The Encounter:
Jesus was teaching, and a paralytic was brought to Him by men who carried him. Because they could not reach Jesus through the crowd, they made an opening in the roof and lowered the man on his bed to where Jesus was (Mark 2:2–4).
The Divine Intervention:
Seeing their faith, Jesus first addressed the deeper need: “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” Scribes reasoned that this was blasphemy, since only God can forgive sins. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, declared that “the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,” and then commanded the paralytic: “Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” (Mark 2:5–11).
The Immediate Result:
The man immediately arose, took up his bed, and went out before them all. The crowd was amazed and glorified God, saying they had never seen anything like it (Mark 2:12).
This miracle is a sign of Jesus’ divine authority, not only over sickness but also over sin. By linking the visible healing to the declared forgiveness, Jesus publicly reveals Himself as the Son of Man who has God’s rightful authority “on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:10). The healing validates His claim and points to His mission to restore people to God.
In the Gospels, forgiveness of sins was understood as a divine prerogative. The scribes’ charge of blasphemy reflects first-century Jewish conviction that God alone forgives; Jesus’ self-designation “Son of man” echoes Daniel 7’s figure who receives authority, strengthening the miracle’s christological claim (Mark 2:7, 10).
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)” — Mark 2:10
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. Why did the men make an opening in the roof before lowering the paralytic down to Jesus?
2. After declaring the paralytic’s sins forgiven, what did Jesus command him to do?