Our Thoughts, His Presence
Did you know that Jesus can read your thoughts? For the believer this is an amazing comfort; for the non-believer this should be terrifying. This is important for us to know, because it reveals the assurance we have as believers that when we are saved, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.
Mark 2:1-12 “When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9 “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? 10 “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”--He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
Here we find Jesus has returned to Capernaum. It is here that Christ reveals a truth of His power even while on earth. That power is, “There is no thought outside of His observance.” For good or bad for the originator, God knows their thoughts.
Psalms 94:11 “The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are a mere breath.” In Mark’s account of the paralytic man, Jesus is preaching in a home that is so full no one can get to the door. Have you ever been in a crowd where not even a body can wiggle its way forward? When a group of people are that determined it is a formidable obstacle. It is why the paralytic man and his friends are already revealing their faith by doing whatever it takes to get in front of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
“When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.”
A critic of Jesus’ authority might say that the actions of the men is revealing their faith, this would even be backed up by a principle that Jesus’ own brother would write later, James 2:18 “But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” But it is here that Jesus prepares the stage for His revelation of authority to know the thoughts of all. Jesus answers the paralytic’s question which he had in his own heart! You see Jesus answers a question without ever audibly hearing the question, Jesus states, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” Jesus declares that the paralytic man is in a relationship with God the Father by stating “son”, Jesus is also declaring that because of this relationship, the sins that separated them before were now removed. This is an incredible but quickly missed point many, including myself, do not recognize. Jesus knew the paralytic’s question! That question wasn’t even asked audibly.
Yet, Christ continues this trend by recognizing the apparent elephant in the room with the scribes. These were the religious professionals who doubted the authenticity of Jesus Christ, because of their own jealousy.
6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9 “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? 10 “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”--He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
Jesus recognizes their thoughts and calls them out; He provides the answer that was needed not for the scribes sake, but for those who the scribes would undoubtedly attempt to sow doubt into their belief of Christ. Jesus raises the bar in the exact issue the scribes were known for doubting in God’s Word, the physical miracles.
Nevertheless, this brings an important thought that we have touched on before, but needed its own attention today, “God knows your thoughts”. My question for you is, does this comfort you or scare you? The answer will shed light on your relationship with Christ.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,
JL