Healing of the Paralytic

Based on Mark 2:1-17, week 3 public meeting

One of Aesop’s many fables goes like this: A wealthy Athenian was making a sea voyage with some companions. A terrible storm blew up and the ship capsized. All the other passengers started to swim, but the Athenian kept praying to Athena, making all kinds of promises if only she would save him. Then one of the other shipwrecked passengers swam past him and said, 'While you pray to Athena, start moving your arms!'

He goes on to explain: We also invoke the gods, but we mustn’t forget to put in our own efforts to save ourselves. We count ourselves lucky if, in making our own efforts, we obtain the protection of the gods. But if we abandon ourselves to our fate, the demons alone can save us.

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

That’s a saying many of us would have heard sometime before. While it seems perfectly logical, Jesus shows us in our passage today that the opposite is actually true.

Mark 2:1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 

If I got in a car accident today and was paralysed, it would be an absolute tragedy! But wouldn’t you also be telling me that despite my injury, I can still have a meaningful and fulfilled life? Just think about Stephen Hawkins. This wasn’t the case in Jesus’ time. Any sort of physical disability is crushing. There were no OTs around. But more importantly, you don’t just lose your physical strength, you lose your social standing.

Think about it, we live in a society that has handicapped parking spots. Even this lecture hall, there is a spot reserved at the front. But in verse 2 we are told the room was so packed, you couldn’t even get through the door. And see the emphasis in verse 4,

4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd…

The paralysed man doesn’t just have a physical disability, he has a social disability as well. If there’s a line for anything, he will be all the way at the back. And it’s clear because no one makes room for him. No one gives way.

But hey, at least this guy has friends right. And they’re not going to let some crowds get in their way. So what they did was go up the roof and let him down over the crowd. Just jump the queue. I once carried a fridge up 2 flights of stairs one time and I can tell you there was a lot of sweating and cursing. It would be impossible for what they’re doing to go unnoticed. Everyone in the crowd knew a helpless man wanted to get in. But nobody in the crowd was willing to let him in. Was that too much to ask?

Now don’t you think Jesus knew what was going on this whole time? Or do you think that Jesus was completely taken by surprise when the roof suddenly opened and he went, “where did you come from?” No! I’m pretty sure Jesus knew exactly what was going on and he was waiting for them. Because look.

5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 

Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Did you notice that? I mean if this had said Jesus saw the paralysed man and said to him, your sins are forgiven, that would make sense right? But where was Jesus looking? At the people carrying the paralysed man. Why? Why focus on them? The only thing I can think of is its meant as a contrast to the crowd that were in the room. Look again at the passage.

3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith

What’s the emphasis in the passage? I think they are the point. Jesus saw their faith. He was looking at the guys carrying the paralysed men, because they did what the crowd wouldn’t. They believed what the crowd didn’t. They believed God helps those who can’t help themselves. They knew that if they brought the paralysed man to Jesus, God will help him.

You might say ‘duh’ but back then, this wasn’t universally accepted. Remember the time Jesus came across a blind man, and people asked him, who sinned? This man or his parents? You see, the thinking back then was one where if you obey God you will be blessed. Disobey God and you won’t. And Jesus turns that upside down.

God helps those who can’t help themselves.

Our story contains a paralytic for a reason. Suppose instead of being paralysed, he was blind. But without seeing, he could still walk into the room on his own strength. It’s a paralysed man in this story because 1) this was what happened, and 2) to highlight the helplessness of his situation. God isn’t one who gives us the top-up we need to get to the finish line. A God like that is no different to a life coach or therapist. The truth is we are as helpless as a paralysed man. Not everyone shares this view of course.

6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 

You know the scribes are correct right? Only God can forgive sins.

8 And [so] Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Who here has a manual car license? If you’ve got one, it means you are licensed to drive manual and automatic cars right? That’s what this is. Jesus does the harder thing to prove he has the right to forgive sins. See what he’s doing? How do we know God is who Jesus says He is? Because Jesus does the things only God can do.

God Helps Those Who don’t deserve it.

13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Understand that food is a huge part of their culture. Sharing a meal with someone is an important signal of a relationship between people. You don’t have dinner with people you don’t want associated with. And so when Jesus eats with sinners and tax collectors, it’s more than just putting food in their mouths at the same time. He is identifying with them in a way that he doesn’t with religious people. Does that surprise you?

Now, let’s assume God decides to come down and visit earth. Where do you think he’ll go on his first day? Who do you think he’ll meet? Would anyone be surprised if Jesus had a meeting with the pope? Or went to the white house? No. That’s what everyone expects. Wouldn’t it be an absolute scandal to find Jesus at the clubhouse of a motorcycle gang, eating and laughing and having good time with people there? Would you be surprised? Wouldn’t there be a part of you that’s wondering why? Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? You see, we are not so different to the Pharisees. And what does Jesus say?

17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

 Jesus comes to call those who need help. God helps those who can’t help themselves.

Our Helpless Need

What does this mean for us? Because anyone can hear God helps those who can’t help themselves and think oh great, God can help me with my uni assignments or God can help me find a job or God can help me with my love life.

But what happens when we don’t get what we want from God? Despite doing everything right and trying our hardest to believe, nothing seems to improve? In fact, it’s getting harder to be a Christian and keep believing in God. Does God really help those who can’t help themselves?

Yes. And he does it without our help. Imagine you’re the paralysed man and there you are, finally you get to meet Jesus. And he the first thing he says to you is your sins are forgiven.

How would you react if you were him? Thanks Jesus, but I would really appreciate it if you could fix my legs too. Which is better – to be a billionaire who’s paralysed, or a healthy person but homeless? Which is better, to be a forgiven paralytic or a healthy cynic? The answer of course is to be healthy and forgiven. Right?

But isn’t that all of you right now? Notice Jesus doesn’t wait for the paralytic to ask or say anything. He made the first move. The fact that you’re all here means Jesus has made the first move for you. He made the first move when he died on that cross 2000 years ago. That was for you. He’s been helping us before we even knew of him. God helps those who can’t help themselves. Because God can’t help it.