1 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:07,100 Grateful to God that we can gather this afternoon maybe in 2 00:00:07,100 --> 00:00:10,600 your Bibles in The Gospel According to Mark and chapter 2. 3 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,100 Mark chapter 2 is where we will spend our time together this 4 00:00:22,100 --> 00:00:25,600 afternoon. And as you're there, just bow 5 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:28,100 your hearts with me and reverence to the Lord and his 6 00:00:28,100 --> 00:00:30,300 word as we pray and ask for his help. 7 00:00:31,500 --> 00:00:36,200 Loi, thank you so much. We are so grateful for your 8 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:41,500 Mercies in our lives. Lord we are helpless and we are 9 00:00:41,500 --> 00:00:44,900 needy Lord. We know what is right, but we 10 00:00:44,900 --> 00:00:49,300 don't have the strength to walk in righteousness law. 11 00:00:49,300 --> 00:00:53,300 We know what is true, but oftentimes we believe lies. 12 00:00:54,700 --> 00:00:57,500 We just throw ourselves at your feet and ask that you would 13 00:00:57,500 --> 00:01:01,400 enable us to be the people. You've called us to be Lord. 14 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,300 In this moment as your word is delivered. 15 00:01:03,300 --> 00:01:06,300 May be delivered with Clarity freedom from confusion, or the 16 00:01:06,300 --> 00:01:09,900 commentary of man. And we ask Lord that the hearts 17 00:01:09,900 --> 00:01:12,200 in this place who have chosen to be in your house, would be 18 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:17,800 rewarded with a word that comes with power and conviction and 19 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:22,900 comfort and transformative Grace Lord we pray that Satan's 20 00:01:22,900 --> 00:01:26,700 schemes for the service. Be cancelled and that he would 21 00:01:26,700 --> 00:01:31,100 not have a foothold in this house, but Lord, you instead 22 00:01:31,100 --> 00:01:35,400 would have the full reward of what your will is for us, in our 23 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:39,100 obedience to you. Well, we submit all things, our 24 00:01:39,100 --> 00:01:44,400 will our emotions, our resources, our hearts, our lives 25 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:47,800 that are, but a Mist for your name and your name alone in 26 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,100 Jesus name we pray. Amen. 27 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:56,600 Mark, 2 beginning in verse 1, we read And when he returned to 28 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:01,200 Capernaum, after some days, it was reported that he was at home 29 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,100 and many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, 30 00:02:05,100 --> 00:02:08,800 not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to 31 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,400 them. And they came bringing to him, a 32 00:02:11,408 --> 00:02:15,600 paralytic carried by four men, and when they could not get near 33 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,900 to him because of the crowd, they remove the roof above him, 34 00:02:19,500 --> 00:02:21,700 and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed 35 00:02:21,700 --> 00:02:25,900 on which the paralytic Lane, And when Jesus saw their faith, he 36 00:02:25,900 --> 00:02:29,700 said to the paralytic, son, your sins are forgiven. 37 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,600 Now, some of the scribes were sitting there questioning in 38 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,000 their hearts. Why does this man speak like 39 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,700 that? He is blaspheming, who can 40 00:02:37,700 --> 00:02:42,700 forgive sins, but God, alone, and immediately Jesus perceiving 41 00:02:42,700 --> 00:02:46,000 and his spirit that they that's questioned within themselves. 42 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,400 Said to them, why do you question these things in your 43 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,800 hearts which is easier to say to the paralytic your sins? 44 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:59,000 Ins are forgiven or to say rise take up your bed and walk but 45 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,100 that you may know that the son of man has Authority on Earth to 46 00:03:02,100 --> 00:03:06,700 forgive sins, he said to the paralytic, I say to you rise, 47 00:03:06,900 --> 00:03:11,200 pick up your bed and go home and he rose and immediately picked 48 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:13,400 up his bed and went out before the mall. 49 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,200 So that they were all amazed. And glorified God saying, we 50 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:21,800 never saw anything like this. If you have been with us on a 51 00:03:21,808 --> 00:03:25,200 consistent basis, you might have noticed that the text that we 52 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,300 are unpacking today is lengthier than what we would usually 53 00:03:28,300 --> 00:03:32,400 digest on a Sunday afternoon, it is still possible to dissect 54 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,300 this into smaller portions so that we can we can glean much 55 00:03:36,300 --> 00:03:40,300 more specifics out of different passages in this larger tax but 56 00:03:40,300 --> 00:03:43,500 we will will trust that as we have an overview of the story, 57 00:03:43,500 --> 00:03:46,000 it will suffice and ministering to our hearts. 