Grateful to God that we can gather this afternoon maybe in
your Bibles in The Gospel According to Mark and chapter 2.
Mark chapter 2 is where we will spend our time together this
afternoon. And as you're there, just bow
your hearts with me and reverence to the Lord and his
word as we pray and ask for his help.
Loi, thank you so much. We are so grateful for your
Mercies in our lives. Lord we are helpless and we are
needy Lord. We know what is right, but we
don't have the strength to walk in righteousness law.
We know what is true, but oftentimes we believe lies.
We just throw ourselves at your feet and ask that you would
enable us to be the people. You've called us to be Lord.
In this moment as your word is delivered.
May be delivered with Clarity freedom from confusion, or the
commentary of man. And we ask Lord that the hearts
in this place who have chosen to be in your house, would be
rewarded with a word that comes with power and conviction and
comfort and transformative Grace Lord we pray that Satan's
schemes for the service. Be cancelled and that he would
not have a foothold in this house, but Lord, you instead
would have the full reward of what your will is for us, in our
obedience to you. Well, we submit all things, our
will our emotions, our resources, our hearts, our lives
that are, but a Mist for your name and your name alone in
Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Mark, 2 beginning in verse 1, we read And when he returned to
Capernaum, after some days, it was reported that he was at home
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. And they came bringing to him, a
paralytic carried by four men, and when they could not get near
to him because of the crowd, they remove the roof above him,
and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed
on which the paralytic Lane, And when Jesus saw their faith, he
said to the paralytic, son, your sins are forgiven.
Now, some of the scribes were sitting there questioning in
their hearts. Why does this man speak like
that? He is blaspheming, who can
forgive sins, but God, alone, and immediately Jesus perceiving
and his spirit that they that's questioned within themselves.
Said to them, why do you question these things in your
hearts which is easier to say to the paralytic your sins?
Ins are forgiven or to say rise take up your bed and walk but
that you may know that the son of man has Authority on Earth to
forgive sins, he said to the paralytic, I say to you rise,
pick up your bed and go home and he rose and immediately picked
up his bed and went out before the mall.
So that they were all amazed. And glorified God saying, we
never saw anything like this. If you have been with us on a
consistent basis, you might have noticed that the text that we
are unpacking today is lengthier than what we would usually
digest on a Sunday afternoon, it is still possible to dissect
this into smaller portions so that we can we can glean much
more specifics out of different passages in this larger tax but
we will will trust that as we have an overview of the story,
it will suffice and ministering to our hearts.
Now, if there was a major theme of chapter one and the book of
It can easily be identified as the multi-faceted authority of
Jesus Christ in so many ways. He has displayed his Supremacy,
over Satan over, Temptation in his preaching, in his
deliverance, and all these things we see that Christ is
indeed Sovereign. And the more you will learn
about Jesus, the more you will understand just how far-reaching
his Dominion really is. Is and that is certainly the
case as we bleed into Mark chapter 2 because what will the
C is the most crucial aspect of the authority of our Lord and
Master, and that is in his ability to be able to forgive
sins. This is almost the, the heart of
his authority. This is the emphasis that Mark
wants to make. This is the climax, so to speak
of the power of Jesus Christ. If there was anything that could
be louder in terms of a statement of the deity of Jesus
Christ, even more powerful than him, cleansing a leper.
As we heard last week, it is in his authoritative assurance that
your record of sins can be made right by his word.
By his will, by his choosing. And this is precisely the core
message of the miracle that we are facing today.
That Christ is not only able to make your body hole.
He can restore your soul unto God, that through his
intervention and his mediating work.
He can connect us back again to our creator and not just know
him as such but to be able to say you are my father and I have
your friendship and your favor over my life because of Christ.
How do we do with a large text like this?
How do we deal with points? How do we go about this?
Well instead of trying to find a central theme or to go with a
specific angle because you can go from the angle of the men who
was on the bed, or the friends or the crowd or Christ himself.
All we will do is just glean over this and just speak on
different observations and comment on them as Mark chooses
to give us specific details about this incident.
