COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 19
“ Mark 2:1 And again He entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that He was in the house. 2 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. 3 And they come unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 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. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” (Mark 2:1-5)
THE MAN WITH PALSY, #1
INTRODUCTION
The first chapter of Mark covers the first year of Jesus’ ministry. It includes his introduction and the preparing of the people by John the Baptist, His baptism, and His temptation in the wilderness. He announced that the time had been fulfilled, the kingdom of God was near, and that men ought to repent and believe the Gospel. That was first mentioning of “the Gospel” being preached and the belief of it urged (Matt 4:23; Mk 1:15). Everything about Jesus was out-of-the-ordinary. People were “astonished” at His doctrine (1:22). The demonic world was shaken by His presence (1:24). The people were “amazed” at His authority (1:27). For the first time in the history of the world, the healing of masses occurred (1:32-34). For the first time in centuries, a leper was healed (1:40-45). Jesus had been introduced as totally and completely separate from everything that was before Him. Both His words and His works were superior. For the first time Satan was soundly defeated in an extended exposure, and the kingdom of darkness was shaken to its foundation. From henceforth, no man would associate Jesus with the ordinary or the mundane. This is what compelled people of good hearts to seek Him, run after Him, and press toward Him.
JESUS COMES AGAIN TO CAPERNAUM
“ 2:1 And again He entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that He was in the house. 2 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.”
CAPERNAUM AGAIN. Jesus has been preaching the Word throughout “all Galilee” (1:14,28,39), and His fame had spread “throughout” all of that region (1:28). Quoting from Isaiah, Matthew refers to that region as “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Isa 9:1; Matt 4:15). This is considered to have been upper Galilee, which was occupied chiefly by Gentiles. History identifies the chief occupants as Egyptians, Arabians, and Phoenicians. STRABO Thus Jesus began His ministry in a most unlikely place – in a part of Galilee, in Canaan, where the Jews were not the prominent citizens. Yet there were many synagogues in the land, although Jesus expelled many demons from them (Mk 1:39). It was a dark area!
Now Jesus returns to his base of operation, where He had moved from Nazareth (Matt 4:13). This was on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, and is known to have been one of the most prosperous and crowded districts in Palestine. It was more into the Jewish sector of the land. Matthew refers to Capernaum as Jesus’ “own city” (Matt 9:1), where He had chosen to reside. Matthew says of this occasion, “And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His own city” (Matt 9:1). Luke says it occurred after Jesus had withdrawn to the wilderness “and prayed” (Lk 5:16).
IT WAS NOISED. Word quickly spread that Jesus was back. His Person permeated His ministry, thus drawing the attention of the people. It was the reputation of His word and works that caused the people to report His presence throughout that area. It is my persuasion that Christ still has such a nature as draws men to Himself. This is particularly true since He has offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin (John 12:32). Throughout history, when Jesus actually became prominent among the people, His fame spread among the citizenry. I have every confidence that it will be no different in our day.
GATHERED WITH NO MORE ROOM. Assuming that Jesus was again at the house of Simon, the same thing happened that had taken place before – the people crowded into the house and around the door (1:33). This time, however, it appears that the crowd increased. Luke provides some additional information on this event. This occurred “on a certain day, as He was teaching.” There were also a number of “Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town in Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem” (Lk 5:17a). Thus the marvelous words and works of Jesus had caught the attention of even the religious leaders. Even though we will see they were mostly curious, and would even be critical of the Lord, yet His presence demanded their attention. They could not ignore Him. Jesus is still this kind of person. Oh, that He were more prominent in the professed church. There would then be no need for so many humanly organized efforts to reach the lost and penetrate the community.
Luke also mentions something about this occasion that is especially interesting: “and the power of the Lord was present to heal them” (Lk 5:17b). Other versions read, “and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing.” NASB This confirms that Jesus did not simply work miracles according to His own will, but in strict accord with the Father’s will and the presence of His power. It also assists in delivering us from a stereotyped view of the working of the Lord, which takes too much for granted, and involves too little of the heart and mind. It is interesting to observe that the power to heal is set within the context of Christ’s teaching, and not visa-versa. I do not doubt that it is possible for the people to God to live close enough to the Lord to know when the power of the Lord is present. Those who perceive this to be the case do well to announce it to the others. We should strive to never allow such occasions to pass us by.
