I am intrigued by the scene of forgiveness that Jesus expressed in Mark 2:1-12. As the news of His healing ministry spread throughout the land, four faithful friends tear a hole in the roof to get to Jesus. Upon seeing the paralyzed man, Jesus said to him "your sins are forgiven." However, "sin" was not the problem, paralysis was, or so it seemed. This causes me to raise some questions: "Is illness a result of sin?" "When bad things happen to me, is it because I have sinned?" "If sin is the real problem, then how should we look at sick people?" It seems that if we look at this passage as a treatise on illness and sin, we will miss out on what Jesus is doing through this paralyzed man. Jesus steps in and takes over all access to God in front of "big religion."
Jesus takes on "Big religion"
Just as politicians today promise that they will confront "Big business", "big oil", "big industry", so too, Jesus uses the opportunity to confront "big religion." The pharisees fully embraced the power, control and finances of the community by keeping the people in the dark religiously. Jesus ministry was a direct assault on their power base and they knew it. If people were sick, they would go to the temple. If they were needing forgiveness, they would go to the temple. If they needed a word from God, they would go to the temple. Now, in a crowded house, a busted ceiling and a great commotion, the pharisees see that they need to try to wrestle all of the power and attention away from Jesus. "Who can forgive sins but God alone? This man is committing blasphemy" they said. Actually... only Jesus can forgive sin and He sets out to prove it.
Jesus takes on "Big medicine."
While everyone was looking to see if Jesus could really heal, Jesus used the occasion to show that He could really forgive. When Jesus said to the man "rise and walk" he took on "big medicine" only because he had "big authority" from the man upstairs. The problem with with "big religion" is that they don't realize that the "man upstairs" is now the man in their "living room." The problem with "big religion" is that they all make claims to be the power broker, but it is really only Jesus who has real authority and power.
Jesus takes on "big praise."
"This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”, was the response of the crowd in the room. What more can you ask for? One man dismantles the cartel on religion and medicine and He does it for free. He exposes the problems with the scenes of a paralyzed man and the condition of the human soul. Religious and political power are no match for the Kind of Kings and Lord of Lords. Many people sell their souls to these earthly institutions when all that they really need is a touch from Jesus. To have a real relationship with Him and not look for a false power broken, trying to substitute for what they really need.
The dismantling of "big religion" and "big medicine" in America.
The institutions of great churches and hospitals which we enjoy in this great land of ours are some of the finest in the world. The point of the passage is not that human organization of these institutions are not evil, but evil is perpetuated when these institutions believe that they are the real deal and the God is unnecessary and irrelevant. When Jesus forgives sin, He says to the institutions "where do you go when sin is the problem?" "How do you treat it?" "How do you get rid of it?" These are the questions that the great institutions cannot answer because they believe that finding cures is all that you really need. Jesus reminds us that all that we really need is Him.
Here is the question: "Are we seeking healing from big medicine, or from Jesus, through the hands of a doctor." "Are we seeking forgiveness from the church, or from Jesus through the institution of the church." Many people say that they have lost faith in the church and have given up on religion. Perhaps this is because they are looking for the church to be God, and it has simply not lived up to that name. Some people have given up on looking for a cure to their disease and have blamed doctors and technology, then have entered into despair. This is because they are still trusting in "big medicine", "big religion" and not "big Jesus." He is bigger than any institution because His authority comes from one who has the greatest authority one heaven and on earth.
Do you have Him?
Is He the answer to your sin problem?
Are you trusting in your religious affiliation or Jesus mighty hand?
If you ask Jesus to forgive you of each and every one of your sins, and God has forgiven you. Is there no need to trust in anyone and anything else? Let's get away from our addiction to "big business", "big religion" and "big mediciine" and let's look to our big God!
Isn't it great that we serve such a really "Big God".
Let me hear somebody say "Amen!"
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