So we read in verse S 1 and verse 2 that Jesus returned to
Capernaum and he found himself at home and many were gathered
together, because the report had gone out that Jesus is back in
the neighborhood. The last that you, and I have
heard about the whereabouts of Christ, was at the end of Mark,
chapter 1 where he had to retreat into desolate places
because one man, disobeyed Christ and blurbing all that
happened to him. Creating almost this tsunami of
need to come from people who wanted to touch from him.
And so now he is In the wilderness and people are coming
by the droves where there is enough space to receive Ministry
from Christ. It was very difficult.
We learn for Jesus to go into any town without experiencing
the crushing effects of the masses who wanted just a simple
touch from him. But somehow some way we read
here in Mark chapter 2, that Jesus with stealth, And with
Grace, was able to find his way back into Capernaum without
getting any immediate attention and snuck his way into home and
was able to I guess for some time at least a little time,
received some rest after much Ministry.
But what's interesting is that we know something about Jesus.
Do we not? Jesus didn't own very much
Jesus, did not own a home, that is for certain he even said
himself. The son of man has no place to
lay his head. And so as we understand that,
then we come to a text like this and realize that he was at home.
Now, we know Jesus willfully as a servant chose to be dependent
upon the hospitality of others throughout his ministry.
But we read here that he was at home and the question is, simply
this, who's home did he Retreat to And most people agree that
the home that Jesus was at at this time was in fact the home
that he was in earlier in chapter 1, which was the home of
Peter and Andrew who lived in Capernaum.
Now, that is significant for many reasons, because Jesus
chose to make Peter's house the headquarters for the segment of
his ministry during his, his tour in Galilee and I think that
is an incredible, think if you just meditate on it for a little
bit because this says something significant for these brothers
We chose the host, Jesus. Jesus did not just come over to
their home for a visit Jesus felt at home in their home.
And what's so amazing is when you consider Jesus instructions
to his own disciples, when he sends them out in their own
Evangelistic campaign, he gives them a list of instructions, one
of them being something that we've heard many times and
whatever town, or Village, you enter find out who is worthy in
it and stay there until you depart Matthew 10 11, when you
go into a town, find out, who is worthy enough to host you and
then you stay there. Be content.
Don't try to find a better place.
Stay there. Until you depart to the next
town. And So based on that Jesus who
gave these commands and live by them from his own Ministry, must
have found something worthy about the house of Peter and
Andrew for him to remain there until he departed.
I think that is very encouraging for these brothers, and I think
it's something instructive for us.
The Lord, obviously is steam some kind of Honor in this house
for his piece to remain there. And say I will stay here, I will
sleep here, I will eat here, I will rest here, I will allow my
presence to remain in this Abode and when we think about why that
is the case, what was it that he found so worthy about them.
All you have to do is just remember the last thing that we
saw about Jesus in this house and it was this Peters
mother-in-law, served him. And honored him and blessed him
and Jesus being honored and Peter's home.
New knew that this was the place to remain so that he would be
honored with his presence and that honor towards Peter was
known, obviously, with the miracle that fever being
expelled and it only Continuum progress when the multitudes
would come to this very residents to receive a healing
touch from Jesus. Jesus is at Peter's home.
Let's go meet Jesus and the presence of Jesus Christ in
their residence is something that you and I can do for
ourselves. Listen, I want you to understand
that there is a reality of blessing in any home that
chooses to host the Lord Jesus Christ.
I mean, this is so, so practical, and so real, that
Paul had certain words for those who are married to
non-christians after they've been converted within their
marriage to inspire, And that how their presence because of
Christ's presence and them can be a blessing to the other
members of the household who do not have a direct relationship
with him. I want you to see this because I
want you to realize how awesome it is to know that we are the
Temple of the Holy Spirit and how those Grace's don't just
remain here, but can spill out to those who choose to tolerate
us. 1st Corinthians chapter 7. Look at these words.
Just to get an Insight of the hope of glory that is in us.
And what is possible? When we step and live?
Even in darkness First Corinthians chapter 7 verse 13.
Look at these instructions and how insightful they are.
If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he consents
to live with her, she should not divorce him.
Now, sorry to break your dreams and smash them.
This is not giving you the instruction that you can marry
an unbeliever. What this is saying is if you
were converted while in that place of being married to
someone who's not say than you yourself, were not saved.
