The Need Beneath the Need

The clock at the back of the big church building was well known for its inability to keep time accurately. Numerous attempts were made to fix the problem, but all to no avail.  Finally, the pastor placed a sign over the clock which read, “Don’t blame the hands, the trouble lies deeper.” 

There are a lot of needy people in the world today, but beneath their needs, all have a greater need – forgiveness of their sins before a holy God.

In Mark 2:1-12, a paralyzed man is brought to Jesus for physical healing, but Jesus saw the need beneath the need – and acted to fix the man’s depraved heart.

Here’s the ultimate reality of life since the “east of Eden” event - irrespective of the fitness of one’s physical condition, they are not healthy if they have not heard the Lord Jesus Christ say to them, “son, your sins are forgiven.”

One of the most distinctive things about Christianity is that it claims that sins can be forgiven.  This is the life-blood of the Christian message.  This is the message that was presented by Jesus. 

This passage shows our Lord once more at Capernaum. Once more we find Him doing His accustomed work, preaching the word, and healing those that were sick.

In the light of Old Testament revelation, sin and disease, forgiveness and healing are frequently interrelated concepts. Healing is conditioned by and is often a demonstration of the forgiveness of God.

For example, we read in Psalm 103:3, “who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases…” 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Sickness, disease, and death are the consequences of the sinful condition of all men. When Jesus pronounced forgiveness, he recognized that man can be genuinely made whole only when the issue of sin has been settled.

A paralyzed body is tragic, but a paralyzed soul is worse. The good news is that Jesus came for both. In our text we see that Jesus heals the body to show He can heal the heart. Jesus always sees the need beneath the need.

A Faith that Believes that Jesus is the Only Way – 2:1-5

Mark 2:1-3:6 is a single unit comprising five controversies between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders in Galilee in northern Israel. There is another series of five controversies with the same antagonists in Jerusalem in Judea (11:27-12:37). In the present section, though, Jesus is back home from His preaching and ministry tour throughout Galilee (1:38-45), likely staying at Peter’s house once again (cf. 1:29).

Let’s set the scene by reading from Luke’s account of this same event: Luke 5:17, “On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.”

Having heard that Jesus had returned, many gathered to hear Him speak. So many gathered that there is no room - even the doorway is jammed (cf. 1:32-33, 37)! They are certainly interested in Jesus, but their interest is for the wrong reason. They want another miracle, but instead Jesus gives them preaching. He preached “the message” - the word in the Greek is logos - to them (2:2). This involved proclaiming the Scriptures (our Old Testament) and continuing His call to repent and believe the gospel in light of the coming kingdom of God (cf. 1:14-15, 22, 38-39). “More than any other expression in early Christianity, ‘the word’ defines the essence of Jesus’ ministry.”

During Jesus’ teaching, four men showed up with a man who could not walk (2:3). Obviously, they believed Jesus could heal their friend. However, because of the crowd, they could not get in to see Jesus (2:4). Undeterred, they took the outside staircase up to the flat rooftop. The roof was made of wood beams, cross-laid with branches and packed with a thick layer of grass, mud, and clay. One could easily walk on it. Conveniently, one could also dig through it. The men “unroofed” the roof. They lowered the man on his bed until he lay there before Jesus. Jesus saw “their” faith, probably referring to all five men, but at the very least encompassing the four friends. In either case our Lord clearly was impressed, and He honored their faith by pouring out mercy on the paralyzed man.

Jesus addressed him as “son” (“teknon”, “child”), revealing His great affection and compassion for the young man’s plight. And with this compassion Jesus told the man, “Your sins are forgiven.” This is interesting since the men probably came to Jesus not for forgiveness but for healing. However, Jesus gave them both! In this instance it appears personal sin and physical sickness are related, though this is not always the case (cf. the blind man in John 9).

Seeing the man’s whole situation, Jesus lovingly looked past his surface need and met his deeper need; He looked past the man’s immediate need and met his real need! Based on who He is and what He would accomplish on the cross, Jesus extended to a paralyzed sinner God’s full and complete pardon of sin. He may have needed healing, but even more he - like all of us -needed to experience the forgiveness of sins made possible by Jesus.

