JESUS HAS AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE SINS

Mark 2:1-12

Key Verse 10a

But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”

1. Read verses 1-5. When Jesus came home, what did he do for many people? (1,2) What did some men do in order to bring a paralyzed man to Jesus? (3,4) What did Jesus see? (5a) What did Jesus say to the paralyzed man? (5b)

2. Read verses 6-9. What did the teachers of the law think about Jesus’ words? (6,7) What did Jesus say to them? (8,9) What did Jesus want them to know? (10)

3. Read verses 11-12. What command did Jesus give the paralyzed man? (11) What happened to him? (12a) How did the people respond? (12b) What can we learn from Jesus and His authority?

JESUS HAS AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE SINS

Mark 2:1-12

Key Verse 10a

“But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”

Introduction

In this passage Jesus declared sin forgiveness to a paralyzed man seeing his faith and proved that he had authority to forgive sins by healing the man. Many people are paralyzed because of their sins. We can learn that Jesus can forgive all our sins with his authority and let us live a powerful and healthy life for God’s glory through his passage.

1. Read verses 1-5. When Jesus came home, what did he do for many people? (1,2) What did some men do in order to bring a paralyzed man to Jesus? (3,4) What did Jesus see? (5a) What did Jesus say to the paralyzed man? (5b)

1-1. Read verses 1-5.

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.”

1-2. When Jesus came home, what did he do for many people? (1,2)

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.

· After healing a man with leprosy, Jesus could not enter a town openly because so many people came to him to get healed. So he stayed in lonely places (Mk1:45). After few days in lonely places, Jesus again entered Capernaum and the people heard that he had come home.

· Capernaum was the center of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee area.

· People gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door. The people gathered at the house to get healed by Jesus. They had waited for Jesus for long time since Jesus had left Capernaum.

· Jesus preached the word to them- Even though so many people came to him for healing, Jesus focused on preaching the word of God not healing

- Jesus wanted to help them to receive what they really needed, which was salvation from their sin and kingdom of God by preaching the word of God to them instead of healing their diseases satisfying their demand.

- After his prayer, Jesus set the clear direction for his ministry to preach the good news as his priority. The core of Jesus’ salvation work is to plant the kingdom of God in people’s heart.

1-3. What did some men do in order to bring a paralyzed man to Jesus? (3,4)

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.

· Some men brought a paralyzed man to Jesus. The paralyzed man was carried by four men.

· They could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd. But they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat with the paralyzed man.

- The four people were good friends of the paralyzed man. They wanted to help the man who was not able to come to Jesus for himself. It was not easy work to carry the paralyzed man to Jesus. But they sacrificed their time and did hard work to help. A good friend is the one who can take action even with sacrifice to help his or her friend not just enjoying good time together.

- They believed that Jesus could heal their friend even though his condition was very difficult. The man’s friends were spiritual friends who had faith in Jesus. It is good to have spiritual friends who can help us with faith.

- They didn’t give up before the obstacles. They made a way in the situation in which things looked impossible. God helps those who keep looking for a way by faith not giving up in the impossible situation. Those who have faith never give up but believe there is a way always and find a way and even make a way by faith.

1-4. What did Jesus see? (5a)

When Jesus saw their faith,

· Jesus saw the friends’ and paralyzed man’s faith. Jesus saw the faith that was working behind their action.

- People couldn’t see their faith and they might even blame their action.

- When we have faith and do things by the faith, God sees the faith and bless the faith.

- ‘Jesus saw their faith’ – Our faith draws Jesus’ attention always. When someone has faith Jesus quickly notice and responds to the faith. Jesus values the faith, which is more valuable than gold. God doesn’t care how many things of this world we have or how much ability we have. What he cares is our faith. God wants to see faith from us. We need to check if we have the faith in our heart that God can find.

- When we do things with faith, that action can be recognized by God because of the faith. So whatever we do we need to do it by faith.

1-5. What did Jesus say to the paralyzed man? (5b)

he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

· “Son”

• ‘Son’- Jesus called the paralyzed man ‘son’. People saw the man useless man or a burden to others. Even the man himself might see him in that way. But Jesus saw him as a precious son.

• To God all men are precious son to him regardless their condition or situation. Even though someone might be totally disabled with certain mental or physical damage but he or she is still precious one to God. We should see everyone with Jesus’ eye.

· ‘your sins are forgiven’ – Jesus’ declared sin forgiveness for the man. It was unexpected thing since the man came to get healed from his paralysis.

• We might imagine his friends shouting, “No, he’s paralyzed! We wanted him to walk, not to be forgiven!” But Jesus knew what the man’s real need was and what his greatest need was. What good was it if the man had two whole legs and walked right into hell with them! Whenever there is a problem, almost always, sin is the real problem. Jesus got right to the problem.

• Jesus did not mean that the paralyzed man was especially sinful or that his paralysis was directly caused by sin. Instead, He addressed the man’s greatest need and the common root of all pain and suffering – man’s sinful condition.

• Forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs. It meets the greatest need; it costs the greatest price; and it brings the greatest blessing and the most lasting results.

- Again Jesus gave him sin forgiveness because it was what the man really needed. People thought the man’s problem was his paralysis. But it was his sins that had him live miserable life.

- All problems including disease that people suffer from were caused by sin that separated man from God. What people really need is sin forgiveness.

- Sin forgiveness is the ultimate solution that brings us true healing and happiness by restoring broken relationship with God. Physical healing is just temporary solution.

- The paralyzed man had enough faith to receive forgiveness. We receive forgiveness through faith. The man must have good faith to be ready to believe Jesus had the authority of forgiveness. When we believe Jesus as the one who has authority to forgive our sins, all our sins are forgiven.

- Jesus also declared the sin forgiveness to let people know he came to this world to set people free from sin. People gathered in great number to get healed from their physical disease. But Jesus declared that he came to this world to forgive sinners.

2. Read verses 6-10. What did the teachers of the law think about Jesus’ words? (6,7) What did Jesus say to them? (8,9) What did Jesus want them to know? (10)

2-1. Read verses 6-10.

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,

2-2. What did the teachers of the law think about Jesus’ words? (6,7)

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?”

· Teachers of the law thought that Jesus was blaspheming by declaring forgiveness which that only God can do.

· They didn’t know who Jesus was. To them Jesus was just a man. They became blind because of their pride and unbelieving mind.

2-3. What did Jesus say to them? (8,9)

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’?

· Jesus knew in his spirit what they were thinking in their heart. God knows what we are thinking in our hearts. So we should be careful about what we are thinking and we should have thought what pleases our God. The good way to keep good thinking is to meditate on the word of God day and night and believe the words.

· Which in easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?

- He asked them which one is easier between declaring forgiveness with word and healing man’s paralysis.

- Both are difficult to man. Only God can do the both. The teachers of law might think that healing the paralyzed man could be harder because it should take place visibly.

2-4. What did Jesus want them to know? (10)

But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”

· Jesus wanted them to know that he had the authority to forgive sins on earth. Even though the teachers of the law were against him, but Jesus still wanted to help them to know the truth.

· Now Jesus wanted to do the miracle of healing that all people could see so that people may know he had the authority to forgive sins

· Jesus has the authority to forgive sins and forgives our sins even now when we have faith in him.

- When we come to him and confess our sins to him asking forgiveness believing that Jesus has the authority to forgive our sins, he forgives our sins with his authority to forgive sins.

· God wants us to know that Jesus has the authority to forgive sins on earth and believe it.

· It is the great news that Jesus has the authority to forgive sins on earth because anyone can come to him and receive the forgiveness.

3. Read verses 11-12. What command did Jesus give the paralyzed man? (11) What happened to him? (12a) How did the people respond? (12b) What can we learn from Jesus and His authority?

3-1. Read verses 11-12.

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!”

3-2. What command did Jesus give the paralyzed man? (11)

¹¹ “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”

· “I tell you” – Jesus commanded with the authority of God.

· “get up, take your mat and go home.” It was declaration of healing with the authority.

- No one can command like this except God, the creator

- Jesus healed the man with His mighty word.

- To prove that His declaration of sin forgiveness was true and He had authority, Jesus was healing the man with His absolute command.

3-3. What happened to him? (12a)

He got up, took his mat and walked out

- The man got healed and got up, took his mat and walked out.

- Things happened just as Jesus had commanded. Jesus’ command, his word itself had power.

- Through this Jesus demonstrated that he had the authority to forgive sins.

- Just as the man got healed when Jesus commanded him to get up, his sin was forgiven when Jesus said, “your sins are forgiven”

- Sin forgiveness is invisible thing but it happens when Jesus forgives us. - - - By helping them to know that the invisible miracle, the sin forgiveness happened Jesus showed them the visible miracle, healing paralysis.

* in full view of them all- the miracle happened before so many people including the teachers of the law. Now no one could argue against Jesus’ authority of forgiveness.

3-4. How did the people respond? (12b)

This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

* Everyone was amazed by Jesus’ healing and praised God, saying ‘We have never seen anything like this”

- They were amazed- it was so shocking event that caused them to be amazed and even terrified.

- They praised God - They might feel the presence of God. They saw the glory of God and experienced the power of God through Jesus. It was the evidence that Jesus was the Messiah whom God sent.

* “We have never seen anything like this!”

- For the first time they saw the miracle. Jesus’ power and authority were different from any other ones that had been shown before. It was the sign that God’s salvation work through Messiah started.

3-5. What can we learn from Jesus and His authority?

Personal application.

Conclusion

Jesus has authority to forgive all our sins. Everybody has sin problems that make him or her paralyzed and dysfunctional to live miserable life. Sin is the causes of all problems. But when we come to him by faith in his authority and ask forgiveness confessing our sins he declares “son, your sins are forgiven” May God help us to come Jesus by faith and receive forgiveness so that we may live powerful and healthy life.

One word, “Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”