Follow Me A Study in Mark s Gospel Session 10 Mark 2:1-12. Regardless of the question, challenge, problem or dilemma, the answer is!

Transcription

1 Follow Me A Study in Mark s Gospel Session 10 Mark 2:1-12 Introduction: Regardless of the question, challenge, problem or dilemma, the answer is! It appears that Mark is recording a progressive revelation of Jesus power to impact whatever has negatively impacted us. Demons, fever, disease, leprosy and paralysis are no match for the power of Jesus. However, what was eluded to in the healing of leprosy is now fully revealed in the healing of the paralyzed man. Jesus not only has the power to repair the damage of sin, He has the authority to and sin completely. Context: He wasn t very seeker-sensitive. In fact, He was seeker-insensitive. Many will never experience Jesus because they are not willing to seek Him out in the desolate places. Notice also He wasn t concerned with impressing the masses but transforming the individual. Text: Mark 2:1-12 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 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. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 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. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven. 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone? 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that, thus questioned within themselves, said to them, Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise, take up your bed and walk? 10 But that

2 2 you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins he said to the paralytic 11 I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home. 12 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! Verse 1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. Jesus is coming out of seclusion. Verse 2 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. People flocked to the house and piled in to listen. Verse 3,4 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 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. Three Characteristics of these Four Men: 1. They were deeply. 2. They were deeply. 3. They were deeply. Verse 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven. The catalyst for Jesus response was not the faith of the paralytic, but the faith of the friends.

3 3 It is an amazing truth that my faith can be the catalyst of God s activity in someone else s life. Our faith can and does impact the activity of God in others. Jesus always recognizes real faith and never ignores it. He often acknowledges that faith of the one healed saying, Your faith has healed you (Matthew 9:22, Mark 5:34, Luke 17:19; 18:42). That does not mean that faith is the instrument of healing, but rather the catalyst for healing. Jesus is moved to action by confidence placed in Him. Our faith does not determine His will, but activates His will. There are many things He wills to do, but won t until we demonstrate confidence that He can. Son, your sins are forgiven. This man s condition was tied directly to personal sin. This is sometimes the case (Psalm 41:3-4; 103:2-3; James 5:13-18), but not always (Job, John 9:1-12). Note that just as leprosy in the previous text was a revelation of the devastating effects of sin, so in this text sin is the revelation of our spiritual paralysis before God. The word for forgiven is from the root word meanings sent away, dismissed or removed. Micah 7:19 (ESV) He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Psalm 103:12 (ESV) as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. To be forgiven by God is to be so forgiven it is as if we never sinned. When sin is removed, healing is automatic. Jesus had authority to forgive, for He knew in a few short months He would take this man s sin upon Himself and pay the penalty in full. The greatest miracle of all was not the healing of a paralyzed body, but the liberating of a paralyzed soul. Miracle of all miracles was the holy God forgiving the unholy man. Verse 6,7 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?

4 4 The question is, what were they doing there? The scribes were critical on theological and moral grounds. 1. Theologically, only God can forgive. 2. Morally, forgiveness could not be granted simply for the asking it had to be earned like they had done so by righteous acts and strict observance of the law. 3. A critical spirit caused them to miss what should have been obvious. A critical spirit robbed them of the revelation of the Messiah sitting before them. 4. They missed an incredible opportunity because they came to the meeting with a critical spirit rather than a soul-searching one. Verse 8 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? Apparently, they didn t have to say a word. Jesus saw it on their faces and perceived it in His spirit that they had a problem with this, so he responded. Verse 9-11 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise, take up your bed and walk? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins he said to the paralytic 11 I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home. Honestly, neither is more difficult than the other, but one statement is verifiable and the other isn t. You can t verify forgiveness, but you can verify healing that was granted on the basis of forgiveness. Verse 12 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!

5 5 The bed that was a symbol of spiritual confinement was now the trophy of freedom. What are your trophies of God s grace under your arm or sitting on your mantle? Conclusion: What is paralyzing you?