But you've come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
If that spouse is willing to remain with you, if you can
sense and is willing to tolerate your conversion, don't divorce
them. Why, what's his reasoning?
Will verse 14 for the unbelieving, husband?
Is made holy because of his wife.
And the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband,
otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they
are holy. Mind blowing consider this.
This is not saying that because you are saving, you're married
to an unsaved person and that you had children with this on,
say person that they're automatically redeemed.
That is not the case at all. I think a better understanding
is instead of saying they are made, holy, they are sanctified
They are set apart. In other words.
What this means is here that the presence of a Believer and a
home, brings about a blessing to its members, which includes a
greater opportunity for them to come to Christ for themselves.
As a result of being in daily contact, with a person who is
truly living for Christ. A person who's truly living in
his presence, a person who is truly living by his word that
has a sanctifying power even in the midst of a household.
There's not Crown Jesus as Lord. And so, Paul's even encouraging
somebody to endure remaining in that Covenant with somebody who
is unequally yoked for the sake of the potential impact that can
be made, because of the presence of the one who hosts the
presence of Jesus in their hearts.
And I look at that I cannot help but think about how that is a
principle true just not not just in a home but in all situations
how God was even willing to be merciful to Sodom and Gomorrah
because of the presence of the righteous or how God was willing
to turn the faith of criminals on his ship because on that,
very same ship was one of his servants.
Namely Paul. It's amazing.
What blessings can come with the presence of Christ in us and
through us. And if this is true for even one
household member to radiate such Grace than what kind of blessing
awaits those when husband and wife and children, say Christ is
Lord of this home. What kind of Joy?
What kind of piece? What kind of provision?
What kind of protection can be experienced?
When a household is willing to say, Jesus Christ.
Owns the deed of Place and he will rule and Reign Over All of
Us. Peter and Andrew knew that
blessing. They saw they saw a great
testimonies. Great Joys, great interventions
as Christ's presence remained with them.
But we move on and we realized, oh, there can be much more said
about this crowd, that surrounded, the house we
transition with Mark, as he had of all of this crowd, chooses to
focus on five individuals? Four of them, able men who are
clearly carrying a friend who could not walk on his own.
And Mark as he turns our attention, by the spirit to this
man, and his friends want to show us clearly that this Band
of Brothers really believed and desired for Jesus to make their
comrade whole, they believe in Christ power, they really desire
for something to take place. And this is exactly why this
miracle is so unique because we read, then we not in verse 5.
And when Jesus saw their faith, It was they're contributing
faith. That played a significant role
in this debilitated, friend to encounter Jesus Christ.
And I want you to understand this because there is an
instruction here for anybody of believer. when it comes to what
it takes to bring people to Jesus, If you look at these
friends in you, you understand the story, many of us who grew
up in church, a very familiar, you can almost say it by heart,
even with the details, I noticed two things and this is important
for us as a church. If we are gospel, centered, in
gospel, focused number one. Consider the collaboration of
these friends and Luke 518. We are told more and more.
Detailed that these friends carried this man on a bed, They
Carried him on a bed. We are not told how they carry
them but I like to imagine that. Each one had a corner of that
bed and each one was willing to lift a load.
And they all obviously walked in the same direction because they
had the same goal in mind and I cannot help but think but but
what would happen if one of them, just one of them chose to
go in a separate Direction. What if one of them had a
different path in mind when the other three had a journey set
already? Or what would have been like
what would the experience of been like if one was not willing
to carry the load, but maybe cross their arms and criticize
how everybody else is doing it. I think, I think when you just
meditate on the Simplicity of that, we see a great example of
the necessity of equal collaboration, among one
another, if we really want to see, people brought to the feet
of Jesus, what it's going to take is one mind.
What this church needs to be? Made up of people who say our
goal is, yes to glorify Christ honor Christ but to fulfill the
Great Commission and all it takes is one person in a church,
trust me. I've seen it all it takes is one
person in that church, who wants to make Ministry and the church
and people and service about them for to make that ultimate
goal that much more difficult than what it needs to be.
