Read Mark 2:1-12.
Very often we come to church with our deepest wish, only to have Jesus say, “You need to go a lot deeper than that. I am offering you more.” This is what Jesus is offering: “Your sins can be forgiven. You can be reconciled with me, united with me, you can have a friendship with me. You can have meaning and purpose, fulfillment, fellowship, and satisfaction when you begin to organize your life in reference to me.”
How can Jesus say that? He can say that because Jesus Christ is God incarnate. The scribes wondered in Mark 2:7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus’ response: “That’s right and that is who you’re talking to…” Jesus refers to himself as God by using the Messianic title: The Son of Man. “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Mark 2:10. Jesus is called by that title 80 times in the Bible…that is His favorite way to reference Himself. What does it mean? Where does it come from?
In Daniel 7, The Divine Eternal King from Heaven is referred to as “Son of Man.” Daniel 7:13-14 says, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”
What an amazing text. Daniel was written about 575 years before Jesus came to earth. And in Daniel’s prophetic vision a being appears who is God (that is why He is entitled to everlasting worship) and yet He is distinct from the Ancient of Days (God the Father) and He bears the likeness of a man and a son. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. And that is what Jesus is saying in Mark 2.
In the Gospel of Matthew when Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of Man the religious leaders recognized it for what it was—a claim of divinity, and they were enraged. Matthew 26:65-66 says, “Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has spoken blasphemy!’ The others agreed: ‘He is worthy of death.’”
When referring to himself as the Son of Man, Jesus identified himself as God and then said, “I’ll prove it. I am not just going to give you lofty words about forgiveness, I am going to show you who I am. I will use my divine power for recreation and say, ‘Get up and walk and go home.’” And the man got up and walked out in front of everyone. The people were amazed, and they praised God. Faith and salvation came to people in that crowd.
The healing of this man’s body was an illustration and demonstration of the healing of the man’s soul. This is the power Jesus has.
In Psalm 103 we read, “Praise the Lord…who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases…”
That’s the power Jesus has. Now what if the scribes had only opened their hearts to that truth? They could have learned that Jesus Christ is the Savior with authority to forgive sins—and they could have been forgiven. What an opportunity they missed when they came to that meeting with a critica spirit instead of an open heart.
So, what about us? What does it look like to come to Jesus with an open heart?
It is ok to come to Jesus in faith with your deepest longing, provided that you let Him tell you what you really need and follow His leadership.