True Power: Mark 2:9-12

Jesus has a superpower.  This shouldn’t surprise anyone; He is the Son of God.  Jesus was born of a virgin.  Angels announced His coming to mankind.  A star in the sky declared His coming.  As God-made-man, Jesus embodied incredible power. 

Look back at what we’ve already seen.  Jesus healed those who were physically ill with fever and sickness.  Jesus healed those with various diseases.  Jesus healed those with leprosy.  Jesus cast out unclean spirits.  Here, Jesus heals the lame.  Jesus makes a strong public case that there is nothing He cannot do.  His power knows no limits.  So far in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus has been quite the superhero.

In fact, it is this understanding that has gotten Jesus in trouble with the crowds.  It is the power demonstrated in the healings and casting out demons that has brought the crowd literally to His door and through His roof.  It is the crowds’ reaction to the displays of power that has limited Jesus’ ability to teach and preach like He wants.  The crowd wants to see the superhero.  The crowd wants to see power beyond human possibility.

However, this is not the point that Jesus is interested in making.  This is not the power that Jesus is ultimately interested in fulfilling.  Yes, Jesus has superiority over nature.  Yes, Jesus has dominion over unclean spirits.  The point that Jesus is really interested in, however, is that He can forgive sin.

By claiming to be able to forgive sin, Jesus asserts He can alter God’s understanding of our guilt.  It is one thing to be able to overcome nature by conquering things like illness and paralysis.  It is another thing entirely to claim to be able to change the mind of God.  This is the very thought that chafed against so many of the religious elite of Jesus’ day.

Jesus can do what He claims because He is God.  In fact, Jesus changes our guilty status by becoming the sacrifice that takes away our sin.  Jesus can forgive sin because He is the means through which our sin is forgiven. 

Because of Jesus, our sins are cast away.  Because of Jesus, we know there is nothing in this life that we cannot overcome through Him.  Because of Jesus, we can live without fear.  Because of Jesus, we can hope to stand before God and hear Him claim us as His servant.  Because of Jesus, we have hope in eternal life with God.

Indeed, Jesus has a superpower.