Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man: Jesus Honors Friendships

Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man: Jesus Honors Friendships

Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man: Jesus Honors Friendships Table of Contents Leader Preparation...1 Lesson Overview...1 Lesson Objectives...1 Primary Scripture - Luke 5:17-25...1 Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man...1 Secondary Scriptures (listed)...2 Teaching Prep - Background on the Text...2 Video Preview...3 The Before & After (optional)...5 Text Message Questions...5 Parent Email...5 Lesson Guide...6 Getting Things Started (optional)...6 Teaching Points...6 Summary...9 Additional Discussion (optional)...9 Application...10 Announcements...10 Shared Prayer and Peace...10 Videos for Lesson on Jesus and the Paralytic Man...11 i

Leader Preparation Lesson Overview In Luke 5 Jesus encounters a group of friends that go to extraordinary means to bring their friend to Jesus to be healed. Jesus HONORS their friendships by healing the man. But he did so much more, he showed those around him that he can heal the body and the spirit and that forgiveness of sins is the far more important healing. He also honors the faith and the friendship of the four men who brought their paralytic friend to him to be healed. Lesson Objectives In Luke 5:17-25 Jesus heals a paralyzed man by first forgiving his sins. The crowd who witnessed this healing are at first confused and the religious leaders are angered and accuse Jesus of blasphemy. But Jesus was offering profound teaching in this moment as he honored the friends who brought the man to be healed. He was showing us that there is healing of the body and then there is profound healing of the Spirit through the forgiveness of sins and that He had authority to forgive sins. Lesson Objectives: 1. Jesus honors this man's friends for their extraordinary love of their friend by healing the man's body and spirit. Students will learn that true friends will do extraordinary things for their friends by bringing them to a relationship of faith. 2. Students will learn that God has invited us to a relationship with Jesus as a way to teach us the value of true Christian Spiritual Friendships. Students will talk about their circle of relationships and explore whether they have created and maintained Christians spiritual friendships. Some exploration of real friendships versus shallow or empty friendships. 3. Jesus heals us in body and spirit because he has authority to forgive sins and power to heal. Students will learn that Jesus desires to bring us to healing and is able to forgive our sins and bring us to abundant live. Primary Scripture - Luke 5:17-25 Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man 17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, Friend, your sins are forgiven. 21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone? 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Get up and walk? 24 But I want you to know that 1

the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. So he said to the paralyzed man, I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home. 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Secondary Scriptures (listed) Spiritual Friendships bring great joy. Here are some ways to establish and maintain good strong Christian friendships. 1. Intentional : Proverbs12:26 2. Pass Wisdom: Proverbs 13:20 3. Reliable: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 4. Sharers: John 15:15 5. Make You A Better Person: Proverbs 27:17 Teaching Prep - Background on the Text Luke 5:17-25 tells the story of Jesus healing a paralytic man in the city of Capernaum. Here are some of the important background information to understand this story more clearly. Here is a simple outline of the text: Jesus is preaching to many people at the house of Peter including religious leaders in. The house was filled with people and there was no way to get in. But a lame man s friends took a risk and delivered him from the roof to Jesus to be healed. Jesus healed him and forgave him of his sins. Jesus power creates disbelief as well as awe in the room but ultimately shows that Jesus has the power to heal both physically and spiritually and liberate. Jesus was moved by the immense and bold faith of this man's friends. 1.Jesus is in the house possibly - of Simon Peter (5:17) Jesus was TEACHING His AUDIENCE was followers and Pharisees and teachers from all over - some are there to catch Jesus in a lie or blasphemy. Others are curious to see this man of whom they have heard amazing things. The POWER of God was PRESENT - in Jesus as he heals through the forgiveness of sins. 2. A man with a need appears (5:18â 20) Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man: Jesus Honors Friendships A paralyzed man is brought to Jesus his need is obvious: physical healing The man s friends take some CRAZY RISKS to get their friends to Jesus (vv.18â 19) they went way beyond the ordinary to get their friend in front of Jesus they wanted him to be healed by Jesus. Jesus saw their faith (v.19) the faith of the friends was obvious Jesus stirs up a CONTROVERSY by forgiving sins (v.20) Jesus first words in response to this man being brought before him through the roof was Man, your sins are forgiven. This is surprising and controversial. 3. A man is healed to demonstrate Jesus power to forgive sins (5:21â 26) The religious leaders make an ACCURATE statement that reveals their UNBELIEF (v.21) they refute Jesus right and power to forgive sins. Only God through the sanctioned power of the Pharisees 2

