Mark, 2

9. Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up, take up your stretcher, and walk?’

Verses related to Mark, 2:

St. Mark 2 presents several narratives that emphasize the authority of Jesus as the Son of God. In the first episode, Jesus heals a paralytic saying that his sins were forgiven, which causes indignation between the scribes present. Then Jesus calls Levi to follow him, and dinner at his house with other publicans and sinners. Once again, the Pharisees question the conduct of Jesus. He responds by saying that he came to call sinners to repentance and not the righteous. Finally, Jesus is questioned by the Pharisees about fasting, and responds with a metaphor about the impossibility of putting a new patch in old dress.

Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and deprived are of the glory of God." This verse emphasizes the universal condition of sin. Jesus offered physical healing to the paralytic, but before that, he said that his sins were forgiven. This indicates that physical healing is only a manifestation of spiritual healing that everyone needs.

Isaiah 42:6: "I, the Lord, called you in righteousness, and I will take you by the hand, and keep you, and I will give you by the covenant of the people, and to the light of the Gentiles." Jesus calls Levi to follow him and dinner with sinners and publicans. This represents the inclusion of all kinds of people in their message of salvation.

Luke 5:31: "And Jesus, answering, said unto them, They do not need medical attention, but the sick." This passage reinforces Jesus' response to the Pharisees about why He eats with publicans and sinners. He came to call sinners to repentance, not the righteous.

Colossians 2:23: "Which actually have some appearance of wisdom, voluntary devotion, humility, and in the discipline of the body, but they are nothing but for the satisfaction of the flesh." This passage recalls the metaphor of Jesus over the new patch in old dress. He is showing that fasting, as a religious practice, can be ineffective when practiced superficially without a true connection with God.

Matthew 12:8: "For the Son of man until the Sabbath is Lord." This verse reinforces the authority of Jesus as the Son of God. He uses this authority to forgive sins, cure the paralytic and question the surface religious practice of the Pharisees.