That You May Know

One of the greatest science-fiction movie scenes of all time is the scene from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, in which Luke Skywalker, the young hero of the rebel forces, the man in whom we are putting all our hope, confronts and duels the leader of the evil and oppressive Empire, Darth Vader.

Darth Vader is a powerful, menacing figure. He shows no mercy or compassion. More machine than man, his mere presence strikes fear in all but the bravest souls.

In the movie’s climactic scene, Luke and Darth Vader battle it out with light sabers until Darth Vader strikes off Luke's right hand. Luke falls over a railing and clings to the side of the structure. Then Darth Vader drops a bombshell, he says:

“I am your father – join me – turn to the dark side of the force - it is your destiny.”

Luke, horrified and disgusted, can't believe what he just heard. How can that monster be his father? However, he eventually finds out it is true. Then Luke has a choice to make. Does he continue to fight for the downfall of the Empire? Or does he abandon all that he believes to join his father on the dark side of the force?

In our passage in Mark 2, Jesus drops a bombshell of much more significance than the fate of the Empire. No one was expecting Jesus to say what he said on that strange day. Those who heard him must have been shocked and confused, but most of all, they were confronted with a revelation about Jesus' authority that changed everything for them and for us. Could Jesus' words be true?

Let's read the passage in Mark chapter 2:1-12.

“A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers 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 paralyzed man, 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 by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “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 this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “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!””

Let's Pray:

Lord, Jesus. We are amazed at you. As we read through the Gospel of Mark, we see something new about you all over again. We are challenged to let that knowledge in to change us. Help us to live it out. Help us today to see you clearly, in your word, which is true. Make us into your people. Amen.

I have following Jesus for many years now and for some reason I've forgotten how much authority or power Jesus has. It struck me recently in my time of prayer that Jesus has authority over everything. There is nothing I'm concerned about that is outside Jesus' scope of authority. He has power to handle it all. Mark, the author of book we have been studying, tells an action packed story, a comic book style story – frame after frame of action. That type of story-telling intensifies this single aspect of Jesus – his authority. For Mark, this must have been central to knowing the real Jesus.

So far in the first chapter of Mark, we've seen Jesus teach with authority, as if he was the source of all truth. He would say, “You have heard it said, but I say...” He casts out demons, and commands them keep quiet about him and they obey. We've seen him heal privately and publicly, in town and out in the remote areas. People found Jesus wherever he was and Jesus kept healing and delivering people. He had power over it all. Nothing stumped him.

Even though Jesus had that much power, he certainly didn't act like the typical man in charge. Jesus was a compelling curiosity. He didn't try to meet the demands of popularity by doing what everyone else wanted, nor did he draw attention to himself, or form a fan club.