could forgive sins. Rituals had to be followed and Jesus was insulting them by claiming to forgive sins. The power of God to FORGIVE SINS is demonstrated in the HEALING (vv.22â 25) The need for forgiveness of sins is emphasized here. A paralyzed man becomes a WALKING example of Jesus power to heal and to LIBERATE (v.25) Discussion Thoughts... 1. Jesus had been teaching throughout Galilee when he went to one of his main headquarter t he city of Capernaum in northern Galilee. Some scholars believe the house where this story takes place is the house of Simon Peter. Anyway it was a home at which Jesus was familiar. 2. Many people gathered at and in the home to see and hear the teachings of this Jesus. It was early in his ministry. Pharisees and the Lawyers of ancient Judah had come out to trap Jesus and try to stop what He was doing. They were beginning to sense that this man was different and was dangerous to the religious establishment. 3. Jesus cared for the people by calling them to repentance and faith and by healing them. The religious leaders of the day saw that the people were turning to Jesus. His popularity was growing. They came out to try and catch Jesus in some heretical teaching. They were listening closely to find some loop hole, some way to silence this Teacher. 4. To contrast the presence of these non-believers there before Jesus. The writer Luke introduces four friends who came with great faith that Jesus could heal their paralyzed friend. 5. These five men were not about to get turned away by the crowd, they were not about to go home without getting to see Jesus. 6. I believe Luke is showing us by way of contrast two types of people. First, we saw the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who only came to trap Jesus in some new teaching. They had no real interest in what He was doing except to find a way to trap Him and run Him out of town. They had no faith. This second group s faith is exceedingly strong. They believed so strongly that they were willing to do anything to see Jesus. 7. Other Gospel writers tell us that they dug through the roof to make a hole large enough to lower their friend through. 8. Both groups came out to see Jesus, one to condemn Him and one who believed Him. 9. Their faith brought them to make bold decisions and act in an extraordinary way. They found a way to put their friend at the feet of Jesus. They were hoping that their friend would be cured healed. But they got more than that. 10. Jesus knew what the friends wanted. But he gave them more. His first words were, Man, your sins are forgiven. This confused, surprised and shocked the crowd. It probably even frustrated the friends who were still on the roof watching from the hole. But JESUS was demonstrating that he had the power to heal one s spirit along with the body. He gives us a glimpse into the priority of how we should be healthy. Jesus heals the man by emphasizing that we are to be spiritually healed first Jesus can heal the body but wants us to be completely healthy first. Video Preview Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man: Jesus Honors Friendships 1. "Count On Me" - Bruno Mars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oue3if-ylr4 (To be shown at the beginning of the discussion on Friendships. Tying it into the story and lesson to come.) 2. The Bible Series - Healing The Paralytic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xim_has3mca - great visual telling of the story 3 mins. (Important to show this as shown in lesson plan.) 3

Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man: Jesus Honors Friendships 3. Can I Be Your Friend? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adyczh0ca4i - funny video about a man who takes the facebook or twitter social friendship thing literally. (Optional video to show if you need it...) 4

The Before & After (optional) Text Message Questions Hope you can come to Ignite - what do you think friends should do for each other? Come read about some extraordinary things that four friends did for their lame friend. Ignite will be all about Jesus and what he does for our friends. Parent Email Ignite is meeting this Sunday for most groups. Please make it a priority to meet with your group this week. This is the last meeting this month. Ignite explores the story of Jesus healing a man who is paralyzed. Four of this man's friends go to extraordinary means to bring their friend to Jesus. Their faith guides them and Jesus does not disappoint. He does more than heal their friend. He forgives sins which can bring us to spiritual healing. The text for this lesson is Luke 5:17-25. We usually use the NIV biblical translation. 5

