赦免與醫治
馬可福音二章1至12節
1過了些日子，耶穌又進了迦百農。人聽見他在房子裡，
2就有許多人聚集，甚至連門前都沒有空地，耶穌就對他們講道。
3有人帶著一個癱子來見耶穌，是用四個人抬來的。
4因為人多，不得近前，就把耶穌所在的房子，拆了房頂，既拆通了，就把癱子連所躺臥的褥子都縋下來。
5耶穌見他們的信心，就對癱子說：“小子，你的罪赦了。”
6有幾個文士坐在那裡，心裡議論，說：
7“這個人為甚麼這樣說呢？他說僭妄的話了！除了神以外，誰能赦罪呢？”
8耶穌心中知道他們心裡這樣議論，就說：“你們心裡為甚麼這樣議論呢？
9或對癱子說‘你的罪赦了’，或說‘起來，拿你的褥子行走’，哪一樣容易呢？
10但要叫你們知道，人子在地上有赦罪的權柄。”就對癱子說：
11“我吩咐你起來，拿你的褥子回家去吧！”
12那人就起來，立刻拿著褥子，當眾人面前出去了。以致眾人都驚奇，歸榮耀與神，說：“我們從來沒有見過這樣的事。”
信息分享
從某個角度而言，基督第一年的事奉使祂名聲大噪。群眾經常圍繞著祂，一則是因為祂能行神蹟治病，二則是因為他們想了解這位新興起的「先知」。馬可在這裡強調基督在迦百農，身邊圍著一大群人。
我們很想更多了解這四位送癱子來見耶穌的朋友，是誰提議抬著癱子去找耶穌醫治的呢？當他們被人群阻擋，無法接近耶穌時，是誰提議說「我們試試走房頂」呢？任何攔阻，都不能叫他們放棄。不過，基督對癱子說的第一句話「小子，你的罪赦免了」，卻可能令這幾位朋友大為驚訝。難道基督知道甚麼我們不知道的事嗎？他真的犯了某些罪，致使他變成癱子嗎？基督是要指出「你最大的需要，就是要與神和好」嗎？
群眾中間有些律法師，他們聽見基督的話，便立即議論說：「這人以為自己是誰？竟敢赦免人的罪？」基督接著的話，既精彩地回應了他們的議論，同時也證明自己有神的權柄。祂說：「……但要叫你們知道，人子在地上有赦罪的權柄……我吩咐你，起來！拿你的褥子回家去吧！」那人憑著信心站起來，並照著基督的吩咐，拿著褥子回家去。他同時得著赦免與醫治。
讓我們再想想那四位朋友，他們一定對他們在其中的所為絕無遺憾。也許，對我們的提醒也一樣：有沒有誰是我們可以帶到基督面前的，以至他/她的需要能得以滿足？有沒有兩三位朋友可以與你一同為他/她禱告？何不為你周圍的朋友組成一個三人禱告小組呢？誰知道可能有甚麼結果？你會非常開心的當你這樣做的時候。試試吧！
FORGIVENESS AND HEALING
Mark 2: 1-12
1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.
2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.
4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 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?
9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?
10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic,
11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
12 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!”
Message
The first year of Christ’s ministry seems to have been one of growing popularity if we can call it that. The crowds came possibly because of His miracles of healing but perhaps also because many were interested in this new “prophet” who had come onto the scene. Mark emphasizes here the great crowds which surrounded Christ in Capernaum.
We would like to know more about these four friends who brought this man to Jesus. Who suggested that they should do so? When they were prevented by the huge crowd from getting close to Christ, who suggested “Let’s try the roof.”? They would not be put off by any barrier which might stand in their way. But Christ’s first words must have surprised them. “Son your sins are forgiven.” What did Christ know which we do not know? Was there some real sin in this man’s life which had brought on his paralysis? Was Christ saying “Your greatest need is to get right with God”?
Some teachers of the law were among the crowd and they immediately pounced on Christ’s words. “Who does this man think he is, talking about forgiving sin?’ Christ gave a magnificent reply which proved His deity. “So that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sin... Get up, take up your mat and go home.” In faith the man stood up and did what Christ told him to do. He went home, forgiven and healed.
Again, let’s think about those four friends. They never regretted their part in all of this. Perhaps the lesson for us is rather similar. Is there someone you could bring to Jesus so that his/her need may be met? Are there two or three other friends who could join you in prayer for that one? Why not form a prayer triplet around your friend？Who knows what the result may be? You might be very glad you had done so. Try it.