Jesus, My Beloved Son #10 - Authority to Forgive

Jesus’ deity is on full display as we witness the healing of a

paralytic man in response to his faith in Mark 2:1-12. The paralytic’s friends take

great risk, doing whatever it takes to get their friend to Jesus so that he might be

healed. Interrupting the Great Teacher, the friends dismantle the roof and lower

the paralytic through the ceiling right into the middle of a crowd. Jesus sees their

faith and announces forgiveness of sin. Demonstrating power to forgive sins to a

skeptical audience, Jesus then commands the paralytic to rise, take up his mat, and

walk. The healing is complete and the crowd stands amazed. Matthew, Mark and

Luke recount that the crowd was seized by awe at this powerful encounter with

God’s Son.