Lesson Guide Getting Things Started (optional) Welcome: Please welcome all of your students as they arrive. Prayer: Lead a prayer gathering up your students and touching lighlty on the theme. Getting Things Started: Highs & Lows: invite your students to go around the circle and share their HIGHS and LOWS during the past week or longer if it has been awhile since that student has been at Ignite. Emphasize listening to each person's sharing and take note if you need to pray about these things later in the gathering. Activity: Favorite Song On Friendship Say Something Like: We all have songs that stay with us for a long time. I especially like songs on friendships. These songs often become theme songs for our relationships with our closest songs. Or they become anthems for graduations and milestones with friends. ASK: What is one of your favorite FRIENDSHIP SONGS and explain why this is so or who you think of when you hear this song? VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l14qttgtjf4 The best Friendship Song Bruno Mars Say Something Like: This song and songs like this remind us of the intimacy and joy of our closest friendships. ASK: 1. What is the essential theme or the thing we learn about friendship in Bruno Mars's song? 2. What are some of the important things that friends do for each other that makes that friendship special - important - and longlasting? Say Something Like: In our lesson today we will read about a group of friends that loved their friend so much that they went to extraordinary measures to help him. They go far beyond the typical things that friends do for each other. Let's take a look at the story. Teaching Points READ: Luke 5:17-25 (Invite each student to look up this passage in Luke and maybe read on verse at a time.) Say Something Like: Some background to help you with this scene. This is early in Jesus' ministry. Jesus and his disciples have been traveling and teaching in Galilee for awhile when they go back to what is kind of a home base in the city of Capernaum. They go to the home of Peter to possible rest and regroup. There many people in the city come to the house to see and hear Jesus speak and teach. Some of the religious leaders also come to check this new rabbi out. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xim_has3mca The Bible Series - Healing the Paralytic 6

Explore It: Let's take a closer look at what the writer Luke is describing in this interaction between Jesus and the paralytic man and his friends. ASK: Why do you think the Jewish religious leaders - the Pharisees - come to check Jesus out and hear his teaching? (They come because they have heard that he teaches with authority - and the people of beginning to follow him - and they are worried that they people will follow him and not the law that they represent. They come to try and discredit him or even discover blasphemy.) 1. What obstacles did the four friends face when trying to get their friend to see Jesus? (the house was croweded and they could not get their friend into the front entrance to see Jesus. The crowd would not let them pass.) 2. What extraordinary thing did these friends do for their friend? (They took the stairs to the roof and dug through the roof to then pass the cot and their friend through to the ground to be before Jesus.) 3. What did they want Jesus to do for their friend? (Heal him of his paralysis.) Say Something Like: The home of Peter was likely a typical home in that region. The roof was made of brick with rafters in the middle that was closed with thatch and mud and branches to keep the rain and sun out. Often the most important portions of this flat rood would be three feet deep. Some portions of the roof over outside areas might be lightly roof with a much thinner version of thatching. It is possible that it is here that Jesus was teaching because it was often a much more open area and more people could gather. ASK: 1. Why was Jesus moved to heal the paralyzed man? (vs. 19) (He "sees" the faith of the friends who lower the paralyzed man to the feet of Jesus.) 2. What did Jesus do or say? (vs 20) (He says, "Your sins are forgiven.") 3. What do you think the friends who went to so much trouble were thinking after Jesus talks about sins rather than their friend's obvious physical needs? (irritation - disbelief - frustration - anger) 4. Why do you think the Pharisees became indignant and angry? Why did they say that Jesus is blaspheming here? (Jesus and the Pharisees know that only God can forgive sins. The Pharisees have taught that forgiveness of sins is through God and the authority of God. Jesus is claiming to have the authority to forgive sins.) Say something like: Jesus wants to honor the friendship of these four men by healing their friend of his palsy or paralysis. But he also is confronting the Pharisees for possibly the first time. It seems here that he is goading them or irritating them intentionally. Yet there is also a greater purpose why he says that the man's sins are forgiven instead of simply healing him. ASK: Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man: Jesus Honors Friendships 1. In your opinion, what was Jesus trying to emphasize by forgiving the man's sins as a way to heal his bodily ailment? (In the Jewish teachings it is common to believe that ailments or diseases are a curse for some kind of spiritual inperfection or punishment. Jesus seems to be clearing the man of any misconception that his physical ailment is his fault. - JESUS may also be teaching that our SPIRITUAL health is more important and must come before our physical health.) 2. Jesus is teaching about the importance of the forgiveness of sins and that spiritual health is equally and even more important than physical health. When the man was healed what did he do in response? (vs. 25) (He stood up and grabbed his cot and praised God!) 7