58 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,000 Now, if there was a major theme of chapter one and the book of 59 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:55,500 It can easily be identified as the multi-faceted authority of 60 00:03:55,500 --> 00:04:00,800 Jesus Christ in so many ways. He has displayed his Supremacy, 61 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:06,200 over Satan over, Temptation in his preaching, in his 62 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:10,000 deliverance, and all these things we see that Christ is 63 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,200 indeed Sovereign. And the more you will learn 64 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:18,399 about Jesus, the more you will understand just how far-reaching 65 00:04:18,399 --> 00:04:21,899 his Dominion really is. Is and that is certainly the 66 00:04:21,899 --> 00:04:26,200 case as we bleed into Mark chapter 2 because what will the 67 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:30,900 C is the most crucial aspect of the authority of our Lord and 68 00:04:30,900 --> 00:04:36,600 Master, and that is in his ability to be able to forgive 69 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:41,200 sins. This is almost the, the heart of 70 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,300 his authority. This is the emphasis that Mark 71 00:04:43,300 --> 00:04:46,600 wants to make. This is the climax, so to speak 72 00:04:46,900 --> 00:04:51,200 of the power of Jesus Christ. If there was anything that could 73 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,000 be louder in terms of a statement of the deity of Jesus 74 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,500 Christ, even more powerful than him, cleansing a leper. 75 00:04:56,500 --> 00:05:01,200 As we heard last week, it is in his authoritative assurance that 76 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:04,600 your record of sins can be made right by his word. 77 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:09,600 By his will, by his choosing. And this is precisely the core 78 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,300 message of the miracle that we are facing today. 79 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,300 That Christ is not only able to make your body hole. 80 00:05:16,300 --> 00:05:21,500 He can restore your soul unto God, that through his 81 00:05:21,500 --> 00:05:24,200 intervention and his mediating work. 82 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:28,100 He can connect us back again to our creator and not just know 83 00:05:28,100 --> 00:05:32,700 him as such but to be able to say you are my father and I have 84 00:05:32,700 --> 00:05:35,900 your friendship and your favor over my life because of Christ. 85 00:05:36,700 --> 00:05:38,600 How do we do with a large text like this? 86 00:05:38,700 --> 00:05:41,400 How do we deal with points? How do we go about this? 87 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,300 Well instead of trying to find a central theme or to go with a 88 00:05:44,300 --> 00:05:46,800 specific angle because you can go from the angle of the men who 89 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:51,100 was on the bed, or the friends or the crowd or Christ himself. 90 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:56,900 All we will do is just glean over this and just speak on 91 00:05:56,900 --> 00:06:00,600 different observations and comment on them as Mark chooses 92 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,900 to give us specific details about this incident. 93 00:06:04,300 --> 00:06:07,600 So we read in verse S 1 and verse 2 that Jesus returned to 94 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,800 Capernaum and he found himself at home and many were gathered 95 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,600 together, because the report had gone out that Jesus is back in 96 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,100 the neighborhood. The last that you, and I have 97 00:06:17,100 --> 00:06:19,800 heard about the whereabouts of Christ, was at the end of Mark, 98 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,200 chapter 1 where he had to retreat into desolate places 99 00:06:23,500 --> 00:06:26,900 because one man, disobeyed Christ and blurbing all that 100 00:06:26,900 --> 00:06:31,100 happened to him. Creating almost this tsunami of 101 00:06:31,100 --> 00:06:33,700 need to come from people who wanted to touch from him. 102 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,100 And so now he is In the wilderness and people are coming 103 00:06:37,100 --> 00:06:41,000 by the droves where there is enough space to receive Ministry 104 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,600 from Christ. It was very difficult. 