Visible Faith: How Jesus Redefined Forgiveness, Grace, and Obedience

Summary

This article highlights how Jesus revealed visible, active faith through forgiveness, healing, and grace. He forgave a paralyzed man, welcomed sinners, and challenged rigid religious rules. Jesus taught that new life cannot be contained by old traditions and that God’s commands are meant to restore, not restrict. True faith acts boldly, values people over rules, and reflects God’s mercy in everyday life.

Visible Faith That Breaks Through Barriers

The crowds in Capernaum swarmed around Jesus. Peter’s house was packed. The overflow blocked the doorway. Four men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mattress. The door was blocked.

They took the outside stairway to the roof. They ripped a hole in it and lowered the paralyzed man on the mattress into the crowded room. The crowd saw an intruder and a damaged roof.

Jesus saw faith. Vital faith is visible. Monday Christians take the message of forgiveness and healing to others. What actions prove your faith is real?

Jesus’ Authority to Forgive Sin

Jesus told the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5, NIV). The scribes’ minds blew like the flashcubes of yesteryear.

They thought only God could forgive sin. They concluded that Jesus was blaspheming.

Their mistake was not recognizing Jesus as the Son of God with the authority to forgive sins. His authority surpassed that of their rule-codes. Are you still subject to religious rules? 

Grace for Sinners, Not Religious Elites

Jesus associated with sinners (Mark 2:13-17), which offended the scribes and Pharisees. Levi was a professional leech, sucking taxes from people passing through Capernaum.

Most Jews considered him a traitor and the scum of society. But Jesus saw in him the potential for spiritual growth and greatness.

Jesus repurposes society’s rejects. He compared Himself to a physician who heals the sick. Learn what the scribes did not.

Separating yourself from sin does not mean separating yourself from sinners. Who are the hated and “hopeless” in your community? Jesus came to bring them hope.

New Life Cannot Fit Old Religious Forms

Jesus’ followers adopted new ways and left old ways behind (Mark 2:18-22). While John’s disciples fasted, Jesus’ disciples did not.

Jesus explained that the old forms of Judaism could not contain the gospel. He said it was inappropriate to fast at a wedding, put new wine in old wineskins, or patch old cloth with new.

Freedom from Rules That Bind

Do not allow worthless religious rules to bind you. Newness is threatening because it means we must change. But growing spiritually requires us to become something we are not yet.

Jesus’ grace tempered rigid rules. His disciples harvested grain on the Sabbath because they were hungry.

The Pharisees attacked Jesus because of this Sabbath violation. Jesus said that God designed the Sabbath to benefit and not straitjacket people.

The Sabbath: Made for Good, Not Control

We see another Sabbath controversy in Mark 3:1-6. Jesus healed a man with a paralyzed hand because it was lawful to do good and to save life on the Sabbath.

According to the Pharisees, healing on the Sabbath was permitted only in matters of life and death.

Photo: Image Creator (microsoft.com)