AQA GCSE RS A: St Mark's Gospel: The Life of Jesus: Set Text 3: Jesus Forgives and heals a Paralysed Man

As you read Mark’s Gospel, what plays a large part in miracles?

The Faith of the Patient or loved ones.

Set Text 3, Jesus forgives and heals a Paralysed Man (2:1-12): How does the Paralysed man and/or his friends demonstrate faith (belief) in this story?

• They went to Jesus

• They didn’t give up when there was a crowd, they dug a hole through the roof to get to Jesus

Set Text 3, Jesus forgives and heals a Paralysed Man (2:1-12): What might some Jews have expected to happen when Jesus forgave the Man’s sins?

• Jesus to be arrested for blasphemy?

• Paralysed man would get better

Set Text 3, Jesus forgives and heals a Paralysed Man (2:1-12): What did Jesus refer to himself as to show he was sent by God (without stating it)? What’s the quote to support this?

He called himself the Son of Man.”I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on Earth to forgive sins”.

Set Text 3, Jesus forgives and heals a Paralysed Man (2:1-12): Quotes that show how faith plays a big part in Jesus’ miracles.

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralysed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.””

Set Text 3, Jesus forgives and heals a Paralysed Man (2:1-12): What fact emphasises Jesus’ authority?

At the time, there had been other Galilean teachers who could perform miracles such as Hanina Ben Dousa but the crowd said that they had “never seen anything like this!” - quote to remember from Mark 2:1-12, set text 3

Set Text 3, Jesus forgives and heals a Paralysed Man (2:1-12): Many Jews at the time believes that, because God is just, if someone is suffering, they must have done something to deserve it e.g. disability must be a punishment for sin. Which other religion has a similar teaching?

Hinduism - the belief of Kharma.

Set Text 3, Jesus forgives and heals a Paralysed Man (2:1-12): Why were they angry with Jesus? include quote and explanation

“He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” - He was “blaspheming”

Set Text 3, Jesus forgives and heals a Paralysed Man (2:1-12): List 3 ways in which Mark shows that Jesus was the Son of God is this passage:

• He forgave sins

• He knew what people were thinking

• He healed a paralysed man

Set Text 3, Jesus forgives and heals a Paralysed Man (2:1-12): Quote that shows Jesus as omniscient, like God:

“Immediately, Jesus knew in his Spirit that this was what they were thinking [that he was blaspheming]”

Set Text 3, Jesus forgives and heals a Paralysed Man (2:1-12): Quote that shows Jesus as omnipotent, like God:

‘So he said to the man“I tell you, [to the paralysed man] get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Subject Terminology: Miracle

A seemingly impossible event, usually good, that can’t be explained by scientific laws, and is though to be the action of God