Forgiven

Mark 2:5 NAB : “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”

I am excited to announce that this piece is for an upcoming show, “Miracles of Christ Lenten Art Exhibit,” at Christ Cathedral in Salina, Kansas. The show opens on March 5th, 2025, but I wanted to finish it early.

You can read the miracle in full in Mark 2:1-12. Jesus was teaching in a house crammed full of people when some friends dug through the roof to lower their paralyzed companion into the room. Jesus sees them and states that the paralytic’s sins are forgiven. Some experts in the law who heard Jesus pronounce forgiveness were immediately antagonistic. In their belief, the forgiveness of sins took three things: animal sacrifice, repentance, and restitution. Jesus chastises them by asking them what is easier: forgiving sins or physical healing. Then, to prove his point, he heals the paralytic.

There are so many things you could focus on in this account, but I want to start with the metaphor of being paralyzed. What are some things that paralyze us from living our fullest lives? Fear, shame, unworthiness, circumstances such as poor health or financial burdens? Maybe we are paralyzed by doubts or past hurts. In this story, it takes friends, or we might say a community, to come alongside and initiate healing.

The second thing that struck me was that Jesus didn’t initially address this man and his friend’s deep desire to change his circumstances. Yet, what he offered was more important – forgiveness! Was the paralytic disappointed at the proclamation? I wonder if we sometimes want God to remove the things that paralyze us, but what he offers is internal transformation.

Finally, I think it’s crucial to notice what a radical change Jesus demonstrated. Did the paralytic say the sinner’s prayer? Did he confess his sins? Did he utter a request to be forgiven? No. We can assume the paralytic had at least a fleeting hope in Jesus because he showed up (with the help of his friends). But no wonder the religious experts were upset!

Jesus requires only one thing: belief, and to me, that is the true miracle!