What do you want from Jesus? We have no reason to believe that this paralyzed man and his friends were interested in anything other than his physical healing. And that’s how we often pray for ourselves and our loved ones, asking God to change the material circumstances of our lives: to heal us, to protect us, to provide for our financial needs. Oh, sometimes we pray that God would make us feel better – to give us comfort and strength and peace. But all too often, our prayers are focused on the things of this world, on just getting through the day.

And by healing this paralyzed man, Jesus proves that He is indeed able to help us in all these ways. But in verse 5, Jesus points out a much bigger problem that we all face – not our physical or material or emotional limitations, but our spiritual weakness. In fact, our biggest problem is that we are all born sinners, cut off from the only true Source of life and love, just as helpless to restore ourselves to a right relationship with God as this man was to move his body. Thus, our biggest need isn’t physical healing but forgiveness of our sins.

Now, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses thought they had this forgiveness thing all figured out. They thought that in order to be forgiven, all anyone needed to do was to follow the Law. But in today’s passage, Jesus cut through all their carefully woven regulations, undermining the heart of their legalism. Instead, He claimed the power to forgive this man’s sins immediately and personally. And in order to prove He had the power to restore spiritual freedom to us, He restored this paralyzed man’s physical freedom, allowing him to rise and walk.

But how did Jesus have the power to do this? After all, the Pharisees were right when they said in verse 7 that only God can forgive sins. But the only way that God is able at the same time to uphold the perfect justice and righteousness of His law and also to forgive unworthy sinners like us was for Jesus to give Himself up in our place, to become a sacrifice on our behalf, to take upon Himself the penalty due to all our sins. So, to answer Jesus’ question in verse 9, it was actually much easier for Him to bring physical than spiritual healing. For even though He is the Son of God, our spiritual healing cost Him His very life.

So, what do we want from Jesus? It’s okay to ask Him to help us and our loved ones get through the day. But wouldn’t it be better to ask for His forgiveness, for Him to prepare us for eternal life? After all, He died to prove His love for us, so can’t we trust in His grace to save us?

Mark 2:1-12 (NASB)

When Jesus came back to Capernaum a few days later, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer space, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And some people *came, bringing to Him a man who was paralyzed, carried by four men. 4 And when they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and after digging an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralyzed man was lying. 5 And Jesus, seeing their faith, *said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were thinking that way within themselves, *said to them, “Why are you thinking about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet 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 paralyzed man, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet, and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”