A Forgiveness that Brings the Joy of Being Made Whole – 2:5

“And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 

1. Jesus Saw Their Faith – v.5

There is nothing in the text that suggests the paralyzed man was looking for forgiveness. He was looking for healing. But Jesus did not say, "Sir, your sins are forgiven." He addressed him as an adult would a child, as a superior would a subordinate. He called the man "son" and told him his sins were forgiven. He looked past the terrible paralysis of the man’s body and saw the even deeper need—relief from guilt.

The late R.C. Sproul said, “Twenty-five years ago, a psychiatrist who had a very prosperous practice in South Florida asked me to come on his staff. He offered me what at the time would have been a princely salary to join his team. I said: "I do not have a degree in psychiatry. Why do you want me?" He said, ‘R.C., 95 percent of my clients do not need a psychiatrist. They need a priest, because their lives are being destroyed by unresolved guilt.'”

I think Jesus saw the faith of the paralyzed man, and his friends, who seemed confident, that if they could get to Christ, he would heal him. The faith of the one appears in allowing himself to be brought in such a manner, under so much weakness; and with so much trouble; and of the other in bringing him, and breaking through so many difficulties to get him to Christ.

We’re not told the names of these four men, but Ray Stedman offers the following:

• Faithful Frank said, “I believe we can get this man to Jesus.”
  • Hopeful Harry said, “I believe there is hope for this man.”
  • Loving Larry said, “I really love this guy. I hate his sin, but I love him.”
  • Determined Dan said, “Let’s roll.”

1. Jesus Showed His Authority to Forgive - 2:10-11

Beyond all argument, the greatest preacher ever was Jesus the Christ, and beyond all argument, the greatest message ever preached was the message of forgiveness. It still is the best news and the greatest message ever preached. The message that God will forgive all your sins if you repent and ask Him is the good news declared in the gospel. Jesus came to preach that message and He came to make the sacrifice to make that forgiveness which He preached possible by His death on the cross. Forgiveness is the single most important and blessed benefit that God can provide. Forgiveness is the door to all blessings. Forgiveness is the door to blessing in this life.  Forgiveness is the door to eternal life in heaven. And so the matter of forgiveness is the heart of the Christian gospel. But you cannot preach the Christian gospel about forgiveness unless you understand sin and its consequences. To understand that all men are sinners, that all men are alienated from God, all humanity is headed toward eternal hell where they will forever be punished for their sins and then to understand that God by grace has devised a means by which He can forgive sinners all their sins so that they can escape judgment and enter into eternal bliss in the glory of His heaven, that is the message of the gospel, that is the good news.  And any true preacher preaches that message because that is the message that goes right through the story of redemption. It is the story of God forgiving sinners.

The apostle Peter declared on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:38, “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 

Acts 5:31, “God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”

Acts 10:43, “To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 

Acts 13:38, the apostle Paul said, "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren," verse 38, "that through Him," that is through Christ, "forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you."  

Acts 26:18, “to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” 

Ephesians 1:7, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” 

Colossians 1:14, “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

If you want to know what is distinctive about Christianity, look no further - God will forgive all your sins, which changes forever your relationship to Him. Instead of being your judge, He becomes your Father.  Instead of sending you to hell in an act of just retribution, He takes you to heaven in an act of gracious blessing, and all because your sins have been forgiven.  That is the message that Christ came to preach. And to provide that forgiveness He had to die on the cross and take the judgment of God for sinners. Their judgment having been rendered on Christ, God could then forgive those who repent and come to Him.

Divine forgiveness is compassionate, showing unmerited kindness. It is creative in bringing men into an eternal relationship with God. It is costly, requiring the sacrifice of the Son of God on the cross of Calvary.

“I was bruised, but Jesus healed me; faint was I from many a fall; sight was gone and fears possessed me – But He freed me from them all!

A Fault-finding View that is Bound to Jump to Conclusions that are Wrong – 2:6-7

Upon hearing Jesus forgive the man’s sin, they immediately accuse Him of blasphemy, the very charge they will use to get Him crucified (Mark 14:64-65). To their credit they at least understood the significance of Jesus’ actions here. They recognized that the proclamation of forgiveness was not a passing comment but a declaration of deity: “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

This was a serious charge with serious consequences. They understood Jesus’ words to be dishonoring and disrespectful to God. Blasphemy was a grave offense, punishable by death from stoning (Lev 24:15-16). Jesus’ words are indeed blasphemous - unless He is in fact God! The whole scenario leaves everyone questioning, “Who is this One claiming to forgive sins?”