And more than that, it's carrying the load equally
sharing. Say, we want to make this burden
lighter. We want to make this burden
lighter. So every person will say,
whatever load, I need to care. Whatever part of this, I need to
put my hands to. I will do it for the sake of
ultimately, seeing people encounter the Lord Jesus Christ
through the gospel and when you have this idea when you have
this, this plan set and you have people who share those values
and that attitude, great things can be done, wonderful things
can be accomplished And so remember that in your mind,
remember that it took four of these men clearly to lift this
man. Every single one of us in this
place has a role to play a burden to carry and it can, it
can accomplish much if we just have that continually ever
before us, but not just the collaboration, think about the
determination of these men. It's already a challenge enough
to carry a full grown man with dead weight at any distance.
Without any need for external challenges to make it difficult.
But when you have things like this, a crowd before you
blocking the entrance, you can feel the weight even more.
You can feel the pressure to a greater degree.
I want to tell you something bringing people to Jesus is not
an easy task. It is challenging.
It is difficult. It is difficult.
Just dealing with people. But then, when all these
external things come, which they often do anybody who has
endeavored to set themselves to such an assignment can testify
of the difficulties that come? When you say, I want to be a
soul winner. The distractions of just
Temptation and life, the discouragements of your own mind
and of other people, the Demonic opposition, the demand on your
schedule and your time, these are just a few reasons why
people feel the Temptation is say I quit man.
I don't think I can do this. Not quit on Christ, but quit on
bringing people to Christ. And that's often the case in so
many people's lives, and so many Ministries and they come up with
excuses and regards to the sovereignty of God.
And we don't need to participate and we try to get ourselves out
of the F4. That is needed for people to be
brought to the gospel or to receive the Gospel.
But I look at this example, as an inspiration, you have these
these men who are probably burning in their thighs,
carrying their friend and we're probably cramping in there are
forums as they're lifting him on that bed and they come and they
see this crowd of people and nobody's budging.
Nobody has any courtesy, to let this man through easily.
They could have hung their heads and went back home and say,
maybe another day. But instead, they strategize
instead, they were quick thinking, and they saw perhaps a
staircase on the side of the house and they climbed that
house and they break through the tiles and, and they dig, and
they pull and they they continue to encourage each other.
They encourage their friend, we're not letting you go in
order to See this accomplished, it takes determination, it takes
persistence to see people saved, see people come to know Christ
and we always want things. Easy.
And I can tell you. This ministry is not easy.
So, winning is not easy. You have to be able to push
through. True.
Faith is able to push back when you get pushed back.
And not to hang your efforts and leave it to somebody else to do
it, those who shrink back so easily.
When there is no immediate fruit, when there is delay in
prayer, when there is persecution, when there is
internal strife, will never know, the joys will rarely see
what the gospel is capable of doing in someone's life, because
it requires hands on the plow, white-knuckled, dedication, to
the case of Christ, and the cause of the Gospel, That can
even be said for the owner of the house, right?
Well, there is Peter, is somebody else think about the
price he had to pay the hose Jesus.
I got to get a new roof now. We never think about that, do
we? We think this is like some
Disney story and house, you know, be real.
Be the owner of the house for a moment.
They just broke through my roof. I had to fix the ceiling now.
But any temporal loss in this life is worth the Eternal
reward. And so whether you host whether
you go out into the streets, whether you serve in the local
church, you will pay a price for the price is worth it.
Before meant moving on. It's worth mentioning another
element of the true faith that these men show.
Notice again, as we read verse 5 and when Jesus saw their faith,
he said to the paralytic son, your sins are forgiven.
Jesus saw their faith. He didn't hear their faith.
He didn't evaluate their Creed or their confession, he saw it.
True. Faith speaks through actions.
True faith will will be determined by your behavior and
your deeds will speak unto the doctrine that you adhere to.
That is true. It's tangible, it's measurable,
it's observable, it can be seen, it can be studied.
It makes you stand out, like, these group of men, stood out
from this crowd and these men show that faith is something
that Christ wants to see in us. And not just hear from us.
And what's amazing is you even see this kind of Faith with the
man after he was healed, scroll down to verse 12.
And what do you see? And he rose and immediately
picked up his bed and Out before them all.
Marcus being very specific before them all.
Jesus gave a very detailed command and he obeyed unlike the
leper. Who was healed.
