Coming Home

Jesus spent a number of weeks or maybe even months going “throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting our demons” (Mark 1:35-39), but now He’s come back to Capernaum where He had originally started with this small band of men (Mark 1:21), and specifically He settles “in the house” (KJV) or “at home” (ESV) (v.1). It’s my assumption that Jesus and his men have come back to Simon Peter’s house, where He had spent much of that super long Sabbath day and where He had healed Peter’s mother-in-law in chapter 1.

Jesus has been at home now for a few days before the crowds even realize He’s there. When the people come, they come as a crowd “so that there was no more room, not even at the door.” I love the detail that Mark brings to the story, likely from Peter’s own recollection. This was his own house! I can remember fondly the steps, the screen door, and the heavy wooden door of the house where I grew but where I haven’t stepped foot in over a decade. Now Peter has placed himself back to those early days as well, back to that old house.

In this cramming crowd were the very same people who had searched for Him while He prayed in that desolate place (1:35-37), as well as some Scribes (v.6). Perhaps some in this crowd had felt offended by Jesus’ distance and departure: Why had He left? Didn’t He care about their needs?

But let’s recall Jesus’ purpose in moving on: “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out” (1:38). While Jesus could heal and cast out demons, such miracles were not his purpose. He came to give abundant life to those who needed it (John 10:10). He came “to serve and to give His own life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). He came to preach the Gospel of repentance and eternal life (John 5:24). He hadn’t left that hometown hopeless! But even though He had preached in Capernaum already, He chose to return to continue this powerful preaching of soul-cleansing truth—for He knew what was about to take place.

Make Way!

While Jesus preached the Word to this packed, standing-room-only house (though of course, the Scribes were sitting, v.6), four men brought carried their friend on a stretcher but could not get in. The people–including the Scribes—would not make way for them! They knew Jesus’ healing power. They recognized the needs of this man. Yet no one stepped aside to make room.

The four faithful friends were desperate. Jesus had been in this house before, but then he had left for months. Who knew when they’d ever get this chance again? So they made their own way. They climbed to the flattened roof, removed the tiles in order to make a hole big enough for the stretcher, and they started lowering their friend down to where Jesus was teaching.

Can you see it? Jesus speaking in this darkened, crowded, stuffy house. Then suddenly dirt starts dropping from above, and with the first ray of sunshine, clouds of dust can be seen in the air. Jesus knows they’re coming, but still He waves the dust clouds from before His face and goes silent as He watches the men feverishly remove a portion of the roof, tile by tile. They lower their friend’s stretcher down with sheets or ropes to where Jesus stood. And the people finally move. Those in the front row, those who crowded in first and never made way for anyone behind them, have to step back. The Scribes remain seated.

Forgiveness

The room goes still except for the panting of the friends above who stare down into the room and a few coughs from those still breathing in the dust. And then Jesus speaks. The passages tells us that “when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” (v.4). What an amazing recognition: “their faith”, plural, and yet it’s the man on the bed whose sins are forgiven! All five men apparently knew that Jesus was capable of healing this guy, for they all went that extra mile to get his attention. But this man on the stretcher had something special.

This man’s faith in Jesus was strong enough, not to move a mountain, but to get his friends to carry him across town and up a ladder and down through a hole in the roof! He knew that Jesus was his only hope, for healing and for any joy that could be had in this life. He knew that nothing else on the planet could save his body, and Jesus showed him that nothing else on this planet could save his soul.

The Scribes can’t believe it, and Jesus reads their minds. Mark records their thoughts, which Jesus must have repeated: “Why does this man speak like that (to say ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’)? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (v.6-7).

Jesus calls them out publicly, these men who haven’t moved for this faith-filled paralytic. “Why do you question these things in your hearts?” He asks them. “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgive,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk?” (v.8-9). He doesn’t even give these arrogant men the chance to answer, for He already knows their thoughts. “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” and He now speaks to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home” (v.10-11).

The paralyzed man stood up, picked up his bed, and left the house. Finally, the people made room for him! The crowd separated, astonished and amazed, glorifying God and saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!” (v.12). His friends shout for joy and bound down the ladder to meet their healed and walking friend. Together they dance their way home.

And back in the house, those Scribes steam. While the crowd around them cheers, praising God, these men feel nothing but hatred for this man, this blasphemer.

Knowing the Truth

The Apostle John uses the word know a number of times when speaking of Jesus, and one particular statement stands out to me, his purpose in writing his first letter: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1John 5:13). In Mark 2:10, Jesus uses that word know as well: “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” and He heals the man.

We live in a world where nothing is certain. Be it philosophies of relativism or fake news, little in this world points to the reality that Truth can be known. But the Bible affirms it: you can know Jesus. You can know that He has the power to forgive your sins. You can know that He has given you eternal life. Whatever faith you follow that places your eternity into a “hope so” isn’t satisfying you. Whatever religion is leading you to try and be good enough to please God simply isn’t good enough for you.

There’s a whole lot in this life that we can hope for: that we find a cure to COVID-19, that the US and China don’t get themselves into another Cold War, that we and our families stay healthy and safe. But just hoping for eternity with God in Heaven is nothing to take so lightly. Only Jesus—the true Jesus of the Bible—is good enough for you. Only He can offer you more than a hope-so. Only He will tell you Truth, for He is the Truth (John 14:6)! Only Jesus can help you know that you have eternal life.

Action Points:

1) Jesus came to preach the Gospel, to BE the Good News for us, yet so many view Him as simply a good man, a healer, or a teacher.

• Paraphrase from the Word the life and purpose of Jesus in, let’s say, 20-30 words (can’t make it too easy!).
• How much of what you’ve written affects your day-to-day existence?
• Which quality or purpose of Jesus do you often ignore in your own life?
• Write down one change you can make this week that will help strengthen that aspect in your life.
• For more on this topic, check out Something Needs to Change by David Platt (2019).

2) In this passage, crowds of Christ-followers and God-pleasers stood in the way of five men who needed Jesus more than anything.

• How might your Christianity, your church, your religion be preventing needy souls from meeting Jesus?
• Consider a lost neighbor or family member, someone poor, sick, or abused. Put yourself in their shoes for a moment, and write a letter from them to yourself about why they haven’t yet found Jesus.
• What insights come to your mind about how you might be standing in their way?
• For more on this topic, see the Fostering the Harvest series by Dave Brown (particularly his teaching church as a fortress).

3) Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

• Do you ever doubt this?
• How would you explain to a non-believer the difference between the standard “hope so” and Christian hope?
• Write out a definition for each.

See Also:
Mark 1:1-8 – “The Beginning”
Mark 1:9-15 – “How to Fight Temptation”
Mark 1:16-20 – “Follow Me”
Mark 1:21-34 – “A Day in the Life of Jesus”
Mark 1:35-45 – “A Time for Prayer and Healing”
Mark 2:1-12 – “Through the Roof”
Mark 2:13-17 – “The Sinner’s Friend”
Mark 2:18-22 ‘ “Inside and Out”

©2020 E.T.