get up and carrying his bed home.

When the man arose and carried his bed for all to see, the crowds were amazed and glorified God. This passage describes several things, the first being the rising popularity of Jesus. He had reached celebrity status, with crowds following him wherever he went. People believed in him. The men carrying the sick man, believed in him so much that they ripped the roof off the house in order to make certain their friend obtained an audience with Jesus.

Rather than being angry that the men had damaged the house, Jesus was impressed and empathetic. When he told the sick man that his sins were forgiven, the religious leaders who were present, considered this a blasphemous act. To them, Jesus was committing a great sin by implying that he had the same powers as God. The scribes were there to observe and report, and so were skeptical at heart. They were not there as believers, but as watch-dogs against heretics.

Moreover, Jesus was causing a stir among the people, that the religious leaders felt threatened for Jesus' popularity meant they were losing control over the masses. In their hearts, for Jesus to assume he had the power of God was truly blasphemous. Although they never uttered a word, Jesus knew what they were thinking and feeling.

When Jesus turned to them and asked which was easier, to forgive sins or heal the man, he was not only making the point that he really was the son of God, but he was also showing off his true self to the skeptics as if to say, well, if you didn't believe.