Jesus and the Pharisees II

Do you see anything in this text that is subversive to the religious leaders?:

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

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2:1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

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Who can forgive sins but God alone?

What are the Pharisees really saying?

Who was responsible in Israel for pronouncements of forgiveness?

Who is Jesus threatening?

the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins

What is Jesus saying?

2 Options:

1) Jesus can forgive sins

2) Humans (sons of Adam) can forgive sins

Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Get up, take your mat and walk'?

Would you rather:

Have social Standing in a community

or

Be able to Physically stand on your own two feet?

“A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees,”

“Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.”

How would Jesus’ ministry have looked differently if he focused his healing ministry on the wealthy and political leaders?

“This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Have you ever had your religious actions, cause others to glorify God?

Have you ever had any of your actions, cause others to glorify God?