Why was it easier for Jesus to forgive sins than to physically heal

[sheilak]

In reading Mark 2:1-12

Mk 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
“Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew in his mind
what they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk?’
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”
—he said to the paralytic,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

Why was it easier for Jesus to say that his sins were forgiven than for him to say, pick up your mat and walk?

 

[Elzee]

Well, I could be wrong, but I always thought it was because there was no way for anyone to verify if the man’s sins had been forgiven. It’s easy to claim something no one can disprove.

 

[Joysong]

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” …

Jesus’s works (miracles and healings) were performed to attest to His authority to forgive sins and to prove His divinity.

What is often missed by a casual reader of the scriptures is that He used the spoken “word” to effect the deed - “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat and go home!”

It astounds many today whenever they see a miraculous healing performed through a spoken command, and it occasions many to flock to the site and/or person who has this gift. It is a sign that awes many people.

Yet when we consider the most sublime power that a priest performs using a “spoken word;” namely to bring the Lord Jesus Himself into a tiny piece of bread, the healings pale in comparison to the majesty and sublimity of this consecration. Just a thought to ponder.

 

[DaveBj]

Easier? I believe that when we’re speaking about God, the term “easier” does not apply.

DaveBj

 

[Fidelis]

sheilak:

Why was it easier for Jesus to say that his sins were forgiven than for him to say, pick up your mat and walk?His question was a rhetorical one, since, while they weren’t doubting his ability to heal the sick, they *were * sharply questioning his ability to forgive the man’s sins.

The point he was trying to make was that they should be equally amazed at both, since only the power of God could do both. By visibly physically healing the man, he was implying his power to forgive sins – and thus was God.

 

[Hegesippus]

i thought it was the other way around. That is was easier for Christ to heal him physically.

 

[tony_c]

I think you may be slightly on the wrong path. The healing and the forgiveness of sins are totally separate. There are instances in the Old Testament of healings performed by God through the human agency of his prophets. The revolutionary thing Jesus did was to forgive sins on hi s own authority. This was considered blasphemy by the Jewish leaders for only God can forgive sins. So if you recognize Jesus’ authority to forgive sins then you must worship Him as God. This is something that most of the Jews were not ready or willing to do during Jesus’ earthly ministry.

 

[mspencer]

DaveBj:

Easier? I believe that when we’re speaking about God, the term “easier” does not apply.

DaveBj

His words would be more puzzling if Jesus were speaking to us, since we consider Jesus Divine. However, he was speaking to people who don't know he is Divine. If someone we considered a mere man met someone in public and said your sins are forgiven, we would rightly doubt his power to do this. Anyone can say to someone he happens to meet that his sins are forgiven. It would seem harder for someone to miraculously cure a parlyzed man than someone we consider a man like ourselves to simply say your sins are forgiven.