About Mark: There can be no doubt that Mark wants us to see that Jesus is unique. Following the incident in today's reading, he reports that people said, "We have never seen anything like this."
The incident is about both forgiveness and healing. Within the dialogue is the question, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" It is a rhetorical question implying that only God could forgive sins, and anyone who claims to do so is assuming the prerogatives of God. In this, the scribes who voiced the question were exactly right. But they were astray in not recognising who Jesus was.
So when Mark uses the title here in 2:10 he is being deliberately ambiguous and provocative, forcing us to wonder in which sense the title is being used, whether the title is a claim of true humanity, or a claim of true divinity. Or perhaps both. New Testament writers often use skilful ambiguity to force us to think about what they have written. They are skilled communicators.
Some commentators think that the note in verse 10, "But so that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" is Mark's note to his readers, rather than Jesus' words to his hearers. Mark's original Greek was in capitals with no punctuation. The punctuation is merely the translator's guess at Mark's intentions. In general Mark shows how slow people were to recognise who Jesus was, and it seems unlikely that Jesus would use the title "Son of Man" about himself before the climactic affirmation made by the disciples in Mark 8:29-31 that he was the Messiah. So the first words in Mark 2:10 could be Mark's own comment to his readers, rather than Jesus' words to his audience.
Bible: Mark 2:1-12, Jesus Heals a Paralytic
1 When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3 Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. 4 And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 "Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he said to the paralytic - 11 "I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home." 12 And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Comment: GETTING INVOLVED
THE story is craftily presented to emphasise key features of Jesus' ministry. In the crowded house there is not an inch to move. People are all standing, even around the door. But seated, in pride of place, are scrutineering scribes. The faith people here are those who will let nothing stand in their way to bring their friend to Jesus, and since they can't get in through the door, they come in through the roof.
First things first: teaching not healing!
Jesus is teaching, "speaking the word to them" (2:2). Mark has already emphasised that Jesus viewed teaching as his primary task, more so than healing. Discipleship is more about following his teaching than following his miracles. Chasing the spectacular does not involve personal commitment. Discipleship does. Earlier, Jesus had chosen to go on preaching rather than staying to heal the crowds at Peter's house (1:35-39). And Mark has reported the problems caused to Jesus by the leper who too freely spoke of his healing (1:45).
First things first: his deepest need!
The words of Jesus to the paralysed man address his deepest need. And they challenge the observing audience also. Their reactions show the words striking home. A healing would have left them as observers, but now they must examine their own attitudes to Jesus.