He does exactly what Jesus said, but he did it in the presence of
all. What I love about that truth is
that In This Crowd, you have a mixed people.
You have spectators, you have many people who really believe
who Jesus is. We are going to read in a moment
that you had scribes religious Pharisees, who criticize
everything. And in the midst of all this
kind of people, this man was not ashamed or hesitant to declare
his submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
I got to be honest, there might be some people in here who know
how to immediately obey Jesus, or to display their submission
to him before some, not all before.
Some that is not true. Faith, that is not the faith
that Jesus is looking for what Jesus is looking for.
Is that in any circumstance or setting?
People know this man does not own his life.
This woman does not operate by our own wisdom.
She he is in submission to the word of God, to the person of
Jesus Christ before them all he obeyed, or when we have that
same faith. Would we have that same faith?
And so we see that these brothers here are displaying a
faith. That Christ praised And I pray
that not one person in this place who represents Maranatha
Bible Church. And more importantly, the
kingdom of God would be experts at displaying their submission
to Christ before some and not all And so, we realize, as we
read on that, after these men break through this roof, the
stunned crowd sees as the debris is falling.
And unusual, light is shining in that place where Jesus is
teaching from absolutely astounded at the interruption
and Jesus is preaching, but he chooses to pause You can imagine
the anticipation of the people as this man, seems to be
floating by just a few threads and the careful love of four
friends who are doing whatever it takes to bring their friend
to the Lord. May I also add this There's
something about these friends that testify about the man.
The man himself, who was paralyzed.
Who do you have in your circle that will bring you to Christ
when you can't bring yourself? Who do you have in your life?
That will know how to pray for you?
How to counsel you? How to console you, how to
remind you how to rebuke you? When you are weak.
Not in my notes. But something to consider.
Here's this crowd wondering what is about to take place in here.
Is this anticipation being built up?
Is Jesus going to heal, we've seen him heal before we heard
that he is healed and you could just imagine the suspense as
Christ. Now looks down at this man laid
before him and his sermon was interrupted and whatever.
Astonishment was there would only be Amplified by their
immediate response of Jesus. As we see in verse 5, son, your
sins are forgiven What did the crowd think?
I wonder, I know what the Pharisees thought?
What did the friends who went through?
So much to see their friend healed.
Think, regardless Jesus perceived, what this paralytic
truly needed. He saw that.
There is something so much more important than his legs being
revived. And he offers it first.
Forgiveness of sin. That tells me what Jesus saw in
this man was a disabled spirit before he saw any disability in
his body. What he saw in this man was
somebody was unable to walk in the ways of God.
Somebody who is not in step with the spirit, someone who was weak
because of an ancient fall, through our federal head, who is
Adam and Jesus pronouncing forgiveness means that he saw in
these four men. And in this particular person of
faith that was beyond just just being able to be restored
physically these men and this person clearly believe that
Jesus was the one who can offer salvation.
They heard that message of repentance they heard about the
kingdom of God. and they had this trust that this Jesus was
more than just a faith healer, he was the Savior and in Christ,
estimation spiritual disability, Was more important to restore
than one's ability to physically walk.
And we should have the same estimation.
Forgiveness is the greatest miracle.
Reconciliation with God, is more important than even the health
of your body. And if you have any doubt about
that, realize how Jesus says it in Matthew chapter 9, turn your
Bibles to Matthew, which is the first gospel account in the New
Testament. And look at verse 2 of chapter
9, notice an added detail that Matthew has Matthew 9 verse 2
and behold some people were brought some people brought to
him a paralytic lying on a bed and when Jesus saw their faith,
he said to the paralytic, take heart.
Take heart, my son, your sins are forgiven in the King James.
I like how the phrases is red. Be of good cheer.
You have the new King James, I will say the same be of good
cheer, my son. Your sins are forgiven.
Now, think about the significance of that, as you
look at the sequence of the events, Jesus tells them to be
of good cheer on the basis of being forgiven before, he even
received the miracle before, the miracle came Jesus could tell
this man genuinely your heart can actually swell with joy.
You can actually know a happiness and contentment even
though at this point you are unable to walk, you can no
genuine cheerfulness of the Soul.
