In response to those who are unable to attend my
weekly Bible study on the Gospel According to MARK (Sunday’s at 10 am at
Hollywood United Methodist Church), I share my thoughts and notes from previous
sessions. While I’m not a scholar, I am an enthusiast. Enjoy!
Thoughts Before I Proceed
Adding to my list of
resources for the study of MARK, and recommended for my research by my dear
friends, Rabbi Brian Zimmerman and his wife, Mimi, I’ve added The Jewish
Annotated New Testament (NRSV). It is absolutely integral in understanding
Jewish perspective to the time of Jesus (and before), and the essays by Jewish
scholars at the end of the book will prove to be helpful as we move forward. As
for a point of reference, I want to include one statement made in this
particular text as it relates to verses 6-7. “In a largely illiterate society, scribes played the role of the
interpreters of the law. They are portrayed, as here and in what immediately
follows, in negative terms as rule-bound and unable to grasp the significance
of Jesus’ ministry. Since it is God who forgives, the statement is blasphemy
from their point of view, but followers of Jesus claimed the power of
forgiveness for their movement.” [i]
I mention this because “teachers of the law” could be interpreted as “scribes”
which may change who the players are in your mind; yet, these particular scribes
did consider what Jesus had done as blasphemy.
Continuing with Part 2…
As Jesus sees into the heart
of the paralytic (knowing there is another cause for his health predicament),
he sees into the hearts of the scribes. He puts it to them in a simple way –
paraphrasing – “Is it easier to say ‘your sins are forgiven’” or “Is it easier
to say ‘get up, take your mat and walk (even though you’ve been paralyzed for
who knows how long)?’”
Why did Jesus play the “forgiveness”
card first unlike other times when he just healed people in need?
The study group discussed how
there are times when we cause our own paralysis, where we are frozen, when
stress causes illness, where the mind is a powerful tool – more than we
realize, when our own dis-ease with life and what we have or haven’t done
hinders us in such a way to block life’s energy – in or out.
Carlton, new to the group,
shared his own experience in how he was paralyzed for years in living (or not
living), and paralyzed in his view of God and Christ and the Church until he
had open-heart surgery. That “seeing into his heart” caused a freedom to renew
his spirit. Suddenly Carlton saw the world in a different way. By “forgiveness,”
he knew he could not be the same anymore, and that was a good thing.
When mentioned could this “healing”
by Jesus possibly be seen as a “magic act,” Marc Denton made it clear there was
nothing magical about it. By being cured, the paralytic had been forgiven. Or
another way to look at the situation, by being forgiven, he was healed.
Jesus knew the paralysis of
sin (in whatever manner interpreted by this paralytic) was what needed to be
freed. Then he would be able to walk away in a new light and in a new way.
In this controversy over the
power of forgiving sins, let’s not forget Jesus refers to himself as the Son of
Man – only the first time he’s mentioned this little nugget.
There are some historical texts
that state “Jesus may have spoken of the Son of Man as a figure other than
himself, the coming judge (Daniel 7:13), but in MARK, this figure is identified
with Jesus.” [ii]
When considering the
possibilities,… as God’s Son, what authority does Jesus have? To forgive sin.
As a man though, what does that mean? Jesus can actually identify with us. He’s
not just up on some pedestal or shelf to be admired. He’s here with us –
experiencing the good and not-so-good – just like we are.
Nevertheless,…“If all this
went on, all orthodox religion would be shattered and destroyed. In this incident,
Jesus had signed his own death warrant – and he knew it.” [iii]
Dramatically stated? Yes. By just this incident though? No, not in my opinion. Yet once Jesus
walked down the path, there was no turning back – and he knew the price to be
paid.
With everything shared in
Parts 1 and 2 (MARK 2:1-12), I leave you with some parting questions: How often in
our own lives are we or have we been paralyzed? How often would we be healed if
only forgiven? If we truly believed
we were forgiven? In the lives of those around us, if those paralyzed heard
those words coming from our mouths, what would happen?
NEXT…
Pharisees, Jesus and Tax
Collectors – oh, my!
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