Mark 2:1-5
Mark 2:1 (KJB)
And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he
was in the house.
Capernaum was where Jesus had stayed for a year while He undertook His Galilean
ministry. In that time if anyone had resided in a city for a year, they would
consider it their city by claiming citizenship in that city and referring to it
as “their own” as Jesus did. The word had once again spread that Jesus was back
in Capernaum and the people who heard that He was in Peter’s house had begun to
gather together. We are not sure how many days it was from the last episode
which Jesus faced in the rural cities.
Mark 2:2 (KJB)
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.
There were so many people gathering that it was absolutely impossible for the
whole crowd to fit into the house. So many had stayed outside by the front door.
The miracles no doubt had intrigued them and they wanted to know more and if you
notice, Jesus was preaching the word to them. No matter how many miracles Jesus
did, He always brought them back to the word. We are to walk by faith and not by
sight. Miracles, signs, and wonders constitute walking by sight. (John 20:29
KJV) Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast
believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Jesus
told Thomas that he was blessed because he believed by seeing but then Jesus
tells them that blessed are those who believe but have not seen. It is the walk
of faith the builds the Christian and not the walk of sight.
Mark 2:3 (KJB)
And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
Some friends of a paralytic had placed him on a bed and brought him to Jesus.
The word “palsy” here is “paralytic.” This man must have been a real good friend
because those who were lame, paralyzed, or had diseases were considered outcasts
but in this case, this man must have been close to all four of the men who bore
him on his bed. The bed would have been considered a “poor man’s bed.” It was
basically a pallet with a thickly padded quilt or mat.
Mark 2:4 (KJB)
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 they arrived at the house where Jesus was, they could not get to Him
because of the “press.” The word “press” could also be understood as “crowd,
mob, or multitude.” They now knew that they could not get to Jesus by means of
the front door, so one of them must have come up with a great idea. What they
did was, they went up on the roof and began to start removing tiles which would
have opened up the roof or it could have been a roof made of dried mud and
branches and once they knew that they had enough of which ever one removed, they
then hoisted their friend up to the roof or there may have been a staircase on
the side, either way it would have been no easy task and then taking ropes,
probably one rope under the top where his head lay and one under the spot where
his feet lay. Then they began to lower him down so that he would be right in
front of Jesus.
Mark 2:5 (KJB)
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be
forgiven thee.
If you notice a very important statement in this verse “and Jesus saw their
faith,” meant that the friends had enough faith in Jesus to bring their friend
knowing that He could heal him. This is one of the things that Jesus looks for
in the life of all His children and that is a living faith. What good is it if
we claim to have faith in God and then do nothing to show that we have that
faith? That would not even be a testimony but when we act on that faith, it
shows we have a living faith in a living God.
Then Jesus says something which probably stunned the people. The friends brought
him to Jesus for physical healing but something greater happened than temporary
healing and that was the eternal healing of his soul through salvation. The one
who will be judge on the last day has just forgiven the sins of this sick man.
This is also a picture of Election. (Isa 65:1 KJV) I am sought of them that
asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me,
behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. The man did not ask for
salvation nor was that even on the mind of his friends, yet this paralyzed man
being one of the Elect of God was given salvation because it was his time of
visitation. This is why Jesus told him to be of good cheer because his soul was
now cleansed of all sin.