Keep Your Mouth Shut and Do It!

Mark 2:7, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

In Mark chapter two we there is a scenario that is just, well, odd to me. Picture this with me. Jesus comes to your house and because of this you pretty much have the entire village and neighboring villages trying to cram into your house. Think about that for a second. There are so many people in your house that not one more could fit in according to the text. That is a lot of people. They are all there for one reason and one reason only, to see Jesus, and most likely to be healed or harass Him.

Your being the good host and not complaining, even though your house is probably in shambles from all the people, and then suddenly something falls on your head. You dismiss it and think nothing off it, as dust falling off the ceiling is common. But the pieces get bigger and more then the “normal” amount starts to fall. You look up to see four guys digging through your ceiling. What would you say? I know at that point I probably would not be the most gracious host, regardless of letting down a paralytic. I would have said, “Hey, you can’t wait until the crowds disperse a little, or until Jesus walks outside. What’s the deal?” And I would be thinking, “Idiots.”

We do not know the reaction of the home owners, but we see the reaction of Christ. He tells the man His sins are forgiven. Do you think the four guys just said, “Awesome!” and then pulled him back up and left? Nope. They hear murmuring start and leave the man there while the questioning goes on. The Scribes think in their hearts and are murmuring that Jesus is committing blasphemy, for who can forgive sins, but Christ alone. They do not even have the courage to say it to His face. At this point I would have liked to of seen Jesus’ facial expressions. I am sure it was sadness and maybe frustration that these guys just were not getting it. I probably would have had this smirk on my face, thinking these guys are morons. It is a Duh statement. Scribes say, “Uhh, you know that only the Savior can forgive sins Jesus.” Jesus replies, “Duh.”

If anyone should be getting it, it should be the Scribes, as they were the Bible scholars. Their fulfillment of the prophecies is sitting right there. Jesus does not say what I might have said, but instead He heals the guy, thus proving who He is. Mark 2:12 then tells us at this point they “all” praised God. Does this include the Pharisees? Maybe. It sure seems like it to say “all.” We do not hear anything more at this time from them. Talk about shutting someone down quickly.

What interests me even more though is the paralytic. He is there for this whole exchange and yet we hear not a word from him. During this whole scenario he is just lying there. Put yourself in his position. You cannot move and your four friends just put you down through the ceiling and everyone is looking at you. Then Jesus tells you that your sins are healed. He does not tell his friends to lift him up and head home at this point. “Hey lets go, Jesus healed my sins. We are out of here.” No, He lies there and listens to the Pharisees as well. I do not know about you, but I might have said, “Hey I came here for physical healing. The whole sins thing is cool and all, but I can sacrifice a bull for that, how about allowing me to walk.” He says nothing, or at least nothing is recorded.

Your action has the Scribes calling Jesus a blasphemer. I would be hoping that Jesus does not take this out on me. There is no where for you to go, as you cannot move. You might have been looking at your friends with the look of get me out of here, but they were probably too busy watching Jesus talk to the Scribes. Then Jesus turns to you heals you and tells you to pick up your mat and go home. So you do. Mark says the man jumped up grabbed his mat and pushed his way through the crowd. No thank you Jesus, no praise; nothing at all is recorded as his response except to do exactly what Jesus said. He may have just wanted out of there, because the whole situation was just crazy, but either way he did what Jesus said no questions asked. Wow! What would you do? What do you do today when Jesus tells you to do something? Do you listen or open your mouth and ruin it? I can tell you from experience I have ruined it many times.

Are you more like the Scribes and challenging Jesus every time He tells you to do something in your life, or the paralytic who did what He was told without question? How do you know what Jesus is telling you to do? You read it in His Word, the Bible. This is where God speaks to us the most. Then you will be more able to hear the Spirit of God speaking to you, because you will be in line with His will from doing what the Bible says.

Mark 2:11-12, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”