Mark 2:10 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Mark 2:10

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Christ commands and instantly the paralytic is healed. He puts flesh on his limbs, and gives strength to his whole body, and the paralysed man stands up before them all. How amazing that he could stand and bend down and walk. The people looking on were amazed. Even the doctors of the law were so astonished and gave glory to God. But this miracle had been done to prove something, something even more wonderful, something which the scribes wanted to deny: that Christ had authority on earth to forgive sins. Here was a word spoken which they could immediately verify. If the paralytic was not instantly healed and if he did not instantly stand on his feet and receive strength to his whole body, then Christ would indeed be exposed as a fraud. But if Christ healed him in front of their eyes in a way that was impossible for any other man to do, there was no justifiable grounds to doubt that his other word was true also – he could indeed forgive this man his sins. The healing could only take place by the power of God, but God would never work through someone who was guilty of blasphemy as they claimed. If the paralytic was healed, then there was no blasphemy and his sins were truly forgiven. The logic was irrefutable. The paralytic who was carried on a pallet and lowered through the roof is to walk home on his own two legs. This was not a partial healing or a gradual healing, but a work of God in their midst. How they had underestimated the one who was in their midst!‘That ye may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’ – Luke’s previous word translated power (Luke 5:17) means might, strength; this word means authority, right. The Lord Jesus Christ used that title of himself nearly eighty times in the New Testament. No one else uses it. It comes from the Book of Daniel, and the Jews and the Jewish leaders all knew what it meant; it meant the Messiah. Calvary was still in the future when Christ spoke these words, but he was going to go through with it, and because he was bound to be successful, it was as good as done. On this basis all the Old Testament saints were forgiven. The result is that this poor paralytic who came in by the roof walks out on his own two feet by the front door. However frustrated the scribes were at this, the paralytic had forgiveness and healing, and no man could take such things from him. The evil of sin is seen in this: that the scribes were ready to take from this man the greatest good that God could give him. This miracle had a deep effect on the people.

Application

People need authority; he will give it – ‘Rise up and take up your bed and walk home.’ That will be the authority the crowd requires. The outward healing will prove his right to perform the inward healing. Not only so, but the outward healing is a picture of this healing of the soul. Conversion is like this. Christ is teaching us. The same Lord who forgives, also heals. Just as healing was instantaneous, so is forgiveness: there is a likeness between the two things. When you come to Christ, what happens? You need a Saviour; you need sins forgiven. What will happen when you face up to the ugliness of your life. You come and say, ‘I am worthy only of death. Now pardon and forgive me all my sin. I will learn a new way of life from thee.’ Don’t tell a preacher or a priest, but go to Christ. Christ will speak – not audibly – and all your sin will be washed away, and you will be cleansed. Nothing will stand against you anymore. He has the right to do that and the power, and he alone. He declares us to be free from debt instantly, and to be rich, because your soul can now function. You find yourself understanding. Suddenly you can live to please God. Your temper or your covetous desires are broken. Your deceitfulness is removed. Your conscience comes to life. You have integrity, power to pray. These changes mean that Christ is converting you.

Questions

Is conversion instantaneous? Some seek the Lord and wrestle in prayer and don’t see that God has blessed them, and they go on with no assurance. Probably the fault is theirs. They are partly, but not wholly, sincere. Hidden under the coat is some sin, some attachment to this world. They are fifty percent sincere, but they have not divested themselves of all of the gods of this world. So yes, salvation may seem drawn out. But once we are sincere we are straightaway saved. I believe that the paralytic’s heart was flooded with assurance. Many of those who were converted could not yet see how he was going to take away sin, but they trusted his power and soon enough they would see him go to the cross, and the apostles would explain the meaning of it. Now we can see that: the gospel is like a burst of sunshine.

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Mark 2:10 Commentary and Bible Study