105 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,300 We learn for Jesus to go into any town without experiencing 106 00:06:46,300 --> 00:06:49,900 the crushing effects of the masses who wanted just a simple 107 00:06:49,900 --> 00:06:52,500 touch from him. But somehow some way we read 108 00:06:52,500 --> 00:06:57,000 here in Mark chapter 2, that Jesus with stealth, And with 109 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,000 Grace, was able to find his way back into Capernaum without 110 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:04,600 getting any immediate attention and snuck his way into home and 111 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,800 was able to I guess for some time at least a little time, 112 00:07:08,100 --> 00:07:10,400 received some rest after much Ministry. 113 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:13,300 But what's interesting is that we know something about Jesus. 114 00:07:13,300 --> 00:07:16,500 Do we not? Jesus didn't own very much 115 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,700 Jesus, did not own a home, that is for certain he even said 116 00:07:21,700 --> 00:07:23,700 himself. The son of man has no place to 117 00:07:23,700 --> 00:07:27,100 lay his head. And so as we understand that, 118 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,800 then we come to a text like this and realize that he was at home. 119 00:07:31,900 --> 00:07:35,600 Now, we know Jesus willfully as a servant chose to be dependent 120 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,900 upon the hospitality of others throughout his ministry. 121 00:07:38,900 --> 00:07:42,500 But we read here that he was at home and the question is, simply 122 00:07:42,500 --> 00:07:49,000 this, who's home did he Retreat to And most people agree that 123 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:53,000 the home that Jesus was at at this time was in fact the home 124 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,200 that he was in earlier in chapter 1, which was the home of 125 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:58,100 Peter and Andrew who lived in Capernaum. 126 00:07:58,100 --> 00:08:01,900 Now, that is significant for many reasons, because Jesus 127 00:08:01,900 --> 00:08:06,900 chose to make Peter's house the headquarters for the segment of 128 00:08:06,900 --> 00:08:11,300 his ministry during his, his tour in Galilee and I think that 129 00:08:11,300 --> 00:08:13,600 is an incredible, think if you just meditate on it for a little 130 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:17,300 bit because this says something significant for these brothers 131 00:08:17,500 --> 00:08:21,900 We chose the host, Jesus. Jesus did not just come over to 132 00:08:21,900 --> 00:08:26,600 their home for a visit Jesus felt at home in their home. 133 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,500 And what's so amazing is when you consider Jesus instructions 134 00:08:31,500 --> 00:08:34,299 to his own disciples, when he sends them out in their own 135 00:08:34,299 --> 00:08:38,299 Evangelistic campaign, he gives them a list of instructions, one 136 00:08:38,299 --> 00:08:40,700 of them being something that we've heard many times and 137 00:08:40,700 --> 00:08:44,700 whatever town, or Village, you enter find out who is worthy in 138 00:08:44,700 --> 00:08:49,200 it and stay there until you depart Matthew 10 11, when you 139 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:53,900 go into a town, find out, who is worthy enough to host you and 140 00:08:53,900 --> 00:08:55,600 then you stay there. Be content. 141 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:57,200 Don't try to find a better place. 142 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,200 Stay there. Until you depart to the next 143 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:04,200 town. And So based on that Jesus who 144 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:08,700 gave these commands and live by them from his own Ministry, must 145 00:09:08,700 --> 00:09:11,900 have found something worthy about the house of Peter and 146 00:09:11,900 --> 00:09:15,700 Andrew for him to remain there until he departed. 147 00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:18,900 I think that is very encouraging for these brothers, and I think 148 00:09:18,900 --> 00:09:20,600 it's something instructive for us. 149 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:25,700 The Lord, obviously is steam some kind of Honor in this house 150 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:30,300 for his piece to remain there. And say I will stay here, I will 151 00:09:30,300 --> 00:09:33,600 sleep here, I will eat here, I will rest here, I will allow my 152 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:38,500 presence to remain in this Abode and when we think about why that 153 00:09:38,500 --> 00:09:41,500 is the case, what was it that he found so worthy about them. 154 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,800 All you have to do is just remember the last thing that we 155 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,800 saw about Jesus in this house and it was this Peters 156 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:52,900 mother-in-law, served him. And honored him and blessed him 157 00:09:53,700 --> 00:09:56,100 