Authority to Forgive Sin
Jesus healed a paralytic, demonstrating the authority of the Son of Man to discharge sins – Mark 2:1-12.
In both stories, Jesus dealt with the heart
of the problem. Rather than “heal,” he “cleansed” the leper. Rather than
proclaim the paralytic “healed,” he declared his sins “forgiven.”
And in both stories, “cleansing” and “forgiveness”
occur apart from the Jerusalem Temple and its rituals. This
explains the vehement objection of the “scribes.” Jesus “cleansed”
impurities and “discharged” sins without resorting to the means provided
in the Levitical code.
- (Mark 2:1-5) – “And entering again into Capernaum, after some days it was heard say he is in a house. And many were gathered so that no longer was there room even in the approaches to the door, and he began speaking to them the word. And they come, bearing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And not being able to get near him by reason of the multitude they uncovered the roof where he was, and having broken it up, they began letting down the couch whereon the paralytic was lying. And Jesus, seeing their faith, saith to the paralytic: Child! Your sins are forgiven!” – (Parallel passages: Matthew 9:2-8, Luke 5:18-26).
The roof of the typical Judean house was flat
and accessible by an outside staircase. It was constructed of thatch and mud
that could easily be broken open. Mark attributes the actions of the men
to their “faith” to which Jesus responded. Genuine faith is not abstract
knowledge or emotions. It produces concrete actions and decisions.
He told the paralytic his sins were “forgiven”
or “discharged.” The verb commonly rendered “forgive”
is the same one used elsewhere for “divorce” and the “discharging”
of debts. The point of contention was not the miraculous healing, but his
authority to discharge sins, especially apart from the required Temple rituals.
Jesus did not attribute all cases of a disease
to sin, and he did not blame this man’s condition on his being guilty of any
offense. Forgiveness is linked to physical healing because it is connected to
making humans whole – physically and spiritually.
- (Mark 2:6-12) – “Now there were certain of the Scribes there, sitting and deliberating in their hearts: Why does this man speak thus? He is speaking profanely! Who can forgive sins save one God? And Jesus, immediately taking note in his spirit that they are deliberating so within themselves, said to them: Why are you deliberating these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, your sins are discharged, or to say, Rise, take up your couch and be walking? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to be forgiving sins upon the earth, he said to the paralytic: To you, I say, Rise, take up your couch and be going your way to your house. And he arose and, immediately, taking up the couch, went forth before all, so that all were beside themselves and were glorifying God, saying, Thus, we never saw it!”
The scribes were offended because God alone
had the authority to declare sins forgiven. Furthermore, this was done apart
from the Temple rituals and without the participation of the priests. While the
chief priest performed an act of national absolution on the annual Day of Atonement, not even he was authorized to proclaim sins “forgiven.”
Christ’s words appeared presumptuous to the men from Jerusalem, if not
blasphemous.
In response, Jesus asked which is easier, to
say, “your sins are forgiven are your sins,” or, “Rise and walk?”
Both statements are easy to say, and both are impossible to do without the
authority of God. He did not ask which is easier to do but which is easier “to
say.”
It is far easier to proclaim the forgiveness
of sins since no one can evaluate the validity of your claim from observable
evidence. To say the paralytic is “healed” is more difficult since verification
is immediate and obvious. If Jesus could demonstrate his authority to heal, it
validated his authority to proclaim the “forgiveness of sins.”
The Greek verb rendered “arise” is the
same one used later for the “rising” of Jesus from the dead. The
restoration of the body and the forgiveness of sin are related acts, two sides
of the same coin. The “Son of Man” came to make the entire man whole so
he could rise to walk in newness of life - (Mark 16:6, Romans 8:11, 2
Corinthians 5:16-17).
This is the first instance of the term “Son of Man” in Mark. Jesus did not say, “I have authority,” but the “Son of Man has authority” to forgive sins.
"Son of Man" is the
self-designation used most often by Jesus in the synoptic gospels. In his
capacity as the “Son of Man,” he was authorized to “discharge”
the debt of sins. The term is derived from the book of Daniel:
- (Daniel 7:13-14) - “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming. And he approached the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to him was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.”
By identifying himself as the “Son of Man,”
Jesus indicated the source of his authority, the “Ancient of Days,” and
his healings and exorcisms validated his identification. Later, he appealed to
the same authority when he overrode certain Sabbath regulations.
By rising and carrying his litter, the healed
paralytic validated Christ’s authority and the power of his “word.” By
this healing, God authenticated his status as the Messiah and the “Son of
Man.”
Thus, Jesus demonstrated his authority to the
crowds and the religious authorities. Nevertheless, the latter group rejected
him. And in Mark, this incident marks the start of the conflicts between
him and the authorities from the Temple that led to his death on a Roman cross.
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