What's in a healing? Mark 2 Part 6

As we read this narrative of Mark 2, we see the aspect of physically curing of the disability as the main thing. It is certainly a key part. On the surface it appears that forgiveness of sins is connected with the physically curing, but this not necessarily the case. We make a connect healing and curing. but seemingly Jesus does not. In Jesus mind it appears that the man’s healing was complete with the man’s forgiveness of sin and the restoration of his relationship with God, and therefore the community. His physical disability had nothing to do with his remaining physical disability – but as a result of the man’s participation in the human condition and a fallen Image of God. The physical curing seems to have more to do with the unbelief of the Pharisees (of others) rather than a necessary state for the disable man – It is the acknowledgment that this man’s sins had been forgiven by Jesus thus ‘truly forgiven’ that is at question for the crowd. Jesus removes all doubt by asking that loaded question “Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?”. Now, there’s a quandary – The Pharisees know that if they say “it’s easier to say ‘stand up, pick up your mat and walk”, it leaves the door wide open for Jesus to say “Okay boys, make it happen”. Yet, theologically they are fully aware the former is much more problematic – to have the authority to state: your sins are forgiven is much more difficult. Because of my strange sense of humour, I'm seeing that Monty Python Holy Grail bit, where those on the quest were ‘riding’ and coming to the bridge of death and have to answer the five, no, three questions correctly, and Sir Gallahad is asked “what’s your favorite colour and he answers “blue, not yel” and subsequently is hurled into the Gorge of Eternal Peril. There is that panic stricken state that must of fell upon the Pharisees - how do we answer and not ‘perish’ into eternal peril (see there is a connection). But before they can answer Jesus says “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
And it says that “the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers”. Why does Jesus tell the man “pick up your mat”, - it is such a remembrance of the man’s previous condition? -- Anyway, I digress, I think there’s more to unpack here in this area of what it means to be ‘healed’ and to be disable – and expectations and what the church has to offer, and what we can promises and what it means to offer hope and healing as a Christian community (which I think is part of the core problem and reluctance on behalf of the church) and…so many other questions – not the least of which, just reading the passage back through, I noticed, that at no point did man didn’t ask to have his sins forgive, nor did the four friends lowering him from the roof – Jesus just chooses to do so, what’s up with that? So many questions, so little time. However, it is the weekend – and you’ve got time to think about it.
Anyway, I was just thinking….

Neil