“Reasons to be astounded”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditations – Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Mark 2:1-12 (Forward, p. 81) CEV p. 1027
We are told that the crowd was astounded, amazed, at this miracle that Jesus wrought, and well they should have been—for good reason, and for several good reasons in fact.
First of all, most understandably, was the amazement—no, the shock and dismay—at what had just happened to this private dwelling there in Capernaum. A great big, gaping hole had just been torn open in its roof. Yes, we are told that roofs were relatively insubstantial, simply boughs and beams covered with packed mud, but that doesn’t do away with the damage done, nor the dust and dirt it created in the living quarters down below, nor the inconvenience and cost of the repairs. It would seem that this was probably the home of the extended family of Andrew and Peter, and if so, we know that Peter’s mother in law lived there—and who knows who else? (If they were true to the general pattern of the times, the lads’ father, Jonah, would have also lived there). I wonder how all this lot felt about this startling and disruptive occurrence, especially given that this newcomer, this upstart of a Jesus, had just convinced their boys to forsake the family business to follow Him.
Then, obviously, there were the four friends of the paralytic. I find that their love and devotion, their tenacity, and their faith in Jesus to be utterly noteworthy and incredible. The paralyzed man must have been something of ‘a dead weight’ and carrying his litter, his bed, must have been no easy task—even on just level ground (and perhaps for blocks!). But then to weld him up those narrow, precipitous stairs on the outside of the house: that must have been no stroll, no ‘walk in the park’, either. But, much to their credit, and their faith, they never gave up, even in spite of the difficulties in their way. Many would have given up merely with the crowds packing the house’s doorway and interior, but not them! They persisted, no matter what the cost or the bother. And more, surely, there would have been the outcries of dismay at the time, and the recriminations and second-guessing after the fact. Nevertheless, nothing dismayed them from their appointed task of bringing help to their suffering and helpless friend.
And then, finally, there are the actions and words of Jesus. Instead of addressing the obvious issue, the paralysis, He focuses on something deeper, namely his spiritual life. He addresses the issue of his sin, which, in this case—though not in every case (see John 9:1-3)—would appear to be intimately bound with his physical affliction, his paralysis. He says to the man, “My friend, your sins are forgiven.”
Understandably aghast at this seeming presumption, the teachers of the Law of Moses who were present immediately understood exactly what Jesus was asserting, namely that He had the power, the authority, to forgive sins. “Only God can forgive sins”, they said, and certainly that is correct. We can forgive sins wrought against ourselves, but not sins against another person nor sins in general. No wonder these folks came to the conclusion, “He must think that he is God!” And, indeed, they were right. This is what Jesus thought.
And, then, to prove His point beyond all semblance of a doubt, Jesus changed His tactics, and essentially, put God on the spot. “Is it easier for me to tell this crippled man that his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get up and pick up his mat and go on home? I will show you that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth.” He then said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and go on home.’ Essentially thereby He is asking that God vindicate Him by healing the man and thereby backing up His claim to have the right to forgive sins. And so, not only was the healing utterly astounding, but then, so too was the profound truth, that surrounded it. Jesus was obviously far more than ‘just’ a faith healer, a worker of miracles, but God come in the flesh! No wonder they were astounded.
So, what about us today? What are we to make of this? And how are we to apply it? Certainly, this account should reinforce our faltering faith and help us to realize that there is nothing that is actually impossible for God. Think of all those seemingly ‘impossible’ situations, those situations where differences seem intractable and absolute and no solution or reconciliation or forgiveness seems possible. And, certainly, we should be inspired and encouraged by the faith, the zeal, the love of those four friends. They were determined, they were willing to stoop at pretty well anything to bring their beleaguered friend to Jesus. Are we, you and I, quite so willing--in prayer, perhaps, to bring people, and their needs, to God, to Jesus? If we are like those four friends we should be. Perhaps we would do well to imitate their faith and their resolve. Amen.
Forward note: “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’” (verse 5).
“María is an older woman who helped found our congregation, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. As there was no Episcopal building in our region, she offered her home, which served as our temple for 15 years. Her contagious faith has reached all our members. She has often borne testimony of how much God worked in her life.
“Today her health is failing. Her weight loss makes her look very frail, yet she has overcome several deadly diseases. At a time when we feared for her health, she managed to beat dengue fever and a heart attack. Although she is now fighting another difficult battle, her faith, her prayers, and her submission to God do not waiver.
“Jesus saw the faith of the paralytic man and of those who came with him. More than forgiving his sins, Jesus raised the man from his bed and told him to walk. Similarly, María’s faith, along with that of those who love her, is receiving its reward.”
Moving Forward: “Have you experienced strength and healing through prayer in times of sickness? How do you think this happens?”