We continue our studies in Mark looking at the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus is in Capernaum. The people have heard he is there, the news has spread and the crowds have gathered in a house to listen to Jesus preaching. They listen to someone who speaks with authority. Imagine the scene – the heat and the commotion – some men have opened up the roof of the house and lowered a paralysed man down in front of Jesus.
The first thing Jesus says to the paralysed man is ‘your sins are forgiven’ – meaning he will not receive punishment for his sins but will receive eternal life – because this was the most important problem to address. Jesus responded to the faith that the man’s friends show. Then there is tension in the room – it is the beginning of the tension between the Pharisees and Jesus.