"After some days JESUS returned to Capernaum. As the news spread that HE was at home, so many people gathered that there was no longer room even outside the door. While JESUS was preaching the Word to them, some people brought a paralyzed man to HIM.
The four men who carried him couldn't get near JESUS because of the crowd, so they opened the roof above the room where JESUS was and, through the hole, lowered the man on his mat. When JESUS saw the faith of these people, HE said to the paralytic, 'My son, your sins are forgiven.'
Now, some teachers of the Law who were sitting there wondered within themselves, 'How can HE speak like this insulting GOD? Who can forgive sins except GOD?'
At once JESUS knew through HIS spirit what they were thinking and asked, 'Why do you wonder? Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man: 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say: 'Rise, take up your mat and walk?' But now you shall know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.'
And HE said to the paralytic, 'Stand up, take up your mat and go home.' The man rose and, in the sight of all those people, he took up his mat and went out. All of them were astonished and praised GOD saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!'" - Mark 2:1-12
(With this miracle on the paralytic cured and forgiven, JESUS gives three answers at the same time: to the sick man, to his friends and to the Pharisees.
When JESUS saw the faith of these people. These are the friends of the paralytic, and JESUS rewards their faith.
Apparently, the paralytic did nothing more than consent to their advice. At once, JESUS tells him - your sins are forgiven. What a strange thing to say! How can JESUS forgive sins if the man is not conscious of any fault and, at the same time, repentant and awaiting forgiveness? Certainly, during his long infirmity, this man had asked himself why GOD was punishing him [the people of his time believed sickness was a punishment from GOD]. Many texts of the Old Testament emphasize the complex connection between sin and illness. It is often illness that makes us conscious of our state of sinfulness, and for HIS part JESUS does not want to heal unless there is reconciliation with GOD.
JESUS acts like GOD: HE looked at the sinner, rectified the complexes of culpability and pardoned before healing.
Later the Pharisees arrive. When JESUS forgave the paralytic, the simple people did not realize how scandalous HIS words were. They did not have enough religious formation to realize immediately that only GOD could give absolution. It was the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who were scandalized. Their indignation is justified because neither they, nor the others, nor the disciples, yet understand that JESUS is the true Son of GOD. JESUS silences them: If I restore health in the same way GOD does, should not I also forgive in the way GOD does?
JESUS disconcerts those who ask who HE is. Better still, HE shows that only HE can save the whole person, body and soul.
Happy this man who was assured of HIS pardon through the glance and the words of JESUS! GOD is HE who lives and loves and we need to meet HIM so that forgiveness can be authentic - HIS eyes meeting our eyes. Because of this, GOD had to become human - JESUS forgives sins because HE is a Son of Man [John 5:27] and from HIM, we receive the pardon both of GOD and of people within the Christian community.)