and Jesus being honored and Peter's home. 158 00:09:56,900 --> 00:10:01,400 New knew that this was the place to remain so that he would be 159 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:06,600 honored with his presence and that honor towards Peter was 160 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:09,800 known, obviously, with the miracle that fever being 161 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:14,100 expelled and it only Continuum progress when the multitudes 162 00:10:14,100 --> 00:10:17,200 would come to this very residents to receive a healing 163 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,900 touch from Jesus. Jesus is at Peter's home. 164 00:10:20,500 --> 00:10:24,600 Let's go meet Jesus and the presence of Jesus Christ in 165 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,700 their residence is something that you and I can do for 166 00:10:27,700 --> 00:10:30,200 ourselves. Listen, I want you to understand 167 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:34,000 that there is a reality of blessing in any home that 168 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:37,100 chooses to host the Lord Jesus Christ. 169 00:10:37,500 --> 00:10:41,200 I mean, this is so, so practical, and so real, that 170 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,500 Paul had certain words for those who are married to 171 00:10:44,500 --> 00:10:48,000 non-christians after they've been converted within their 172 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:52,200 marriage to inspire, And that how their presence because of 173 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,500 Christ's presence and them can be a blessing to the other 174 00:10:55,500 --> 00:10:58,500 members of the household who do not have a direct relationship 175 00:10:58,500 --> 00:11:01,100 with him. I want you to see this because I 176 00:11:01,108 --> 00:11:05,300 want you to realize how awesome it is to know that we are the 177 00:11:05,300 --> 00:11:08,300 Temple of the Holy Spirit and how those Grace's don't just 178 00:11:08,300 --> 00:11:12,200 remain here, but can spill out to those who choose to tolerate 179 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:16,500 us. 1st Corinthians chapter 7. Look at these words. 180 00:11:16,500 --> 00:11:21,000 Just to get an Insight of the hope of glory that is in us. 181 00:11:21,500 --> 00:11:24,800 And what is possible? When we step and live? 182 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:30,400 Even in darkness First Corinthians chapter 7 verse 13. 183 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,900 Look at these instructions and how insightful they are. 184 00:11:35,900 --> 00:11:41,100 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he consents 185 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,600 to live with her, she should not divorce him. 186 00:11:45,700 --> 00:11:49,800 Now, sorry to break your dreams and smash them. 187 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:52,000 This is not giving you the instruction that you can marry 188 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,700 an unbeliever. What this is saying is if you 189 00:11:54,700 --> 00:11:57,500 were converted while in that place of being married to 190 00:11:57,500 --> 00:12:00,400 someone who's not say than you yourself, were not saved. 191 00:12:00,700 --> 00:12:02,800 But you've come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. 192 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,800 If that spouse is willing to remain with you, if you can 193 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:10,000 sense and is willing to tolerate your conversion, don't divorce 194 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,300 them. Why, what's his reasoning? 195 00:12:12,300 --> 00:12:15,400 Will verse 14 for the unbelieving, husband? 196 00:12:16,100 --> 00:12:19,200 Is made holy because of his wife. 197 00:12:21,300 --> 00:12:25,300 And the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband, 198 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:29,600 otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they 199 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:35,500 are holy. Mind blowing consider this. 200 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:39,400 This is not saying that because you are saving, you're married 201 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:41,800 to an unsaved person and that you had children with this on, 202 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:44,000 say person that they're automatically redeemed. 203 00:12:44,500 --> 00:12:47,300 That is not the case at all. I think a better understanding 204 00:12:47,300 --> 00:12:50,900 is instead of saying they are made, holy, they are sanctified 205 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,000 They are set apart. In other words. 206 00:12:55,300 --> 00:12:58,100 What this means is here that the presence of a Believer and a 207 00:12:58,100 --> 00:13:02,100 home, brings about a blessing to its members, which includes a 208 00:13:02,100 --> 00:13:07,000 greater opportunity for them to come to Christ for themselves. 