赦免与医治
马可福音二章1至12节
1过了些日子，耶稣又进了迦百农。人听见他在房子里，
2就有许多人聚集，甚至连门前都没有空地，耶稣就对他们讲道。
3有人带着一个瘫子来见耶稣，是用四个人擡来的。
4因为人多，不得近前，就把耶稣所在的房子，拆了房顶，既拆通了，就把瘫子连所躺卧的褥子都缒下来。
5耶稣见他们的信心，就对瘫子说：“小子，你的罪赦了。”
6有几个文士坐在那里，心里议论，说：
7“这个人为甚么这样说呢？他说僭妄的话了！除了神以外，谁能赦罪呢？”
8耶稣心中知道他们心里这样议论，就说：“你们心里为甚么这样议论呢？
9或对瘫子说‘你的罪赦了’，或说‘起来，拿你的褥子行走’，哪一样容易呢？
10但要叫你们知道，人子在地上有赦罪的权柄。”就对瘫子说：
11“我吩咐你起来，拿你的褥子回家去吧！”
12那人就起来，立刻拿着褥子，当众人面前出去了。以致众人都惊奇，归荣耀与神，说：“我们从来没有见过这样的事。”
信息分享
从某个角度而言，基督第一年的事奉使祂名声大噪。群众经常围绕着祂，一则是因为祂能行神迹治病，二则是因为他们想了解这位新兴起的「先知」。马可在这里强调基督在迦百农，身边围着一大群人。
我们很想更多了解这四位送瘫子来见耶稣的朋友，是谁提议擡着瘫子去找耶稣医治的呢？当他们被人群阻挡，无法接近耶稣时，是谁提议说「我们试试走房顶」呢？任何拦阻，都不能叫他们放弃。不过，基督对瘫子说的第一句话「小子，你的罪赦免了」，却可能令这几位朋友大为惊讶。难道基督知道甚么我们不知道的事吗？他真的犯了某些罪，致使他变成瘫子吗？基督是要指出「你最大的需要，就是要与神和好」吗？
群众中间有些律法师，他们听见基督的话，便立即议论说：「这人以为自己是谁？竟敢赦免人的罪？」基督接着的话，既精彩地回应了他们的议论，同时也证明自己有神的权柄。祂说：「……但要叫你们知道，人子在地上有赦罪的权柄……我吩咐你，起来！拿你的褥子回家去吧！」那人凭着信心站起来，并照着基督的吩咐，拿着褥子回家去。他同时得着赦免与医治。
让我们再想想那四位朋友，他们一定对他们在其中的所为绝无遗憾。也许，对我们的提醒也一样：有没有谁是我们可以带到基督面前的，以至他/她的需要能得以满足？有没有两三位朋友可以与你一同为他/她祷告？何不为你周围的朋友组成一个三人祷告小组呢？谁知道可能有甚么结果？你会非常开心的当你这样做的时候。试试吧！
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.