How does Mark 2:10 affirm Jesus' authority to forgive sins on earth? Setting the Scene An overcrowded Capernaum house, a paralyzed man lowered through the roof, scribes silently accusing Jesus of blasphemy when He says, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5-7). The Verse in Focus Mark 2:10: “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Why This Claim Is So Radical • Only God can forgive sins (Isaiah 43:25); the scribes know it. • “Son of Man” echoes Daniel 7:13-14, where a divine figure receives “authority, glory, and sovereign power.” • Jesus roots that heavenly authority “on earth,” making divine pardon immediately accessible. How Jesus Proves It 1. Public declaration of forgiveness (v. 5). 2. Challenge to the scribes’ unspoken thoughts (v. 8-9). 3. Visible miracle: “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home” (v. 11). 4. Instant healing (v. 12) confirms His invisible act of forgiving sins. Reinforcement from Other Scriptures • Parallel accounts: Matthew 9:6; Luke 5:24. • John 5:22-23—All judgment entrusted to the Son. • Colossians 1:13-14—Redemption and forgiveness found in Christ. • Hebrews 7:25—He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him. Takeaways • Jesus’ authority to forgive is literal, divine, and present. • Physical healing validates His power over the deeper, unseen problem of sin. • Because His claim stands proven, anyone who trusts Him can rest in complete, immediate forgiveness today (1 Peter 2:24). |
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