Now what that tells you and I is that this is a principle of
truth that sustaining joy as possible, regardless of the
afflictions that we endure in life, regardless of them, even
if it's a severe, as burdensome as not being able to walk up a
flight of stairs you and I can tap into a certain happiness, on
the revelation of what Christ has done with our record of sin.
And here's how you can live in that Joy, it's by taking all of
these things, all of these, crushing circumstances, these
life-altering events, and to, and to contrast them in light of
Eternity. Listen, this man could be of
good cheer because he died 2,000 years ago.
He died two thousand years ago. But he is enjoying what Christ
offered for all of eternity and that is his forgiveness.
And that is how we have to understand it.
We have to view all things in light of everlasting life, and
The Temper temporal things of this world that will wash away
when Christ calls us home. You and I have to see that I
want to call you to be of good cheer this afternoon if you're
truly forgiven realize. Now I know you won't realize it
now because you talk to Christians and and it's just
they paired it, they understand it.
Jesus forgave me. Jesus, forgive me.
Trust me. I know it's difficult for you to
get joyful. Now, I know it's something
that's old news to you, but you're going to really, really
appreciate it. When you Before God, you really
going to appreciate it. And I can't wait to see the
Frozen chosen, erupt and praise when they realize the
significance of the Redemption as they stand before.
God, I'm waiting and I pray that God would keep us in praise and
adoration until then. That's why Jesus can say
something as shocking as it's better to enter into life
crippled or lame. Then to have both your hands and
both your feet and be thrown into Everlasting fire.
Be of good cheer. The essence of our faith is not
physical restoration. Or material Prosperity, but a
heart that has been reconnected to God.
Because of what Christ has done on our behalf.
And that is the point of this miracle.
The point of the miracle is this forgiveness is the greatest
Miracle. Reconciliation is the greatest
Miracle of them all in Warren, Weir's be said, quote,
forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs
it meets the greatest need, it costs the greatest Price, and it
brings the greatest blessing in the most lasting results, and
quote, and to that, I say, Amen. son, your sins are forgiven,
unfortunately, the greatness of that statement was Was esteemed
as the complete opposite by a few scribes who were in
attendance that day. Mark tells us here in verse 6,
that there were some who were sitting there, who are
questioning in their hearts as they received the shock wave of
disgust for a mere man to be able to pronounce that someone
is actually in right standing with God, it was utter blasphemy
to them and they meditated on that thought.
But before they can even think another one, we are told very
clearly. Jesus in verse 8, immediately
perceiving in his spirit. That scares me.
Because what is hidden from man. What is coated with skin?
And a skull is plane to Jesus Christ.
It's so clear. It's as though I'm speaking on a
microphone. Every thought that runs through
my mind, he sees it and he considers it.
What? A great motivation to cultivate.
A holy thought life. I've said it before and I'll say
it again. True holiness.
Is putting your effort into the cleanliness of the inside of the
cup and not the outside of the cup.
Legalism is concerned about the outside of the cup and has no
concern about the health of the Soul. what may be hidden before
Jesus is obviously naked and clear to him and that's why I
continually seek his cleansing from within What does the Lord
doing in this moment? What is he about to do?
These men are accusing him of blasphemy and we see in verse 8,
immediately, Jesus perceiving in a spirit that they thus question
within themselves said to them. Why do you question these things
in your hearts? You can imagine the chill down
their spines, he just read their minds.
I mean, imagine stopping in the middle of a sermon or an event
and turning and somebody just reading your thoughts, I know
what you want for lunch after the service.
What Jesus is doing with this response is making his claim of
divinity, all the more undeniable first because he
exposes what these men are thinking.
Think about that, these men, these scribes and Pharisees were
experts in the law. And if they were truly students
of the word, they would know that the scriptures are so clear
and giving the prerogative of Minds being read and hearts
being known to God and God Alone.
You don't have to turn there but listen to it.
When Solomon prayed, listen to what he said about this truth.
And First Kings 8:39, then here in heaven, he praised your
dwelling place and forgiving act and render to each one whose
heart, you know, according to all his ways for you.
You only know the hearts of all the children of mankind.
You. And you only, you're the only
one who occupies that category of mind reading.
And here's this Jew from Nazareth, who is now.
Eating and exposing the thoughts of these Pharisees.
