The other day Jesus returned to my hometown. He’d been here before but had gone out to other villages to preach. He came back and was staying at one of his disciples’ homes.
Everyone was talking about how he was back and might heal more people. We’d heard that he had recently healed a leper and was teaching and preaching again too.
When I heard he was back I wondered whether he’d heal me. I began to wonder and have hope.
You see, I couldn’t walk or move at all. I was paralysed. Every day my family and friends would roll me on my side, they would feed me, they would do so much for me. I could tell it was a strain on them. I know they cared for me, but I wanted to be able to do things on my own, to be part of everyday life like them.
I needed as much help as I could get, and it was pretty hard for some because they thought I might pass my paralysis onto them, or at least make them less holy and unclean.
Over the years, some of my neighbours have whispered to others in the village about how I must have done something wrong. That I must have sinned against God for this to happen to me. Or if it wasn’t me, it was my parents. I’m not sure that’s true.
Anyway, four friends of mine picked me up when they heard Jesus was back as well. They picked up my mat, which was sort of like a stretcher, and carried me to where he was staying. But even from far away we could see that the house was packed, it was so crowded. I didn’t know there were this many people in the village!
It was so busy that there wasn’t room to get through the front door. There wasn’t an empty seat. There wasn’t even standing room. The crowd was out the front garden and down the driveway. There was no way we could push through, they wouldn’t let me pass anyway.
So, my friends had this crazy idea. I couldn’t believe it at first. Wait till you hear about it, it really was a crazy idea.
They looked up at the roof of the house. It was low and flat, with a few beams running across and then the muddy straw plaster that held it all together.
They thought they might try to lower me through a hole in the roof instead! Can you believe it?
They got up on the roof, began taking away some of the roof and plaster, and made an opening.
I was a bit embarrassed to be honest. Everyone saw what they were doing. Some of the roof caved in and began dropping on people inside the house. It did cause Jesus to stop teaching for a while as well. Plus, there were these really straight-laced religious guys there, they were leaders in the synagogue. I think they were there to check Jesus out too. Talk about embarrassing!
Finally the opening was big enough to get my mat through and lower me down. I, of course, couldn’t do anything about it. My mates grabbed the mat and me and dropped me right in front of Jesus. It was amazing. I think one of my friends will post it on TikTok this afternoon.
But Jesus realised we’d taken great steps to get me in front of him. He saw the faith of my friends, and my faith as well. I really believed he could heal me. He’d been healing so many others, I just knew he could.
But guess what?
The first thing he said to me was, “Son, your sins are forgiven”.
What!?
I was kind of shocked. It took a few moments for me to register what he’d said. That’s not what I came here for!
I came to be healed and here was this Jesus telling me my sins were forgiven.
I mean, that’s all well and good, but c’mon. He could’ve told me that before my friends made a hole in the roof!
What was Jesus going on about? My sins are forgiven…
Well, I didn’t really know what to say, but as I was looking up at Jesus I could tell in his face that he was frustrated or angry.
He wasn’t angry at me. He was looking straight at those religious leaders. I think he knew what they were thinking.
I bet they were thinking how could this man, this human being, equate himself with God by doing what only God could do – forgive sin! We know from scripture that it is only God who can forgive sin, and yet here was Jesus saying this to me!
He was going to be in trouble.
Jesus asked them a few questions. He certainly did know what they were thinking. He asked them what might be easier; to say your sins are forgiven or to say get up, take your mat, and walk?
When Jesus said this, I had a sudden panic that perhaps he couldn’t do it. I know he’d healed heaps of people before, but maybe he couldn’t for me. Maybe I was too far gone. Maybe I was too sick. Maybe I was too sinful. Is that what Jesus was implying?
Then Jesus said more. He said he wanted the religious leaders to know that the Son of Man (which I found out later is a nickname he gives himself) has the authority on earth to forgive sins! He then told me to get up, take up my mat, and go home.
I had to take a moment to process it, but then I did what he told me.
He had a compelling way about him, a special kind of authority.
And so I did.
I stood up!
I then bent over to get my mat (It had been a while since I’d moved so I was a bit creaky in the bones).
And then I walked out of there!
Everyone just stood to the side as they watched me walk out the front door!
It was utterly astounding. No one could believe it. Everyone was amazed and they all praised God for what Jesus had done.
And I thought my greatest problem was my legs. If I could just stand, if I could just walk, if I could just carry my own belongings.
When he looked at me and said, “Your sins are forgiven,” I was confused. But now I understand.
If he had only healed my legs, I would still have carried something heavier with me – guilt, shame, distance from God.
Jesus went deeper. Deeper than I expected.
He gave me movement, but greater than that he gave me mercy.
He gave me strength of the body, but greater than that he forgave me my sin.
You may know exactly what you want Jesus to fix.
It might be your health, your situation, your relationships, your lust or greed or anxiety, your grief or your loneliness or your disappointment.
But what if your deepest need is not what you think it is?
What if your deepest need is not simply to be healed, but to be forgiven?
Jesus does not only have the authority to heal what is visible, but he has the authority to forgive that which is hidden.
King Jesus: A Series in Mark’s Gospel
Part 1: King Jesus: The Beginning of The Good News
Part 2: King Jesus: The Messenger
Part 3: King Jesus: The Love of God the Father
Part 4: King Jesus: The Kingdom of God
Part 5: King Jesus: The Calling of The Ordinary
Part 6: King Jesus: Place and Purpose
Part 7: King Jesus: The Authority Behind The Words
Part 8: King Jesus: The Power of Jesus
Part 9: King Jesus: The Leper
Part 10: King Jesus: The Paralytic
