The Palsied Man

 •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 7
(Read Mark 2:1-121And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. (Mark 2:1‑12).) MAR 2:1-121And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. (Mark 2:1‑12)
IT is a fact no less sorrowful than true, that 1 man by nature knows not his utter helplessness in the sight of God, and consequently fails to appreciate God's unbounded love in giving His only begotten Son to die for the ungodly, even while they were "without strength." (Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6).) ROM 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)
When one is in any measure conscious of the necessity of righteousness in order to appear before God, the first thought almost invariably is, that such righteousness must be wrought out by doing good works, keeping the commandments of the law, or obeying the precepts of the gospel; not understanding that fallen human nature is incapable of doing anything which can be acceptable to God, nor knowing the force of that scripture, “They that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Rom. 8:88So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8).) ROM 8:88So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)
The case of the man who was sick of the palsy, as recorded in the Gospels, beautifully illustrates this truth, and also exemplifies the way in which the Lord meets the necessity of the helpless sinner.
A palsied man, who is so prostrate that he is "borne of four," is brought unto Jesus, and let down on a bed or couch before Him.
It is just a picture of man as a sinner, altogether incapable of moving hand or foot towards God. There he is, completely powerless, lying before Jesus, who, though " found in fashion as a man,” is in truth" the mighty God." And what is the first act of this great and gracious One? Does He comply with the desire of those who bring the man to Him, by communicating strength to his paralyzed limbs? He does indeed, in due time; but He first surprises all who hear Him by saying to the sick of the palsy, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”
The man is brought for help and healing, but Jesus speaks of "forgiveness of sins.”
He knows what is IN man, and what man is.
He penetrates beneath the surface to the source. “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." (Heb. 4:1313Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13).) HEB 4:1313Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13) He knows that the cause of man's helplessness and misery is SIN, that root of all bitterness. To put away sin He came into the world, He shed His precious blood, He died upon the cross. He put it away, root and branch, "by the sacrifice of HIMSELF." (Heb. 9:2626For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)); HEB 9:2626For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26) and having finished the work which God gave Him to do, He is now seated “on the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Heb. 1:33Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3).) HEB 1:33Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3) For that reason, in the case of the poor paralytic, the Lord goes at once to the root of the disease, and pronounces with divine authority the forgiveness of his sins; and then, and not till then, does He give strength to his fixed and helpless limbs to rise up, and walk.
Do you, dear reader, know the forgiveness of your sins through the precious blood of Christ? Or are you seeking to be justified before God by works? The word of God which is truth, declares that we cannot be justified before God by works; but that we are helpless sinners, incapable of doing anything towards saving ourselves. A sinner has neither the strength nor the will to walk in the ways of God, and to serve Him, while he remains unreconciled to God through not believing the record concerning His Son.
But when, through grace, he believes in Christ as the One who, " when we were yet without strength, in due time died for the ungodly," he is saved with a present and an everlasting salvation.
Accordingly, in the instance before us, the Lord having made known to the poor man the forgiveness of his sins, adds the gift of strength, to enable him to rise, take up his bed, and walk; and so he goes forth before them all, insomuch that they are all amazed, and glorify God. Yes! God is glorified in the holy, upright, intelligent and devoted 'walk of His saints, in newness of life; having created them in Christ Jesus unto good works, which He hath before ordained that they should walk in them. (Eph. 2:1010For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10).) HEB 2:1010For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10)
WHAT IS BELIEVING? 'Tis submission
To the God of love and grace;
'Tis to own one's true condition,
And to take the sinner's place;
'Tis to bow the soul before Him,
And to look to Christ, His Son;
'Tis to worship and adore Him,
Owning thus what grace has done.
(See Rom. 10:8-178But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:8‑17).) ROM 10:8-178But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:8‑17)