HE PREACHED THE WORD. The exercise of miraculous power was subordinate to the teaching ministry of the Lord Jesus. The essence of man’s association with the Lord is, “And they shall all be taught by God” NKJV (John 6:45; Isa 54:13). This is at the heart of the matter, and all of the other benefits are found within that context. Once, when Jesus saw the multitudes, He was “moved with compassion toward them,” seeing that they were “as sheep not having a shepherd.” Touched by their condition, “He began to teach them many things” (Mk 6:34). Another time Jesus is declared to have gone throughout the villages and towns “preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God” (Lk 8:1). It is imperative that we be able to bring this understanding into our own situation. Suffice it to say, where people are not being taught in the ways of the Lord and the manner of God’s Kingdom, Jesus is not present. Mark is acquainting us with the real Christ’s character and ministry.
FOUR MEN BRING ONE MAN TO THE LORD
“ 3 And they come unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 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.”
Luke tells us that this event took place while Jesus was “teaching” – not while He was working miracles (Lk 5:17). There is, then, a perfect harmony between what Jesus says and what He does – perfect accord between His miracles and His doctrine. We ought to be skeptical about anyone who is purporting to work miracles whose doctrine is deficient. Even Moses warned us of those who could do a mighty work while delivering a false message (Deut 13:1-3). The implications of a miracle from God will blend with sound doctrine.
FOUR BRING ONE THAT IS SICK. Matthew tells us the man was “lying on a bed” (Matt 9:2). Luke says the “men brought in a bed a man sick with a palsy” (Lk 5:18). Mark is the only man who tells us how many men brought the man: “four” – “who was carried by four men.” NKJV The “bed” was probably a sort of “mat” NIV – something like a cot, with each man holding a corner of it. Matthew gives us a brief outline of this event, and Mark and Luke fill in the details of it.
Here is a most vivid picture of multiple people bringing a cause to the Lord. On another occasion several people brought to Jesus “a dumb man possessed of a demon” (Matt 9:32). Jesus taught us, “That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven”(Mat 18:19). In this text, this principle is lived out as we see four men working together for the interest of one man.
THEY COULD NOT COME NIGH. The people were so crowded around Jesus that these four man could not get close to Him. They did not leave, supposing this was not an appropriate time. Neither did they consider their request an intrusion that conflicted with what Jesus was doing. Luke adds, “and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before Him” (Lk 5:18). There are some requests that require creative solutions – diligently seeking means through which the desires may be answered.
THEY UNCOVERED THE ROOF. Luke adds, “And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop” (Luke 5:19). They did not give up, even though the crowd around Jesus suggested this was not the proper time. Mark says they “uncovered the roof” where Jesus was. Other versions say, “they made an opening in the roof above.” NIV Mark also says “and when they had broken it up,” or had “dug an opening.” NASB Luke says the roof consisted of “tiling” (Lk 5:19).
It was customary (and still is) for those in that part of the world to have steps on the outside of the house leading up to the roof. Jesus alluded to this when He spoke of the destruction of Jerusalem, telling the people if they were on the “housetop,” not to come down to take anything out of their houses (Matt 24:17). When Peter was called to minister to the Gentiles, he was “upon the housetop to pray” (Acts 10:9).
Now these men carry the man on the bed up the stairs to the housetop, and disassemble a part of the roof, making an opening through which to let the man down. It is understood that the roof was constructed of a kind of tiling, so that a portion of it could be opened up without destroying the whole of it. This obviously required both time and effort, together with some consideration for, what we believe to be, Simon’s house.
There are supplications that must be attended by blessed cooperation, diligently seeking, extended effort, and unusual activity. Those who shut themselves up to mediocrity, only approaching the Lord through ordinary means, exclude themselves from the unusual and especially God-glorifying workings of the Lord.
THEY LET HIM DOWN. This required consideration of the man himself, who was palsied, and therefore unable to move. He could not be let down clumsily, else he would fall off of the pallet, or mat. Luke provides some of his characteristic details: “they let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus” (Lk 5:19). Notice with what carefulness they brought the man before Jesus. They did not lower him into a corner of the room, counting on someone else to take the “ministry” from there. They lowered him into the heart of the activity, placing him squarely before the Lord Jesus. I do not doubt that this took some thoughtful cooperation, and a very focused attention.
