Show Don't Tell: Mark 2:1-12

Instead of saying "Jesus healed a paralytic and forgave his sins," hear the roof crumble. Jesus is in Capernaum, word spreads that he's home, and so many gather that there's no room left, not even outside the door. He's preaching the word when—debris starts falling. Look up: four men are digging through the roof, making a hole. They lower their paralyzed friend on a mat right in front of Jesus. When Jesus sees their faith—the faith of the four, not just the man—he says: "Son, your sins are forgiven." The teachers of the law think: blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins. Jesus knows their thoughts: "Which is easier: to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?" Either claim is easy to make; one is easy to verify. "But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." To the paralytic: "Get up, take your mat and go home." He gets up, takes his mat, walks out in full view of them all. Visible proof of invisible authority.