Authorized to Help

KEY VERSE: “That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” —Mark 2:10,11

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Mark 2:1-12

JESUS, HAVING BEEN for some time preaching in the country, returned to his home in Capernaum. Many learned that he was in town, and straightway gathered to see and hear him. There were so many people that even at the door there was “no room to receive them.” (Mark 2:2) Perhaps many of them came only for cures, and others to get a glimpse of him to satisfy their curiosity. But Jesus took this opportunity to preach to them. Though the synagogue door was open to him at proper times, he thought it not at all amiss to preach in a house on a weekday, although some might have reckoned it both an improper place and time.

At this time a man crippled by palsy was brought to be helped by Jesus. Being disabled, he was carried upon a bed by four compassionate friends. Perhaps they thought that by seeing Jesus they would no longer need to carry him, and therefore made a strong effort to get him to the Lord. When they could not get through the crowd at the door, they took him onto the roof of the house where they broke a hole in the roof. (vs. 4) They lowered him and the bed through this hole into the house where Jesus was preaching. This was truly a confirmation of their belief and faith in Jesus. They were in earnest! They would not go away, nor let Jesus go, without their friend obtaining a blessing.

The faith of this poor one sick of the palsy, and that of his four friends, when seen by Jesus caused him to say: “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” (vs. 9) Jesus had tender compassion, demonstrating a deep care and concern for the sufferer. Likewise, God deals with us as with sons, and the words spoken to the afflicted man also apply to us: ‘Thy sins be forgiven thee’.

Sin is the cause of all our pain and sickness. God graciously will take away the sting and malignity of sickness in his kingdom, when he will, indeed, forgive sin. Then the promise will be fulfilled: “Who [God] forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.”—Ps. 103:3,4

It is true, none can forgive sins except God. But it is not true that Jesus could not forgive sins, for he had abundantly proved himself worthy to have received Divine power from the Father. He had been authorized to perform the works of God.

As he said, “I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” (John 8:28) Again he said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”—John 14:12

These ‘greater’ works Jesus spoke of are those works that will be performed when his kingdom is established in great glory. Then there will be the promised “times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets.”—Acts 3:20,21

May ‘thy kingdom come’, as has been prayed for and desired, for centuries.

| Home Page | Table of Contents |