Giving us the clear conclusion that he is, in fact, Yahweh in
the flesh. Furthermore, within the
criticism of these men, there is a truth.
We see it at the end of verse 6, who can forgive sins, but God
Alone. Yeah, you're right.
No one. And that is the accusation that
had this man is claiming to be God, but what's so interesting
is that when Jesus responds he does not attempt to deflect that
he's not attempt to correct them.
If anything, he is putting them in a corner.
And it's it's the same Truth for people today.
Concerning the person of Jesus you only have two conclusions
with the acts of Jesus and the statements of Jesus and it is
this he is either a blasphemer. Or he is God in the flesh.
Now if he is a blasphemer like these men are accusing him to
be. Then you have every right to
disregard every claim of the word of God, you can walk away
and do you, man, just go because this man is a blasphemer.
He's a sinner. He's a, he's a lunatic. but if
he's God In the Flesh which is the only other option based on
the claims and the acts of Jesus, then what you do with
Jesus will have consequences Those are the only two options.
There's no third. There's no neutrality.
Jesus made that clear. They either for us or against
us, right? They either scatter or they
gather I'm either a blasphemer or I am God.
If I'm a blasphemer, go ahead. If I'm God, bow, your knee.
That's exactly what is happening in this moment.
Jesus questioning their claims and he does this in many places.
And it's a blessing to know that through the condemning criticism
of these men. We find a nugget of Truth.
One of the strongest evidence has that Jesus Christ is in fact
God. But not only does he expose
their thoughts? He's preparing to silence them
for the time being because he presents a question.
Jesus was a master at asking questions.
And he does. So here verse nine, which is
easier to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven or to say
rise, take up your bed and walk What, an awesome evangelist.
What a wonderful apologist which is easier answer me to say your
sins are forgiven or to say to the paralytic rise up and walk.
Do you know the answer to that? I'll give you what I believe.
It's easier to say your sins are forgiven.
Why? Because to claim Authority, that
somebody's sins are forgiven. Does it have tangible evidence?
I can go up to anybody. Like your sins are forgiven.
Okay? Well, where's the proof of that?
And you and I we believe that Christ.
Forgives us though, there is no writing on a wall or tablet that
falls from heaven. That gives you a certificate we
by faith believe that he has forgiven us.
And so it's it's very difficult to challenge some of these
Authority based on something that's invisible.
But the say rise up and walk the claim you have authority to
raise up the sick based on what happens will determine whether
you're a fraud or your genuine. It's a simple as that.
So which is easier well obviously both are impossible
for man to accomplish but in the sense of evidence, Your sins are
forgiven. And that's exactly what Jesus is
doing. He's he has a strategy in mind,
he's making a case and he's setting them up.
The Lord purposely waits to heal this mint, after his claim of
divine authority to make somebody right in there standing
with God. So that when he does, he'll this
man it would back up the initial claim of his authority.
So he sets it up in such a way where he says, which is easier
And if they say, well, your sins are forgiven because you have to
prove the latter. Now he's about to say, okay, I'm
going to confront you with that, the timing of this healing would
leave the scribes much to think about, as Jesus would say rise
up and walk, they would lead leaving scratching their heads
wondering. Well, if he was able to raise up
this man to walk, then maybe he has the ability to forgive sins.
That's exactly what he's doing. And it is brilliant.
There's a principle there to tucked in that helps.
Many of us, I hope. Whenever Jesus delays in
anything that we're asking for, believing God for, it's always
so that he can maximize his glory.
He could have healed this men immediately and it would have
glorified him. He could have brought about
restoration right there and then and he could have received
praise, but how much more now when he had waited just a little
bit longer to bring about that. So that a greater thing could be
accomplished. I believe the Lord for that.
So they are stunned by this because we read here in verse
11, I say to you arise pick up your bed and go home.
And look at this. In verse 12, he rose and
immediately picked up his bed and went out before the mall,
just like the woman that was healed by the fever immediately.
There is there is this jolt of joy that we know in our
experience of Christ that brings about immediate change immediate
obedience. It may not be perfect obedience
but there is a Closet of a desire to says, I want to live
for him. I want to honor him.
I want to walk as he calls me to walk and he rose and immediately
picked up his bed and went out before them all.
