And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it in this fashion.
All Commentaries on Mark 2:12 Go To Mark 2
Theophylact of Ochrid
AD 1107
He saw the faith of the sickman himself, since he would not have allowed himself to be carried, unless he'd had faith to be healed.
But though their thoughts were laid bare, still they remain insensible, refusing to believe that He who knew their hearts could forgive sins, wherefore the Lord proves to them the cure of the soul by that of the body, shewing the invisible by the visible, that which is more difficult by that which is easier, although they did not look upon it as such. For the Pharisees thought it more difficult to heal the body, as being more open to view; but the soul more easy to cure, because the cure is invisible; so that they reasoned thus, Lo, He does not now cure the body, but heals the unseen soul; if He’d had more power, He would atonce have cured the body, and not have fled for refuge to the unseen world. The Saviour, therefore, shewing that He cando both, says, “Which is easier?” as if He said, I indeed by the healing of the body, which is in reality more easy, but appears to you more difficult, will prove to you the health of the soul, which is really more difficult.
Again, He says, “Take up thybed,” to prove the greater certainty of the miracle, shewing that it is not amere illusion; and at the same time to show that He not only healed, but gave strength; thus He not only turns away souls from sin, but gives them the power of working out the commandments.
It is necessary to take up also one’s bed, that is the body, to the working of good. For then shall we beable to arrive at contemplation, so that our thoughts should say within us, never have we seen in this way before, that is never understood as we have done since we have been cured of the palsy; for he who is cleansed from sin, sees more purely.
