Power to Forgive Sins - Mark 2:10

Mark wrote how Jesus, “again ... entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, your sins be forgiven you. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts. Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason you these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?”, and in chapter two and verse ten of his book, Mark shares how Jesus asked the scribes, “the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins” where we read:

But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins,

(he said to the sick of the palsy,)

The verse reads, “But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, ...” Mark began with the words, “but that you may know” which means “moreover and so the scribes would understand, perceive, notice and discern” “that the Son of man” or “that God's Son” “has power on earth” which means “has the ability, strength and authority on the arable land, country, territory and region” “to forgive sins” or “to dismiss, send forth and remit errors, mistakes, wrongs, wanderings and violations of God's law”. Mark shared how Jesus would prove to the “scribes” that He had “power” upon the “earth” to “remit” the “errors, mistakes and violations to God's law”.

The verse goes on to say, “... (he said to the sick of the palsy,)” Mark continued with the words, “he said” which means “Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed” “to the sick of the palsy” or “to the paralytic man”. Mark shared how Jesus proclaimed the words in the next verse to the “paralytic” man.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus desired to demonstrate to the “religious leaders” known as the “scribes” that He had “power and ability” to “forgive sins”, and we shall see how He proved Himself. God loves people, and He wants them to be in a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Those who yield themselves to Him shall not only experience the proof of Jesus' power to forgive “sins”, but will also receive “everlasting life” with Him.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus tells the man sick of the palsy, “Arise, and take up your bed”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".