Marcos 2

3 when four people came up, carrying a man on a mat because he could not walk. 4 But because of the crowd, they could not get him to Jesus. So they made a hole in the roof*2.4 roof: In Palestine the houses usually had a flat roof. Stairs on the outside led up to the roof that was made of beams and boards covered with packed earth. above him and let the man down in front of everyone.

5 When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the man, "My friend, your sins are forgiven."

6 Some of the teachers of the Law of Moses were sitting there. They started wondering, 7 "Why would he say such a thing? He must think he is God! Only God can forgive sins."

8 At once, Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said, "Why are you thinking such things? 9 Is it easier for me to tell this man his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get up and pick up his mat and go on home? 10 I will show you that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth." So Jesus said to the man, 11 "Get up! Pick up your mat and go on home."

12 The man got right up. He picked up his mat and went out while everyone watched in amazement. They praised God and said, "We have never seen anything like this!"