As I was teaching yesterday through the story in the Gospel of Mark in which Jesus heals the lame man (2:1-12), I was struck by the abrupt nature of Jesus' proclamation that the man's sins are indeed forgiven. It is obvious to everyone at the event that the man did not come to Jesus for absolution but rather for healing of his lifelong affliction of paralysis. Jesus, however, addresses first the problem of his sin by proclaiming, "Your sins are forgiven." His health condition is of secondary import.
He is not referring to a particular sin either. It is not as if the paralytic offended Jesus earlier in the day and now Jesus is now forgiving him. Rather, Jesus is declaring on him wholesale forgiveness for his sins.
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