So they were all amazed and glorified God saying, we never
saw anything like this. We never saw anything like this.
I look at this and there's many things that can be said, but one
thing stands out to me, I remember when I first read this
story being saved, And something stood out to me and it still
stands out to me today. Maybe you noticed it as well.
Jesus said, I say to you arise pick up your bed.
And go home. Why take the bed?
I think it's more important than just being courteous to the
owner of the house, pick up your bed and we're told here that
this meant picked up his bed, rolled it up and went first to
his home. And when the thought came to me
reading this initially many years ago It's still a thought
that resonates with me today and it is this, that bed was his
testimony. That bed was his story.
That bed was the evidence of where he was before he met
Christ and where he is today because of Christ.
And what I love about this is that the testimony of
encountering Christ in Christ. Mine was not to stay there but
was to go out. For others to be able to see for
themselves. What Jesus had done.
And each of us has something to point back to, to say this is,
this is where I was before, Jesus, but look at me now.
See me now. And it's amazing that the first
place where God wanted him to go to testify was the home.
We're making a full circle, here was to go home and to show.
If you had a wife, his wife, he had kids his kids.
What Jesus had done. That is the first place where
people should see the marks of a man who has been touched by
Jesus. And you wonder what happened
after this. We are not sure but all we know
is that this man did the opposite of what the leopard
did. And as I Look to this story, I
think like the leper that this is significant in a spiritual
sense. This man could not walk.
And his friends can only do so much for him.
And Romans tells us that before Christ came, we were weak in the
flesh, we were weak and that is when he came to save us.
I want to close with this thought and this is, I know,
it's not in has points and titles for each point, but I'm
just going to speak from the heart.
For those who have that desire for, for someone that you love
to come to Christ. Realize that though these
friends did so much, there is only so much that they can do.
All they can do was bring the person to Jesus.
And that is where it all ends for you and I in our work for
Christ that we bring them to the Lord.
And in that moment it's between their faith and the Christ and
how it moves forward from there. But we don't get their names, we
don't get their response. Well, you can imagine the great
joy that these men felt and the efforts that they put into this
moment being known. And there are some people who
may not be physically, crippled but are in so many different
ways. And if we want to experience
testimonies in the next few years as God preserves us to
say, we never saw anything like this, we never thought anything
like this could happen, it will required a collective effort to
be able to lift people who might be emotionally disabled.
Who might be definitely spiritually?
Broken. Say, let me bring you to Jesus.
And that contribution was enough for Christ to change this man.
Don't underestimate your efforts for the kingdom of God.
The many things I can say, if you haven't noticed, it's
outside of my comfort zone to deal with a larger text, I'm
much more comfortable dealing with two verses and getting as
much out of it, but I trust that the Lord has spoken to our
hearts. Why don't we pray together?
Lord, we see this story and we realize that we should glory in
our Redemption. Above all else.
If nothing else works for us. We can be of good cheer.
Many people are familiar with that truth.
But are numb to the feeling that it should cause.
Lord, just renew the joy of your salvation in our hearts.
As a church, Lord, help us be of one mind of one heart to share
the effort in the burdens of the ministry.
For the sake of souls, coming in contact with you.
Lord, we pray for those who might have entered today who
have likes to walk, but their hearts are paralyzed.
And they are dead in terms of their relationship with you.
They have no life, they have no power to walk in your ways.
But Lord, as we are here, maybe they've been invited by a
friend. Maybe they were convinced to
come just for this day. Lord, would you would you let
him know that you're willing to heal them and save them?
And that they can leave here with a testimony.
They can walk out of here. With their past and their sin,
and their evil and their habits that Dishonored you in a
destroyed. So many other things that they
can walk out of here restored with a story.
What Christ has done in my life? Lord, we just give you all the
glory for your word today and we pray that as we sing even now
you would shower us with a reminder of the Eternal blessing
in the gospel and how this life is, but a missed.
It will mean more than anything else.
On our deathbed is not her bank account or what experiences we
had or what places were places we travel to.
But one thing am I saved, am I redeemed in my his child?
And Lord. We just thank you that we can
know that now. And we rejoice in it today and
your name, we pray. Amen, let's stand and worship.