Say Something Like: There are three important things we need to remember from this story: 1. Friends do extraordinary things for their friends. Christ followers bring their friends to Jesus in prayer in invitation and by example. 2. Jesus heals us in body and spirit - The Son of Man has authority to forgive sins bringing our soul or spirit to health which will also help our body to be healthy too. 3. The greatest thing we could do for people we care for is to bring them to the love - forgiveness - and healing of Jesus Christ. Story: (tell the following story - read it or familiarize yourself with the story and tell it in your won words.) Important Point: To help our friends live an abundant life, we must bring them to JESUS who can do amazing things. Jesus heals forgives sins knows us inside out and loves us unconditionally. Jesus is a marvelous example on how to be a friend. STORY: A young boy, dirty and dressed in scruffy clothes, came into a Christian bookshop in an English village. His head reached just above the counter. He asked the shopkeeper, How much are yer Bibles, mister? The man pulled his cheapest Bible off the shelf, one with children s pictures, but the money in the boy s grubby hand was not enough. Hang on, I ve got more money in my sock, the boy said. He sat down on the floor, pulled off a shoe and then a long, woolen sock. The Bible s not for me; it s for me mate. I want him to know Jesus like I do. You can have the Bible as a gift, the shopkeeper said. Shall I rub the price off? Putting his sock and shoe back on, the boy answered, No, leave it on. I want me mate to know how much I like him. As he walked out the door with the Bible, he stopped, turned and said with a grin, It s a good book, ain t it mister? By seeking to bring his friend to Jesus, that boy was being the best kind of friend in this world. Say Something Like: Think on these questions for a moment... What kind of friends are your most associating with? Are they also Christ-followers? What keeps you from inviting them to Church or youth group or missions? (PAUSE) (After a moment say something like:) In our story Jesus is touched by these men who have such love of their friend that they found a way to bring him to himself. He HONORS THEIR FRIENDSHIP by healing the friend. His first response as recorded by LUKE is to say FRIEND, your sins are forgiven. Again he honors the friendships that these men have for each other by calling the man friend and then healing his soul by the forgiveness of his sins. ASK: Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man: Jesus Honors Friendships Have you ever invited a friend to your Church? If so, why did you do it? What did you want your friend to experience? Have you ever considered that bringing a friend to Jesus might be the best way to love that friend? In what way would that be true? What can Jesus do for us and for our friends? 8

