When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 

"Child, your sins are forgiven!"

Some legal experts were sitting there, muttering among themselves, "Why does he speak this way? 

He's insulting God. 

Only the one God can forgive sins."

Jesus immediately recognized what they were discussing, and he said to them, "Why do you fill your minds with these questions?"

Mark 2:5-8 CEB

It seems that these scholars, theologians, people who've spent their lives and careers studying what we call the Old Testament, steeped in the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, the Exodus, the plagues and the Passover, who would know what it took to keep people safe from a Holy God, are having their world shaken.

They can't believe that this Rabbi is claiming he can forgive sins, and when they grumble about it Jesus seems to "know" in his spirit what's going on.

And then he let's them know that they're asking the wrong question.

If we're ever tempted to put Jesus in the "good teacher" category he doesn't allow it.

He is saying "Yes only the One God can forgive when we miss the mark, AND I am forgiving this person right here right now.

Yes I am the embodiment of the One God, the Messiah who the Scriptures you've studied and point to. 

I'm right here."

He's right here.

With arms of welcome, of love, of forgiveness open wide.

#gospelofMark #GoodNews

#accept

#weareBeloved