Charles Spurgeon Commentary Mark 2:10-14

"But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy), I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house. And he arose, and straightway took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the [son] of Alphaeus sitting at the place of toll, and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him." — Mark 2:10-14 (ASV)

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

There is a change in the method of displaying Christ's power, but his power is always the same. To the palsied man, he said, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk; but to the man engaged in a galling profession that degraded him, Christ said, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

Blessed be God, we still have among us the living Lord, who is as able to work miracles of mercy today as when he was on the earth. And we do not merely have to exhort, persuade, and entreat, though we must do all that, but we also have to speak with authority in the name of this glorious Son of God and command men to repent and believe in him.

He is with us, by His Spirit, to make his Word mighty, so that, to this day, palsied men do arise, and walk, and sinful men are led to turn from evil and to follow Christ.