Say Something Like: Maybe you invited your friend to Church because you have a good time at youth group and you wanted them to have fun too. Maybe it was to share your community with them. Or to invite them to work camp mission trips because of how much fun you have. Imagine, if you will, that you could give your friend ABUNDANT LIFE and JOY and LOVE and PEACE... that is what Jesus offers us. In the story today - Jesus changed the life and circumstance of the paralyzed man by healing his body and forgiving his sins and healing his heart --- he did this because of this man's amazing friends. We need be this kind of friend... Summary 1. Friends do extraordinary things for their friends. Christ followers bring their friends to Jesus in prayer in invitation and by example. 2. Jesus heals us in body and spirit - The Son of Man has authority to forgive sins bringing our soul or spirit to health which will also help our body to be healthy too. 3. The greatest thing we could do for people we care for is to bring them to the love - forgiveness - and healing of Jesus Christ. Additional Discussion (optional) Spiritual Friendship Inventory just what kind of spiritual friend are you We are called to walk with our brothers and sisters in Christ but also to be friends with everyone. We are to treat our non Christian friends in a way that shows them to Christ love forgiveness acceptance understanding positive lifting up always treating others as Christ treats us. FIVE WAYS TO FIND and KEEP Christian Friendships 1. Godly friends are INTENTIONAL we actually make time for these friends interact in the virtual and REAL world too. text snapchat and actually get together in person. Proverbs 12:26 - The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. Godly friends gather together - Looking in the right places youth group church worship prayer groups on mission trips. 2. Godly friends PASS WISDOM they share the word and hold each accountable to walking a life of faith service prayer fellowship and study. 3. Godly friends are RELIABLE Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 4. Godly Friends are SHARERS John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 5. Godly Friends Make YOU a BETTER PERSON - Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Your true friend is going to strengthen your relationship with God they will support you in prayer and they will keep you grounded holding you accountable in your faith walk. LOVING and TRUTHFUL Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man: Jesus Honors Friendships 9

1) Intentional : Proverbs 12:26 2) Pass Wisdom: Proverbs 13:20 3) Reliable: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 4) Sharers: John 15:15 5) Make You A Better Person: Proverbs 27:17 Here's a list some great Bible verses on friendship: Proverbs 12:26 - Proverbs 18: 24 Proverbs 22: 24-25 Proverbs 13: 20 Proverbs 27: 5-6 Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10 John 15: 12-15 Proverbs 17: 17 Proverbs 27: 17 Job 29: 4-6 Proverbs 12: 26 James 4: 4 Job 16: 20-21 Friendship with God is a CHOICE to follow Christ everyday is a choice each day. Simple but not easy. Good thing that God never promised that it would be easy, just worth it. Application These are the lessons learned from this scripture story: 1. Jesus wants us to bring our closest friends and loved ones to him for a real relationship. 2. Jesus heals us in spirit and body. So in these next few weeks seek these things... 1. Seek sincere forgiveness of your sins by going to God with honest confession and forgiveness. 2. Invite a friend to worship or CHAOS or one of the many ministry events that happens at our Church. JESUS GLOVES YOU is a great all day event in the streets of Chicago where we give blankets and socks and gloves to the street homeless while we also sit and talk with them and pray with them. 3. Be an example of how Jesus changes you life by being loving, forgiving, joyful, and kind. 4. Pray for your friends and loved ones that God will enter their hearts and they will become people of faith. Announcements 1. Youth Ministry Board is forming for the Youth Ministry Year - if you are interested contact Steve and/or come to our next meeting on Sunday, November 20 at NOON 2. Youth Led Worship Service every third Sunday of the month at the 11 AM worship. Please consider volunteering to lead one of these ministries: usher - communion minister - reader - music. Our next service is Sunday, Nov. 20 at 11 AM. 3. Jesus Gloves You is Saturday, Dec. 3 - all day - permission slips are available at the welcome centers and online. Contact Steve because there are a limited number of spaces available. 4. Mark Your Calendar. The next Work Camp meeting is Sunday, Nov. 27 at 6 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Please be there! Shared Prayer and Peace Take the last 15 minutes or so to quiet yourself and experience shared prayer. Offer each other a sign of peace at the end. Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man: Jesus Honors Friendships 10

Jesus Heals A Paralyzed Man: Jesus Honors Friendships Videos for Lesson on Jesus and the Paralytic Man 1. "Count On Me" - Bruno Mars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oue3if-ylr4 (To be shown at the beginning of the discussion on Friendships. Tying it into the story and lesson to come.) 2. The Bible Series - Healing The Paralytic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xim_has3mca - great visual telling of the story 3 mins. (Important to show this as shown in lesson plan.) 3. Can I Be Your Friend? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adyczh0ca4i - funny video about a man who takes the facebook or twitter social friendship thing literally. (Optional video to show if you need it...) 11