8/3/2020 – Day 071 – Chapter 1 and 2 – What is the answer to Jesus’ question to the scribes?
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic
Let’s set a snapshot of the scene from Ch 2: vs 6: “And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, ‘Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ vs8: “But immediately , when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, ‘Why, do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to the say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you’, or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’ – He said to the paralytic, ‘ I say to you, arise, take up your bed , and to to your house.’
I have never read an account, but Timothy Keller has commented that Biblical scholars and theologians have really wrestled with this question over the years. To say someone’s sins are forgiven, is blasphemy, but it is impossible to put a fact checker on it. On the other the hand, his assertive pronouncement to walk is made in front of a large audience, with the outcome – succeed or fail obvious to all immediately.
But let’s consider that Jesus would actually go to the cross for that paralytic, so that his sins would be forgiven. And a resurrection that conquered death, not only for the paralytic , but for all of us. But then, it takes the power of the Holy Spirit to even acknowledge amazing grace!
vs 2:17 – “… I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentence.”
footnote commentary: “Christ’s call is to save the lost, not the stiff-necked. He came not to call scoffers, but sinners to repentence; not to build and furnish comfortable chapels, churches, and cathedrals at home in which to rock Christian professors to sleep by means of clever essays, stereotyped prayers, and artistic musical performances, but to capture men from the devil’s clutches and the very jaws of hell. This can be accomplished only by a red-hot, unconventional, unferred devotion, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to the Lord Jesus Christ” C.T. Studd
Re: Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit: Let’s take notice going forward how the devil’s minions have no problem recognizing Jesus, “the Holy One of God” and the power of God. It takes more than intellectual recognition to be saved. Mark 1 vs 21 – 28.