Whole Redemption

 

He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Rev 21:5)

 

 

          What do kicking the dog and breaking your leg have in common?

          Biblically speaking, less than you might think.

          Or more than you might think.

 

          There is a tendency within Churchianity these days to think that sin has primarily to do with the body, while salvation has mostly (or exclusively) to do with your spirit. To wit: most people, even professing Christians, wrongly assume God is punishing them with a broken leg a few hours after they sinfully kicked the dog. But when it comes to Heaven, well, they think they won’t have bodies – just angel wings and harps.

          We know from Scripture – think, for example, of Job – that illness is not necessarily the direct result of a particular sin. As the Psalmist declares, if the Lord kept a record of our sins, which of us could stand? Yet in this morning’s lesson from St. Mark 2:1-12, Jesus teaches us that sin is indeed the root cause of illness, and that salvation has a bodily dimension.

          Christ’s mission, though, was not merely to make sick people feel better. His mission was to bring about whole redemption for you and me from sin, which he declared – both in word and in deed.

 

          Jesus first declared the whole redemption that he ushered in by preaching the Word about himself.

          Mark tells us that Jesus returned to his home of Capernaum after a period of time following the healing of the leper (as described in chapter 1). As we noted last week, Christ continually had to avoid wrong-headed public fervor and misconceptions about the nature of his ministry, because he knew sinful men would get the wrong idea about his mission when they witnessed him healing the sick. Here we see him allowing the fervor to settle before he came back – but even when he did return, word of his arrival got out quickly. Again the crowds thronged him to the point that people couldn’t even gather around the doorway.

          Surely they wanted to see more signs and wonders. Jesus the Savior, however, preached the Word to them.

          We observed last Sunday Jesus’ high view of the reading and preaching of Holy Scripture, which he said pointed to and found its fulfillment in him. As the Eternal Word, the Agent of creation, Jesus knew the power of his creative Word; as the Alpha and Omega, he knew that his Word could speak life into dry bones. When he spoke of God’s character and redemptive actions in history, he ultimately spoke of himself: the Rock on which he built his Church.

          When Jesus was pressed in by the crowd, he didn’t despair. When he had a crowd gathered round him, he didn’t seek approval. He preached his Word, because he knew it was living, powerful and effective.

          When you have the opportunity, do you minister the Word to people around you? Do you bear witness to your Creator and Redeemer in the great and in the subtle moments of life?

          Faith, remember, comes by hearing – and hearing by the Word of God.

 

          Jesus secondly declared whole redemption by his deeds.

          As Christ was preaching, four men carried a paralytic to the house, climbed on top of and removed the roof, and lowered the paralytic into his presence. Jesus’ words and actions in this instance formed a visible demonstration of his authority and purpose in forgiving sins – and revealed who does and does not receive this forgiveness.

          Jesus demonstrated, by his deeds and words, the authority he uniquely possessed to bring about whole redemption. Curiously – and we’ll examine this point further in a moment – he told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” The scribes among the group thought Jesus was speaking blasphemies, because of course only God has the authority to forgive sins. You and I know Jesus possessed this authority, but he proceeded to cement his authority in the eyes of all who witnessed the events that day.

          For one, Jesus read the minds of the scribes. We are told elsewhere that Jesus “knew what was in the heart of a man,” as only God could know. Here he perceived the scribes questioning his words in their minds: proof that he was equal with God the Father. Speaking to their “evil” thoughts (as St. Matthew records), Jesus posed a question to them: if it were easier to tell the paralytic that his sins were forgiven or to get up and walk. Natural, spiritually dead men clearly would say it is more difficult to tell the man to walk; in reality, the question is not answerable in any satisfactory way, because sin, the Curse and illness all are related. The One who has power to heal is the same One who has power to overcome sin and to forgive, because sin caused God to place the Curse on creation, and only God can overcome sin and the Curse.

In demonstration of his power to forgive and to heal, Jesus commanded the paralytic to arise and to walk home with his mat, which the man did. Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man, which reminds us of Daniel 7:13-14 and the investiture of the Son of Man over the kingdoms and nations. Jesus plainly is saying that he alone has power to overcome the Curse, to rule over his Church and to rule over all things.

