To read the texts click on the texts: Heb 4:1-5,11; Mk 2:1-12
The text of today is a pronouncement
story, which also contains a miracle. A pronouncement story is one in which the
saying of Jesus is the central point. Some pronouncement stories contain
miracles, whereas others do not (2,23-27). In the story of today, it seems that
Mark has converted an original miracle story in which a paralytic is healed
into a pronouncement story (by inserting the dialogue between Jesus and the
scribes after the words, “said to the paralytic” found in 2, 5a, and repeating
them in 2,10b), to bring out the point that Jesus has the authority like God to
forgive sin. In his challenge to the scribes, Jesus is able to prove that he
has this authority to forgive, because he has been able to heal the man
completely. Mark might also be indicating that Jesus wanted total healing for
the man rather than just physical healing. The response of the crowds is of
amazement.
We come across here for the first time a
“Son on Man” saying, which is used for the second time in 2,28 and after that
only from the Passion and resurrection predictions in Mark (8,31; 9,31; 10,33;
14,62). Characters in the Gospels never use this expression to describe
Jesus or refer to him; rather Jesus uses it of himself. While the expression
could be used to mean a human being, it seems that the evangelists intend the
expression to refer to Jesus’ special status. Here, he has special authority
and that to forgive sin.
Our own psychological paralysis is often
connected with our lack of forgiveness and keeping feelings of bitterness,
anger and the like in our hearts and minds. One of the keys to wholeness and
good health is forgiveness. We must forgive because it is good for our health.
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