The Main Accusation Against Jesus. (Mark 2: 1-12)

 Has anyone ever stood up in front of you and make a really big attack on Jesus? People attack Jesus for all sorts of reasons, some of them are peripheral and petty, but sometimes the attack is more profound. Sometimes people have a go at the accuracy of the Bible, or they question what Jesus is supposed to have said or done. But sometimes they go for the heart of the matter and attack the truth at the very heart of the Christian faith. They do that today, but they also did it 2000 years ago, and they did it to right to Jesus’ face.

That’s exactly what happened here in this short passage we have just read together. Jesus came preaching and healing people, and locally his popularity exploded. People were flocking to see him, granted it seemed many were more interested in seeing his miracles than hearing his message, nevertheless they came in numbers to see and hear him. His popularity was not universal, neither was it permanent because slowly at first, opposition began to arise. At first it was a sort of unwelcoming attitude, but it grew into hostility and in the end, became out and out hatred.

How is it that people can object to somebody who is simply coming speaking about God love and healing people of all things. What is the worst thing you could possibly say of such a person? What is the worst accusation you would make against such a person?

There were many accusations made against Jesus as we shall see over the next couple of episodes. But as we go through Marks account of the life of Christ, we shall see there is one main accusation that towers over all the others and I call it the main accusation against Jesus, and Mark explains it here. Were only in chapter 2 of the Gospel but this already is the beginning of the end so to speak for Jesus, because what begins here will ultimately lead to his crucifixion.

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.

(Mark 2: 1-2)

In these open verses we are told that after a few days away Jesus came to Capernaum, and he preached. Previously chapter 1 had told us he had spoken in the Synagogue, and he miraculously expelled a demon out of a man, and it also tells us his fame spread across all of Galilee. He then went to Peters house, where he healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Then we saw him taking a tour through some other villages and towns in the region and now he has come back to Capernaum. When he came back to Capernaum news immediately spread throughout the town that he was back, and people flocked again to see him. They packed the house both inside at which point Jesus come to the doorway and he preaches to them.

In this passage we see what Jesus says on this occasion and also what he does. But this time we also see and hear him do something He has not done before; he shall forgive a man of his sins. 

Some men came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them.

(Mark 2: 3)

Now, let’s just pause for a second and talk about the man who was paralyzed. This man could not walk physically, he was paralyzed. Clearly there would have been a whole lot of things he would not have been able to do for himself. At that time, no wheelchairs, no hoists, no modern technology. This man was carried her on a pallet, and there was nothing he could do or nowhere he could go unless four people carried him. Clearly, he could not have made a living for himself, he would have had to depend on other people to take care of him in every way. These four people were very likely his family or friends and perhaps in a modern sense his carers also. They are probably the ones who heard that Jesus was back town and healing people and thought why not our friend, he could really do with a healing. They put their man on a wooden stretcher, and they head towards Peter’s house where Jesus is preaching. As we have just seen the place was packed and they couldn’t get in but these friends were determined, and they believed that Jesus could heal their friend.

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.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralysed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’

(Mark 2: 4-5)

So, they carry him up on the roof, and begin to take it apart, and then lower him down through the hole, probably with ropes, so they could get him. Interesting to me is the fact that it was the faith of these friend that got this man in front of Jesus, isn’t that interesting. That doesn’t mean that the man on the stretcher didn’t have faith also, because this must include theirs as well. Also note it took the faith of more than one person to get the man in front of Jesus and Jesus seeing their faith said, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven. Perhaps all this man and his friend had at this point was faith. He couldn’t walk down the aisle to the front of a church or a synagogue. He couldn’t do anything in order to get saved from his situation, he simply had faith. Then as today, salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone and it tells us that Jesus when he saw their faith said, “your sins are forgiven”. But then the plot thickens.

Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?

(Mark 2: 6-7)

Where did these ‘Teachers of the Law’ suddenly appear from and why did they get upset so quickly? I think we can assume when these teachers of the law he heard Jesus claiming to forgive sins that it didn’t sit well with them. To make matter worse for them, they will know that Jesus had already healed a man with leprosy, and do you remember what he told that him to do. Go and show yourself to the priests and scribes (The teacher of the Law) and offer the appropriate sacrifices.

The members of the Sanhedrin who were called as scribes and teachers of the law’s were the one who were given the job of judge any claims of Messiahship. If someone was claiming to be the messiah, or someone was suspected of being the Messiah it was the teachers of the laws job to go and investigate. What is really happening here is that these same guys had no doubt heard that Jesus had healed someone with leprosy. They knew this was really important because only God could do that, according to them. So, they quickly rush up to Galilee with all the others and when the crowd gather, they are sitting in the front seat. They are there to see who this person is, and what it is that he is doing. What is really important to understand here is that everyone in the room knows that only God can forgive sin. In fact, we are specifically told way back in II Kings 5 in the story of Naaman that only God can cleanse someone with leprosy.

