Jesus and the Paralyzed Man Brought From Above. 

In all devotions click the verses written in bold and underlined. A box will then pop up with the scripture for you to read. Links to all 4 parts of the study of Mark 2 will be listed at the end of this devotion so you can read them all.

Mark 2:1-12. Jesus had made Capernaum his home base. It is believed based on writings as well as scripture that Jesus stayed with Peter and the event shared in this chapter of Mark is also believed to likely have taken place at Peter’s home. This is also evident in scripture, one example is in Mark 1:29.The recorded events in Chapter two occurred only a few days after Jesus healed Peter’s mother in law and others in Capernaum. Mark 1:29-34. We see that Jesus returned to Capernaum after He spent some days preaching in Galilee and neighboring villages. Mark 1:35-45

The roofs of first century homes primarily were made of thick layers of clay mixed with grass, stone, clay tiles and laths. A lath or slat is a thin, narrow strip of straight-grained wood that was used under roof tiles. The roofs were most often accessed by an exterior stair case on the back or side of the home. Verses Mark 2:3-4 tells us about the crowds preventing the men’s access with their friend who was paralyzed. So they climbed the exterior stairs and were able to dig through the roof to gain access. They then lowered the man on a mat through the hole they dug in the roof to the room below. They may have used fishing ropes that were lying around the home of fishermen to lower him. 

The men expressed their faith by their determination to get their friend in the presence of Jesus Christ. Had they not believed that Jesus Christ could perform miracles they would not have been so desperate in their actions. Jesus acknowledges their faith and rewards the man’s faith by treating an even deeper need than his physical ailment. He forgives his sins Mark 2:5. 

This is Jesus showing His Deity. Only God is capable of forgiving sins. This claim is even more clearly repeated in Mark 2:10. You can tell in verses Mark 2:6-7 that the other Rabbi’s understood what Jesus was claiming. In verse Mark 2:8 it is clear that The Holy Spirit enabled Jesus to know what was in the hearts of these teachers of the law. 

Some take issue that In Mark 2:10 the title “Son of Man” is used. Apart from here and in Mark 2:28 the title does not occur until after Peter’s confession in Mark 8:29. After that it occurs 12 times and is crucial to Jesus’ self disclosure to His disciples. Many wonder if that was not a parenthetical, editorial comment by Mark. Perhaps he inserted it into the narrative to explain the significance of this event for his readers: that Jesus as The risen Son of Man has authority (the right and power) on earth to forgive sins, something the scribes did not fully recognize. Only here in the Gospels is the forgiveness of sins attributed to the Son of Man. The initial words “but that you may know” could be translated, “Now you (Mark’s readers) should know that….” Ending Mark’s comment and returning to the incident itself. 

The two scenarios mentioned in Mark 2:9 are impossible for man to perform. By Jesus healing the man’s physical ailment he demonstrates that He is not just a man. He can do what only God can do. This substantiates His ability to forgive sins. If He can heal the man’s physical ailment as only God can, He can forgive sins as only God can. He is God. 

In Mark 2:11-12 Jesus commanded the man to be obedient and get up, take his mat and go home. He was enabled to do this immediately in full view of everyone including the scribes who were Jesus’ critics. They were forced to recognize that the man had received God’s forgiveness. This showed the character of salvation that Jesus brought, namely healing whole persons. Everyone was amazed, including the scribes. Jesus Heals Our Body and Our Soul. 

Study of Mark Chapter 2: Links below

Study of Mark Chapter 2: Links below

Part 1 of 4 Mark 2:1-12 Jesus & The Paralyzed Man

https://enbcfamily.com/church-blog/daily-devotion/daily-devotion-january-26-2025/

Part 2 of 4 Mark 13-17 Tax Collector and Sinners Study 

https://enbcfamily.com/church-blog/daily-devotion/daily-devotion-january-27-2025/

Part 3 of 4 Mark 18-22 Biblical Reasons For Fasting

Coming January 28th

Part 4 of 4 Mark 23-27 Lord Of The Sabbath

Coming January 29th