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"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, 7 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. 12 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." (Mark 2:1-12).
Here we read of the healing of a paralytic. This story has a great deal of spiritual significance for Christians today because the unsaved of the world are spiritually paralyzed in the sense that they are in bondage to sin:
"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." (Ephesians 2:1-3).
Sin entered into the world at the garden of Eden and all mankind would suffer spiritual death:
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12).
Therefore, all are born in sin
"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51:5).
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
Even though mankind is dead in sin, God because of His mercy brings the gospel, the instrument by which He saves:
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17).
The paralyzed man was not able to enter through the door because it was blocked by the religious leaders; the door spiritually signifies Christ:
"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." (John 10:9).
The nation of Israel was being blocked from coming to Christ by their religious leaders. This is similar to those religious leaders today who lead people astray with false gospels.
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matthew 24:24).
The greatest need of the unsaved is not physical healing, but spiritual. The unsaved are in need of a Saviour to pay for their sins:
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Only God can forgive sin and by healing this man Jesus showed that in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. If Jesus had stopped after simply saying "your sins are forgiven" the people would further question if this mans sins were really forgiven. Jesus performed a divine miracle and healed this man. Although this was a public miracle, many still did not believe; Jesus said:
"And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:31).
They could not believe. Only those who have received the grace of God and whose spiritual eyes He has opened will truly believe in God on His terms.
The healing of the paralyzed man is a story that offers many spiritual lessons for believers today. Not only is it a true historical account, but it also gives us a spiritual portrait of salvation. Before a person becomes saved they are like a paralytic and only God by His grace can apply the spiritual healing.
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