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At the beginning of his sermon, the pastor said "if someone could come away from this passage (Mark 2:1-12) and somehow believe that Jesus is not God in the flesh or God incarnate, there is something else holding them back. There is something else affecting them because this passage is so, so powerful and so clear."
Wow! The first thing that is very clear is "God in the flesh" and "God incarnate" are phrases that are not found in the Bible. The words "incarnate" and "incarnation" never appear in the Bible. According to "Bible Gateway," the Latin term "incarnatio" became common among Latin Christian writers in the 4th century. The phrase "Jesus is God" that the pastor used many times in his sermon is not in the Bible.
So, we should ask: is that truth or tradition? The Bible warns against adding to or taking away from God’s words (Deuteronomy 4:2 and Proverbs 30:5-6. Paul likewise instructed Timothy to “rightly handle the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), which requires us to let Scripture speak for itself and not imposing later theological language upon it. If a doctrine is true, it should be demonstrated from the words God inspired, not assumed through phrases and words that the biblical writers themselves never used.
"And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the paralytic-- "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" Mark 2:1-12
I think I see the pastor's logic:
Jesus said: "your sins are forgiven"
Some of the scribes said: "Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Jesus said: "the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"
Therefore, the pastor concludes: the Son of Man (Jesus) must be God.
However, there is a major theme throughout the Bible regarding the power and authority that God gives to men, including Jesus. During his discussion of Mark 2:10, the pastor even refers to one:
""I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed." Daniel 7:13-14
The Son of Man was given dominion and glory and a kingdom. Jesus referred to this passage and Psalm 110:1 in the next two verses:
"Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." Matthew 26:64
"And Jesus said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Mark 14:62
"And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Matthew 28:18
"And (God) has given him (Jesus) authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man." John 5:27
"since you (God) have given him (Jesus) authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him." John 17:2
"All things have been handed over to me by my Father,..." Luke 10:22
There are many, many more explicit examples especially in the book of John (see also John 5:19, 30; 8:28; 12:49; 14:10).
Our responsibility is not to make Scripture fit our traditions (Eisegesis means “reading into” the text ideas, assumptions, traditions, or doctrines that are not explicitly stated in the passage.), but to carefully and honestly examine what is actually written, neither adding to it nor taking away from it, so that God’s Word remains our authority rather than our interpretation of it.
Let me ask you this, when you consider the full scope of Scripture, is the emphasis of Mark 2:10 on Jesus’ identity as God, or on Jesus’ God-given authority as the Son of Man? If we let the text speak for itself and focus on passages that allude to the source of His authority, the consistent statement is that the Father gave authority to the Son.
From Mark 2:10 we know that Jesus has authority to forgive sins. The passage itself does not explicitly say whether that authority is innate (as the pastor believes) or granted (as Jesus clearly states throughout the gospels). Jesus repeatedly attributes his authority to his God and Father who gave it to Him.
"But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he then said to the paralytic--"Rise, pick up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men." Matthew 9:6-8
Does this parallel passage to Mark 2 answer the question? They glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
"I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." Ephesians 1:16-23
Mark Rohde can be reached at marklrohde@icloud.com.