Mark 2:1-5
1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.
3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
4 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.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:1-5: Verse-by-Verse Analysis
Verse 1: “A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.”
Jesus returns to Capernaum, a place he often visited. The news of his arrival spreads quickly. This indicates his growing popularity and the anticipation of his teachings and miracles.
Verse 2: “They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.”
The crowd is so large that there is no space left, even outside. This shows the immense draw of Jesus’ message. Despite the crowd, Jesus focuses on preaching the word, emphasizing the importance of his teachings.
Verse 3: “Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.”
Four men bring a paralyzed friend to Jesus. Their determination to help their friend is evident. They believe Jesus can heal him, showing their faith and hope.
Verse 4: “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.”
Unable to reach Jesus due to the crowd, they take a drastic step. They dig through the roof and lower the paralyzed man down. This act demonstrates their desperation and faith in Jesus’ healing power.
Verse 5: “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.'”
Jesus acknowledges their faith. Instead of immediately healing the man’s physical ailment, he first addresses his spiritual need. This highlights the importance of spiritual healing and forgiveness in Jesus’ ministry.