There is something else to be seen here. It seems evident that these men knew that if they could get Jesus’ attention, He would work in their behalf. That, of course, is an aspect of faith – believing that Jesus is impacted by what He sees. They knew by sensitivity what we know by revelation – that Jesus is “touched by the feeling of our infirmities” (Heb 4:16).
THE FIRST INSTANCE OF JESUS FORGIVING SIN
“ 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”
JESUS SAW THEIR FAITH. Matthew says, “Jesus seeing their faith,” Matt 9:2). Luke says, “and when He saw their faith” (Lk 5:20). Jesus was not deceived by appearance, for He “knew what was in man” (John 2:25). Note – it does not say that He saw what they did, but He “saw their faith.” Their faith motivated and validated what they did, and therefore it was “their faith” that got the Lord’s attention. This is the only place in the Bible where this precise statement is made, even though it is frequently implied.
Also notice that it was not only the faith of the man “sick of the palsy” that Jesus saw, but the faith of the men who brought him. Here were four men who had faith that became the basis for what another man received! John reminds us that the Lord still operates on this basis. “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it” (1 John 5:16). Such a prayer has certain boundaries. (1) The petitioner has been prompted by what he sees – a brother sin. (2) It is for a “brother” – someone who is identified with Christ. (3) It is for a sin that is “not unto death.” (4) The petition is for “life.” Where these conditions are met, “life” will be given to the individual who has not sinned unto death, thus enabling his recovery.
There are things to be “seen” that are beyond all natural aptitude. Jesus “saw the faith” of these men. Barnabas “saw the grace of God” in certain brethren (Acts 11:23). Upon seeing a certain man, Paul “perceived he had faith to be healed” (Acts 14:9). Peter “perceived” that a man named Simon was “in the gall of bitterness” (Acts 8:23). Paul perceived the people in Athens were “too superstitious” (Acts 17:22). James, Cephas, and John “perceived the grace” that had been given to Paul (Gal 2:9).
This is the kind of insight that moves men to pray properly and touch the heart of the Lord.
HE SAID TO THE SICK OF THE PALSY. Upon seeing “their faith,” Jesus spoke to “the sick of the palsy.” Perhaps it might be surmised that the “faith” that he saw was in the sick man as well as in the four. The sick man may very well have had faith, but that is not the point of this account. It was the four men who brought the man to Jesus. It was the four men who sought means by which to present him to Jesus. It was the four men who carried the man to the roof. It was the four men who broke up the roof. It was the four men who lowered the man to the feet of Jesus. Beholding all of that, Jesus “saw their faith and said to the sick of the palsy.” He will honor their labors by answering their desire. This does not suggest the palsied man lacked faith. It does show that Jesus was moved into action by the faith of the four men. The palsied man must have heartily consented to the deeds of the four.
THY SINS BE FORGIVEN THEE. Most other versions read “are forgiven.” Others read “you have forgiveness,” BBE and “have been forgiven.” YLT The reading “be forgiven thee,” means forgiveness was at that time being enjoyed. Matthew says, “Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matt 9:2). Luke says, “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee” (Lk 5:20). This is the first time in the Gospels that Jesus is record as saying these words.
It seems to me that the words of Jesus confirm that all suffering is ultimately owing to sin – not necessarily the sin of the one who is infirm, but the condition of sin that dominates the human race. At this point, the Lord gives no hint that He is going to heal this man, although it is apparent that the men who carried him there believed He would.
The paramount blessing is the forgiveness of sin, for sin alone separates a person from God (Isa 59:2; Jer 5:25). Notice the difference between this incident and the directions of James concerning the sick. James writes that those who are sick should call for the elders of the church, who pray for him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. The promise is, “the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.” It is then added, “and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:13-15). In the case before us, however, the forgiveness comes first. The difference is that Jesus can speak forgiveness, and men cannot.
Just as surely as Jesus could dispel evil spirits with His Word, so He can forgive sins with His word. Jesus said this one other time – to the woman who washed His feet with her tears and “wiped them with the hairs of her head.” He said to her, “Thy sins are forgiven.” For us, this speaks of the purging of the conscience, when our transgressions no longer plague us because there is no more record of them. It is to be understood that the forgiveness of this palsied man was ultimately based upon the atoning death of Jesus Christ.