Digging Deeper: Jesus Does the Impossible – Again
9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Mark 2:9-12 (ESV)
JESUS DOES THE IMPOSSIBLE – AGAIN!
In 2015 the world was taken by storm with the biggest question of the decade. Is the viral photo of the dress black and blue, or white and gold? You know you sat around the dinner table, turning the brightness up and down on your phone, debating your loved ones. It was incredibly controversial! What’s funny about the debate is that there was an actual answer. The photo was deceiving, but the dress was in reality black and blue (personally, I still see white and gold).
Knowing the hard-heartedness of the scribes, Jesus asked a controversial question in Mark 3. Which is easier, forgiving a man’s sins or making a paralyzed man walk? The scribes had already made their answer clear in verse 7. Only God can forgive sins. They most likely had seen other miracles, magic tricks, or faith healers in that day do some incredible things. Think back to Exodus. God is causing these ten plagues and using Moses to tell Pharaoh what was going to happen. Twice, magicians of that day were able to copy God to discredit Moses.
These scribes knew the harder option was to forgive the man’s sins. Jesus knew this too, but how can you prove somebody’s sins have been forgiven? Jesus tells them that he is going to heal the man so they can know that his sins have also been forgiven.
Immediately the paralyzed man gets up and walks out of the house. The text doesn’t necessarily say this, but I picture this paralyzed man dancing out of the room like the old man in the Six Flags commercials. Jesus was able to heal both the man physically and spiritually.
Isn’t it crazy that we can sometimes doubt God’s ability to work in our own lives? We read passages like this and get so excited watching the scene play out in our head, but then when difficulties in our lives come, we fold quickly. Friends, if Jesus has done the hardest task in forgiving your sin, he can also heal any mess that you are in. That does not mean that he will get rid of all of your problems, and you will live a pain-free life. If God cares for your biggest problem (sin) then he also cares for the difficulties you face in life.
What is the life circumstance that you are struggling to give to Jesus? Maybe it’s a past mistake that the shame of it still haunts you daily. Maybe it’s a current circumstance physically, relationally, or financially. I’m not sure what it is for you today, but God knows. He wants to see you through it, but only if you’ll freely give it to him. Jesus was willing to do Whatever It Takes for you to live in this freedom, so let’s walk in it!
Take a minute and pray to God, surrendering your circumstance. Allow him to work in that area of your life today! Doing that won’t absolve you of all responsibility, but it will free you to take steps toward what God has for you.
Sellers Hickman serves as College Pastor at NorthStar Church and loves cheering on his Ole Miss Rebels. He and his wife, Hannah, live in Dallas, Ga. with their one year old, Emery. He also serves as the chaplain for the KSU Men’s Basketball team.