Mark 2

And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

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,)

I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.

And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.

And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?

How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?

And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

What does Mark 2:12 mean?

Explanation

Mark 2:12 describes a miraculous healing performed by Jesus and the immediate response of the onlookers.

In the narrative, a paralyzed man is brought to Jesus by his friends.

Jesus not only heals the man physically by telling him to "arise, take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house" but also forgives his sins.

The verse captures the moment when the healed man immediately follows Jesus's command, picking up the mat he had been lying on and walking out in full view of everyone present.

This public display of healing astonishes all the witnesses and leads them to glorify God.

They express their amazement by saying they have never seen anything like this before.

The deeper meaning can be tied to the authority and divinity of Jesus. He demonstrates power over physical ailments and authority to forgive sins, which were understood to be the prerogatives of God alone.

The verse touches themes of faith, authority, and the impact of witnessing miracles.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse is set in the early part of Jesus's ministry in Galilee, during the period of the first century when the region was under Roman control.

The events occurred in or near Capernaum, a town on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, which served as a home base for Jesus's early ministry.

During this time, teachings and healings were primary ways Jesus communicated his message and demonstrated his authority.

Houses in that period were typically small, and the scene suggests a crowded space, which led the friends to lower the paralytic through the roof.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints draw varied insights from this verse.

From a traditional Christian perspective, this event illustrates Jesus's dual nature as fully divine and fully human. His ability to forgive sins and heal physically indicates his divinity, while his compassion and interaction with people reflect his humanity.

Some more liberal theological perspectives might focus on the communal aspects of the healing, considering the role of the faith community in bringing the paralytic to Jesus and potentially questioning the historical reliability of miraculous events in favor of metaphorical interpretations.

Reformed theology may emphasize God's sovereignty displayed in the miracle and the ultimate purpose of glorifying God through Jesus's works.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire individuals to act on their faith, demonstrating the importance of taking decisive action when faced with opportunities for transformation.

It also encourages believers to involve themselves in supportive communities that aid one another in times of need.

Additionally, the verse serves as a reminder to recognize and testify to the works of God in one's life, as the witnesses did when they glorified God openly.

Cross-References

Matthew 9:6-8: "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house."
Luke 5:25-26: "And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God."
Acts 3:8-9: "And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words include:

"euthys" (εὐθύς): often translated as "immediately," reflects the instant response and implies the miraculous nature of the healing.
"krabattos" (κραβάττου): translated as "bed," refers to a mat or a portable bed that the paralyzed man was carried upon and later picks up.

These key terms add to the emphatic and dramatic nature of the story by emphasizing both the instantaneous healing and the simplicity of the man's bed, underscoring the transformation from helplessness to self-sufficiency.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient myths and religions, miraculous healings were often attributed to gods or demi-gods, like Asclepius in Greek mythology, who was a deity associated with healing and medicine.

The story of Jesus healing the paralytic aligns with this broader cultural concept of divine beings performing miraculous acts, but it is unique in attributing such power to a single, historical figure who is also seen as approachable and compassionate.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, spontaneous recovery from paralysis without medical intervention is not conceivable.

However, the narrative is not primarily a medical account but a theological one.

Therefore, while science may not substantiate such a healing, the emphasis in this verse is on the supernatural intervention and authority of Jesus rather than a scientific explanation.

commentaries

Commentators often focus on several aspects of Mark 2:12.

William Barclay highlights the social barrier broken by Jesus in choosing to forgive and associate with a sinner.

John Calvin emphasizes the divine authority of Jesus to forgive sins and notes the immediate obedience of the healed man as evidence of genuine faith and healing.

Matthew Henry comments on the amazement of the people, suggesting that Jesus performed the miracle in this manner to authenticate his power to forgive sins.

Craig S.

Keener, in his commentary, points out the significance of Jesus's actions in the cultural context as challenging the religious authorities of the time.

Each of these perspectives contributes to a multifaceted understanding of the text.

Mark 2

Mark 2

What does Mark 2:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 2:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?