
And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” —Mark 2:1-12 NKJV
And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. —Mark 2:1-4 NKJV
A. The Crowd Ain’t Always There For The Right Reason (v. 1-2)
B. You Need Some Friends Who Will Get You Jesus (v. 3-4)
When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” —Mark 2:5-7 NKJV
A. The Friends’ Faith (v. 5)
B. The Scribes Response (v. 6-7)
But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” —Mark 2:8-12 NKJV
A. The Confrontation (v. 8-9)
B. The Confirmation (v. 10-12)
The paralytic’s condition symbolizes the spiritual paralysis of sin. Just as the man was helpless without Jesus, humanity is powerless to save itself. At Calvary, Jesus lifts the burden of sin, setting us free.
The paralytic needed his friends to bring him to Jesus, just as humanity needed Jesus to bring us to God. On Calvary, Jesus becomes the bridge between God and man, reconciling us through His sacrifice.
By forgiving sins, Jesus provoked accusations of blasphemy. This foreshadows how, at His trial before the Sanhedrin, He is falsely accused of the same crime, ultimately leading to His crucifixion.
Rise, Take up your bed, and walk.
On a 3rd Day Morning, He Got Up