Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0512A recorded on March 21, 1982 teaching from Mark 2:1-12 – One Sick of the Palsy.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens explores the story of Jesus healing a paralytic man, emphasizing Jesus’ authority to forgive sins. He begins by describing the paralytic’s condition and the creative effort of his friends to bring him to Jesus by lowering him through a roof, highlighting that approaching Jesus sometimes requires unconventional initiative, cutting through tradition or religious noise. Stevens underscores that Jesus’ immediate pronouncement, “Thy sins be forgiven thee,” was the more significant act, as it demonstrated divine authority over spiritual matters, something only God could do. He refutes the common misconception that illness is a direct result of sin, asserting that Jesus’ primary concern was erasing the man’s guilt and providing spiritual rest. The physical healing that followed served as a tangible manifestation of this unseen spiritual authority, urging listeners to bring their own doubts, despairs, and brokenness to Christ for similar transformation and forgiveness.