2019-09-01 

Key Verses: Mark 2:10-11 

Today we will take a close look at the well-known story of Jesus’ healing of the paralytic in Mark 2. We will examine the impact four friends made in the life of this paralyzed man. Next we will discuss the result of their faith in Jesus to heal the man. And finally, we will study the power forgiveness can play in all of our lives.

Mark 2:1-12 - A story of friendship, faith, and forgiveness. 

1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.

The first character we encounter in this story is the Christ.

2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.

Now we encounter the second characters in this story: The crowd.

2b - And He preached the word to them.

What Jesus gives them first is the Word. The word Mark uses here for the “word" is LOGOS. This is the same word John uses in the 1st chapter of his gospel when he says this:

John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us……

1. The Impact of Friendship

3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.

Now we encounter the 3rd and 4th characters in this true story. The companions and also the crippled.

4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

To what measure will we go to bring our friends to Jesus? 

2. The Result of Faith 

5a When Jesus saw their faith,

Remember that our faith is not just having a knowledge about Jesus. Faith means actively putting your trust IN Jesus.

5….He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

3. The Power of Forgiveness

Tim Keller points out that when Jesus forgives this man’s sin, three incredible things happen all at once:

He is Justified - “Just as if I’d never sinned.”

He is Adopted into the family of God

He is United with Jesus for eternity.

6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,

7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

These guys are the final characters we encounter in this story. The Critics. So we have:

the Christ

the crowd

the companions

the crippled

and now the critics.

In order to reach the community we have to understand our culture, not ignore it. 

8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?

9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?

10 But that you may KNOW that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 

11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Remember: 

The impact your friendship to another can have for the Kingdom of God

Remember: 

The result of a bold and daring faith can be the life change of one of your friends

Remember:

The power of forgiveness lies in the Hands of Christ alone. He is the only one who can save you. 

Who are you in this story? 

Are you one of the critics?

Arise - Say less, and serve more.

Take up your bed - get involved...perhaps in the very area in which you’ve been so critical.

Go - Perhaps you need to go to those you have been most critical of behind their back and genuinely ask their forgiveness?

Are you part of the crowd....

Arise - jump in! Dive deep! Get involved!

Take up your bed - Get rid of the stuff that is hindering you from doing more for the kingdom of God.

Go - maybe…literally to your house! Maybe it’s time to jump into that small group?

Are you one of the companions? 

Arise - You are doing well, but Satan will do all he can to bring you down. Stay accountable to your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Take up your bed - Continue to remove what’s in the way and don’t allow apathy to set in.

Go - Finish strong.

Or are you crippled? 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Arise - Come to Jesus!

Take up your bed - Once you come to Christ and He saves you, you have no more need for the old sin of your past.

GO - Surrendering to Christ gives you new life.