| |
Columba Comments...
Short reflections written by members of our
congregation
22 February 2009
Back to
index
Scripture: Mark 2: 1- 12
Exploration
In this passage
Jesus is ‘preaching the word’ in a house crowded with people,
including some scribes in Capernaum. Some men bring their friend to
the house but are unable to enter, so four of them carry him to the
rooftop, dig through the roof and lower him to the floor in front of
Jesus.
These four friends risk ridicule and disappointment but do not let that
stop them from getting their friend to their last resort and the one
person who might help their paralysed mate. Their determination,
perseverance and creativity are rewarded as Jesus sees their faith,
heals their friend and says:
“Son, your sins are forgiven.
It is interesting that Jesus forgave his sins first. Which is easier
- to forgive or to heal? Jesus had the power and authority to do
both. Forgiveness has healed the man’s heart, wiped out his past and
given him a new start in life (Isaiah 43:18-25).
But then Jesus desires that we have life abundantly (John 10:10) and
heals the man physically. He does not say yes to our spiritual needs
and no to our physical needs (2 Corinthians 1: 18-22).
By commanding the paralytic to rise, which he does, Jesus is showing
the power of his word and the good news from God.
The healing of the paralytic evokes two very different responses in
the crowd:
a) The scribes silently question what has happened and pass
judgement: “He blasphemes”. Jesus discerns their thoughts, rebukes
their unbelief and shows them the fallacy of their thinking (2:6,
7). Later (Mark 3:5), Jesus would grieve at their hard heartedness
and inability to accept truth and to change.
b) Others in the crowd are amazed and praise God (2:12).
Without the scribes this is a story of simple faith, unmerited
forgiveness and wondrous healing. The scribes bring resistance,
conflict and rejection into play as well as a powerful demonstration
of Jesus’ identity as the “Son of Man” who exercises heavenly
authority and power in the forgiveness of sins on earth.
The second group of people have witnessed a miracle and are amazed,
rejoicing and praising God (2:12). Mark pays more attention to the
reaction of the crowd than he does to the person who was cured.
For Mark it is very important for his readers to identify with those
who are present and then be able to relate this to their lives.
Questions for Reflection
-
Jesus saw the
faith of the paralysed man’s friends, not the paralytic, in their
actions....are we willing to pray and act for those in need of
practical help, healing or forgiveness?
-
How visible do we
make our faith at St Columba’s? How far are we prepared to go for
our friends? When was the last time we invited someone to church
or related activity?
-
It would have
been so easy for Jesus to say “Get up and walk”, but He had other
bigger plans. How do you think God does this today?
-
Our words can
give or take life from those who hear them. Jesus’ words were the
words of life. How are you talking these days?
-
It has been said
that one outcome of a miracle is Praise. What do we need to enable
us to offer praise to God? How do you think God might feel about
praise?
Back to
index
|