Therefore, when we see in Mark chapter one Jesus cure and cleanse a man with leprosy, this is deeply significant. That one events kicks off this whole investigation process which ends up with these scribes and teachers of the laws sitting in the front seats watching everything that Jesus says and does and what does Jesus say in front of them?

He tells this paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven”.

Notice how at this point the paralyzed man does not get up and walk, Jesus simply states that “your sins are forgiven”. You can just imagine what is going on in the minds of the teachers and the scribes, they are totally perplexed at this point. But on the inside, they are thinking “Who is this man, only God can claim to forgive sins.” The story continues.

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? Which is easier: to say to this paralysed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take your mat and walk”? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So, he said to the man, ‘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.

(Mark 2: 8-12)

Then Jesus who knew what they were thinking, the text tells us they were only thinking it at this stage, they hadn’t verbalised their unbelief yet, and yet Jesus says, “Why are you thinking these things?  Which is easier: to say to this paralysed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take your mat and walk”? The answer to that question is, it is obviously it is easy to say it, doing it is something else. Anybody can say it, what’s not so easy, what’s seems impossible is to say to a paralyzed man is, “take up thy bed and walk”. Jesus is saying, I’d better do the impossible thing to prove to you that I can do the easy thing . Jesus then says to the paralyzed man, “take up your bed and walk”. It is at this point, the man takes up his bed and walks. Think about how Jesus frames his response, “But that you may know that the ‘Son of Man’, has authority on earth to forgive sins”.

Jesus is also claiming to be “The Son of Man” , he is doubling down on his divine Messiahship by using this Old Testament title of the Messiah. Jesus by using that title of himself is absolutely claiming to be the one who is able to forgive sins. Notice the big accusation made against Jesus back in verse 7 is actually one of blasphemy, when they said, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone”? The Jewish leaders knew if Jesus was claiming to be God, the Messiah, the one who can forgive sin. That can only be one of two things. It can be true or it can be the blackest of lies, and nothing else but blasphemy.

The main charge being laid against Jesus, was blasphemy because he was claiming to be able to forgive sin. That’s the great accusation made against him. Who do think you are claiming to be able to forgive sin? That the same great accusation that is made against Christianity today. Who do you think you are claiming that only Jesus can forgive sin and make people right with God. What right do you have to even tell us what sin is. The story then ends here with all the people being amazed. The general public are amazed. In fact, the people say we’ve have never seen anything like this, praise God. But the scribes and teachers of the law are saying, we’ve never seen anything like this, and they accuse Jesus of blasphemy.

This passage is pointing out to us that as soon as Jesus began to preach, he forgives people of their sin, and by their reaction to those events the people are immediately divided. Every single person makes a decision one way or another. The first is this, this passage is designed to demonstrate two things. Firstly, the fact that Jesus came to forgive sins, and secondly that people have one two possible reactions to that. In chapter 1 he healed a man with leprosy out of compassion. In chapter 2 he heals a paralyzed man as confirmation that he is God, and God can forgive sins. By saying, ‘take up you bed and walk’ he is demonstrating to the everyone, including these scribes and teacher of the law that he has the power on earth to forgive sins.

The Mosai law at this time looked upon other people when they get things wrong, or they had sickness like this in their lives and condemns them. Jesus looks upon people when they get things wrong and offers to forgive them. The world says you’ve made you bed lie in it. Jesus says to someone lying in a bed, take it up thy bed and walk. Not only that Jesus is declaring himself to be the one who can forgive sin but that is also the exact same accusation that his enemies still bring against him today. This is always the main accusation against Jesus, this has always been the main charge. He is claiming to be God. He is claiming to forgive sin. Who does he think he is? The main charge made against Jesus has never charged in these last 2000 years. It the same today, what right do you have to say that Jesus is Lord? What right do you have to say that only Jesus can forgive sin? Just who do you Christians think you are. You have no right to judge me, just who do you think this Jesus of yours is. Well that a good question, who do you think he is? Who does Jesus say he is? We can see it right here, he declares he is God, in the flesh.

One final observation.

There is something else in the passage I feel I just have to comment on. It’s this unusual situation where people hacked though a roof to get their friend in front of Jesus. What that tells me, if if Jesus had the power to heal and restore people, so bring people to him. If Jesus has the power to forgive sin, then get people in front of him. They had faith in getting their friend in front of Jesus, but they also had determination and also it must be said, some creativity as well. They literally raised the roof to get somebody in front of Jesus. 

If we really believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and that Jesus can forgive sin, then we ought to be doing everything we can to get people in front of him. We need to be doing everything to get everybody to him. It took four people to get this one person to Christ that day. So, my question for you this morning is will you also choose to be a bearer of someone else’s burden. Will you do everything you can to get somebody to the Lord, so they too can be forgiven, healed of all the damage that sin had done in their live and forgiven by God himself.