Note: This series is written as a first-person narrative in order to present Jesus in the context he walked with the unknown disciple that narrates presenting my thoughts and sparking more thoughts with his questions. Enjoy.
Days later we returned to Capernaum. Hearing that Jesus had returned home, people filled the house till it was overflowing, spilling out the door. Seizing the opportunity, he preached the Word.
At the fringe of the crowd were a group of men carrying their paralyzed friend to Jesus. They had heard of the miracles. No one would let them through, so they looked for the stairs to the roof.
“We can dig a hole and lower you down.”
“Please.”
One went up the stairs to check the roof. “Log beams,” he quietly said to himself, “with packed clay overlying the branches and reeds that were on top of the beams.” Looking down, he waved them up. Once on the roof, they set their friend to the side and got to work. The four of them should get through it pretty quick.
Inside, as dirt started falling, Jesus stopped speaking. He looked up as light pierced through the hole. Soon the rest came apart, and four faces looked down, then withdrew. Then the light was blocked as they lowered their friend.
Jesus smiled at the persistent faith the man’s friends had to have had to destroy a roof so their friend could get help. That’s one way to get attention.
Jesus looked at the man, lying unmoving on the mat. “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Why did he say that I wondered? Some teachers of the law that were in the room started looking at each other, shocked and irritated. Jesus looked at them, saying, “Why are you thinking these things?”
“He knows their thoughts,” Nathaniel asked aloud.
Jesus continued, “Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
The Son of Man from Daniel’s prophecy? I remembered what Daniel wrote about him, that God gave him authority, glory, and sovereign power. His kingdom would never be destroyed. Is Jesus claiming to be the fulfillment of this prophecy?
“I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
The man looked shocked as he found he could move his legs. He slowly stood up and looked at the equally amazed crowd. He rolled up his mat, looked up at his friends who were watching from the hole, and walked out. The crowd parted to let him through.
This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
“Who’s going to fix the roof,” I asked.
Mark 2:1-12
A Ronin's Journey 