 

In this demonstration of whole redemption, we also learn of Jesus’ purpose in forgiving sins: one day he will make all things new, and believers will have sin-free, Curse-free bodies in which they may serve him forever.

You might have expected Jesus to tell the paralytic to get up and walk, but interestingly, he told the man that his sins were forgiven. Why would Jesus say this?

Because Jesus knew the root cause of this man’s illness: sin.

Now you and I must use extreme caution and gentleness when stating biblically that sin is the root cause of illness (note the word “root”). Job did not suffer for any specific sin; and in St. John 9, Jesus said that the blind man he healed was not blind because of someone’s sin. Granted, if you sin by gluttony or by reckless driving, your health problems might be a direct result of your sin. But it is wrong to believe as though God were “paying you back” as you deserve. If He did, you and I would be in Hell.

Generally speaking, however, suffering is caused by sin: Adam’s sin, and yours and mine in him, in particular. When Adam rebelled against the Lord, the Lord meted out to him the curses He had promised for covenant infidelity. Cancer, broken legs and shattered relationships all are the bitter fruit of that first sin, of which we all are guilty in Adam.

Don’t think that ankle pain is God’s way of punishing you for kicking the dog. Kicking the dog was sinful, and God’s Fatherly displeasure with you need not be expressed by ankle pain later in the day.

Instead, learn the lesson Jesus teaches today: sin caused the Curse, under which we all suffer – but Jesus by his life, death, resurrection and ascension has dealt with the root of the problem. He makes it possible for you to be an integrated whole, soul and body, in service to God.

 

Jesus also demonstrated who would take part in the whole redemption that he makes possible: those who seek him by faith.

The four men went to great lengths to help this paralytic come into contact with Jesus; removing the roof (literally “digging it out”), as we noted earlier, was demanding work! The size of the crowd and the obstacles before them didn’t deter these men, because they knew Jesus had the power to make their friend whole. Not surprisingly, Jesus commended these men – and we should include the paralytic in their number – for their faith, which sought Jesus out, trusted that he could heal the man and stopped at nothing to see Jesus. Jesus commended their God-given faith in him by assuring the man he was forgiven his sins, which is the ultimate fruit of knowing Christ as Savior.

Do you hunger for Jesus, or are you merely here on Sunday morning? Have you sensed that you have a spiritual problem – deadness – that deserves Hell, and that only Jesus can speak the word of pardon? Have you stopped at nothing – leaving your family at home so you could come to church by yourself; going to see the pastor when you’re naturally shy – to know Jesus and his saving work? If you know him, do you lead others to him?

 

Jesus also demonstrated by his deeds and words who will not receive whole redemption: those who reject him, despite their learning and words of praise.

Christ confronted the scribes in the house, who knew a great deal about religion but who had no heart or hunger for him. Rather than question their own understanding of Jesus, they questioned Jesus’ understanding of himself when Jesus already had manifested his divine power and authority. So much learning ... so little knowledge.

We read also of the crowd, who glorified God and said, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” To be sure, their ancestors had seen Elijah work miracles – but Elijah could not forgive sins in and of himself. You and I are left wondering, though, just how much these people wanted to know Christ the Savior. Five men stopped at nothing to come into contact with the Great Physician of body and soul. Countless others stood by and took in the sights.

Jesus does work miracles of salvation. You might have seen some.

But has he worked in your life?

 

Recently my knee has been bothering me. You know what that means for a stubborn runner like myself – I just try to ignore the pain and push through, because I can’t not run!

A little care has made my knee feel better, and I’m thrilled. But in this world of death and decay, I am more thankful that Jesus has given me faith in him and has said, “Your sins are forgiven you.” This means I don’t look forward to arthritis; I look forward to a New Heavens and New Earth in which my whole self, soul and body, will do His bidding perfectly.

I think that’s what the paralytic experienced that day in Simon’s house.

So – have you risen from the stretcher, or are you still in the crowd?