The Sunday of the Prophet Daniel (GA)

Mark 2:1-12

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. ⁵ And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 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?” ⁸ And immediately 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!” 

Which is easier to say?  I have often loved hearing sermons talk about how easy it is to say, "your sins are forgiven."  Others will focus on the authority to forgive sins is given to men.  Even same will claim that to heal someone is a simple miracle, while forgiveness of sins is a God event or something greater than a miracle.

Today, I think we will take a look at blaspheming.  If someone comes up to you on the street and tells you all your sins or transgressions are forgiven, is this Blaspheme?  If someone performs a miracle, are they Blaspheming?  Here is the simple answer.  They are only Blaspheming against God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) by doing it in the name of another deity.

Jesus on the other hand is the Son of the Living God.  Therefore, He can forgive sins because he is God.  He can heal a paralytic because he is God.  He is not Blaspheming against himself.  Jesus is proving that he has the authority to forgive sins.  God uses this to remind all believers that they have the power or authority to forgive sins as well.  But your sins are not forgiven in the name of Bob or David, or Michael.  Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  The Triune God has forgiven your sins.