Actually, the scribes were technically correct. Only God can forgive sins. That is exactly and precisely what Jesus was asserting, and He will prove it momentarily by healing this man. Later He will prove it for all time in His resurrection from the dead.

We see this in Isaiah 43:25: “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Daniel 9:9 says, “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him.”

Tim Keller offers a helpful illustration. Suppose Tom, Dick and Harry are hanging out when Tom stands up and punches Dick in the mouth. Harry then turns to Tom and says, “I forgive you for punching Dick in the mouth. All is good.” What do you think Dick would say? “Harry, you can’t forgive Tom. Only I can forgive him. He didn’t wrong you; he wronged me.” Listen. You can only forgive a sin if it’s against you. When Jesus tells the paralytic that his sins are forgiven, in essence He is saying, “Your sins have been against me.” The scribes are right – only God can forgive sins so if Jesus is claiming to be able to do this, then He’s claiming to be God.

In Mark 2: 9, He asks a question that no doubt confounded them: “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’”? At first glance it’s easier to say that someone’s sins are forgiven because there’s no way to verify it. Notice the word “say.” It’s easy to say that sins are forgiven and to say someone can walk. But actually, both are difficult and impossible for man to do. Both are possible only with God. But by doing the visible, Jesus is proving that He can do the invisible. He can heal externally and internally. He healed the physical to show that He can heal the spiritual. This would prove that the sins of the paralytic were pardoned.

We will make two more brief observations from our text in Mark 2:1-12:

1. Some people enjoy great spiritual privileges and yet make no use of them. This is strikingly illustrated by the history of Capernaum. No city in Palestine appears to have enjoyed so much of our Lord's presence, during His earthly ministry, as did this city. It was the place where He dwelt, after He left Nazareth. (Matt. 4:13.) It was the place where many of His miracles were worked, and many of His sermons delivered. But nothing that Jesus said or did seems to have had any effect on the hearts of the inhabitants. They crowded to hear Him, as we read in this passage, "until there was no room about the door." They were amazed, astonished, and filled with wonder at His mighty works. But they were not converted. And they drew from our Lord the heaviest condemnation that He ever pronounced against any place, except Jerusalem - "And you people of Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in Sodom, it would still be here today. I assure you, Sodom will be better off on the judgment day than you." (Matt. 11:23, 24)

It is good for us all to mark well this case of Capernaum. These people heard the most faultless preaching, and saw it confirmed by the most surprising miracles, and yet remained dead in trespasses and sins. We need reminding that the same Gospel which is the savor of life to some, is the savor of death to others, and that the same fire which softens the wax will also harden the clay. Nothing, in fact, seems to harden man's heart so much, as to hear the Gospel regularly, and yet deliberately prefer the service of sin and the world. Never was there a people so highly favored as the people of Capernaum, and never was there a people who appear to have become so hard. Let us beware of walking in their steps. We ought often to use the prayer of the Litany, "From hardness of heart, good Lord, deliver us."

2. We must not forget how great a blessing AFFLICTION may prove to a man's soul. This helpless and powerless man was carried in his bed by four dear friends in order to see him healed. The great Physician of soul and body saw a need beyond his needs and him and meet his greatness need first, the forgiveness of his sins. In short, the man who had been carried from his house that morning weak, dependent, and bowed down both in body and soul, returned to his own house rejoicing and made whole.

Who can doubt that to the end of his days this man would thank God for his paralysis? Without it he might probably have lived and died in ignorance and never seen Christ at all. Without it, he might have kept his sheep on the green hills of Galilee all his life long, and never been brought to Christ, and never heard these blessed words, "your sins are forgiven." That paralysis was indeed a blessing. Who can tell but it was the beginning of eternal life to his soul?

How many in every age can testify that this paralyzed man's experience has been their own! They have learned wisdom by affliction. Bereavements have proved mercies. Losses have proved real gains. Sicknesses have led them to the great Physician of souls, sent them to the Bible, shut out the world, shown them their own foolishness, taught them to pray. Thousands can say like David, "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." (Psalm. 119:71.)

The Message for Us Today

1. Jesus sees your deepest need. You may come to Him for relief, but He wants to give you redemption.
2. Jesus rewards persistent faith. Don’t stop interceding, carrying others to Jesus in every way possible, believing, and praying.
3. Jesus alone has authority to forgive sins. Religion can’t forgive sins, good works can’t forgive - only Christ can say, “Your sins are forgiven.”