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"Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you."

Text: 1 Peter 1:25b

OPENING THE MIND

The minds of the scribes were not very open at all. The knowledge that they prided themselves in possessing was their undoing. They thought that they knew all they needed to know about Jesus. They could not be more wrong. Would they now try and fathom the words that Jesus would give to them?

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has power
On earth to forgive sins- He said to the paralytic,
‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
MARK 2:10-11

1. The Truly Wise

The scribes would be familiar with this ancient proverb.

“A wise man will hear and increase learning.
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.”
PROVERBS 1:5

Would the scribes apply their minds and hearts to fathom what Jesus was saying to them?

2. The Son of Man

This term may have at least two meanings:-

a) It could be a reference to a mere human being (Cf. Psalm 8)

b) It could be a reference to a title used to describe the eschatological Son of Man (Cf. Daniel 7:13)

Jesus refused to elaborate on how He meant this phrase to be understood. He wanted the scribes to think and consider what He could have meant.

3. To aid thinking correctly

Could the scribes end up with a wrong conclusion? Not if they had paid close attention to what Jesus said to the paralytic next.

a) He instructed the paralytic to arise and take up his bed.

b) Jesus was healing the paralytic with a mere word!

The scribes would have to think through what they had heard and seen that day. There was no mistaking the powers of Jesus. He could not only heal, He could also see into the human heart! Who else but One who is Divine could do that? Could He not also forgive sins?