209 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:10,100 As a result of being in daily contact, with a person who is 210 00:13:10,100 --> 00:13:13,600 truly living for Christ. A person who's truly living in 211 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:17,200 his presence, a person who is truly living by his word that 212 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:21,500 has a sanctifying power even in the midst of a household. 213 00:13:21,700 --> 00:13:26,400 There's not Crown Jesus as Lord. And so, Paul's even encouraging 214 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:30,600 somebody to endure remaining in that Covenant with somebody who 215 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:35,000 is unequally yoked for the sake of the potential impact that can 216 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,500 be made, because of the presence of the one who hosts the 217 00:13:38,500 --> 00:13:40,300 presence of Jesus in their hearts. 218 00:13:41,700 --> 00:13:44,500 And I look at that I cannot help but think about how that is a 219 00:13:44,500 --> 00:13:49,000 principle true just not not just in a home but in all situations 220 00:13:49,300 --> 00:13:53,200 how God was even willing to be merciful to Sodom and Gomorrah 221 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:57,500 because of the presence of the righteous or how God was willing 222 00:13:57,500 --> 00:14:02,100 to turn the faith of criminals on his ship because on that, 223 00:14:02,100 --> 00:14:04,200 very same ship was one of his servants. 224 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:07,500 Namely Paul. It's amazing. 225 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,600 What blessings can come with the presence of Christ in us and 226 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,900 through us. And if this is true for even one 227 00:14:14,900 --> 00:14:20,500 household member to radiate such Grace than what kind of blessing 228 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:24,500 awaits those when husband and wife and children, say Christ is 229 00:14:24,500 --> 00:14:27,700 Lord of this home. What kind of Joy? 230 00:14:27,700 --> 00:14:29,500 What kind of piece? What kind of provision? 231 00:14:29,500 --> 00:14:31,500 What kind of protection can be experienced? 232 00:14:31,900 --> 00:14:35,000 When a household is willing to say, Jesus Christ. 233 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:39,800 Owns the deed of Place and he will rule and Reign Over All of 234 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:41,000 Us. Peter and Andrew knew that 235 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:43,700 blessing. They saw they saw a great 236 00:14:43,700 --> 00:14:46,100 testimonies. Great Joys, great interventions 237 00:14:46,300 --> 00:14:49,800 as Christ's presence remained with them. 238 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,100 But we move on and we realized, oh, there can be much more said 239 00:14:53,100 --> 00:14:56,000 about this crowd, that surrounded, the house we 240 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,400 transition with Mark, as he had of all of this crowd, chooses to 241 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:06,400 focus on five individuals? Four of them, able men who are 242 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,900 clearly carrying a friend who could not walk on his own. 243 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,700 And Mark as he turns our attention, by the spirit to this 244 00:15:13,700 --> 00:15:19,400 man, and his friends want to show us clearly that this Band 245 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:24,000 of Brothers really believed and desired for Jesus to make their 246 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:28,400 comrade whole, they believe in Christ power, they really desire 247 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,400 for something to take place. And this is exactly why this 248 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:35,300 miracle is so unique because we read, then we not in verse 5. 249 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:42,600 And when Jesus saw their faith, It was they're contributing 250 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:45,700 faith. That played a significant role 251 00:15:45,700 --> 00:15:49,500 in this debilitated, friend to encounter Jesus Christ. 252 00:15:50,100 --> 00:15:52,800 And I want you to understand this because there is an 253 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:57,800 instruction here for anybody of believer. when it comes to what 254 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:03,200 it takes to bring people to Jesus, If you look at these 255 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,400 friends in you, you understand the story, many of us who grew 256 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,500 up in church, a very familiar, you can almost say it by heart, 257 00:16:07,500 --> 00:16:11,700 even with the details, I noticed two things and this is important 258 00:16:11,700 --> 00:16:13,700 for us as a church. If we are gospel, centered, in 259 00:16:13,700 --> 00:16:16,800 gospel, focused number one. Consider the collaboration of 260 00:16:16,808 --> 00:16:20,500 these friends and Luke 518. We are told more and more. 261 00:16:20,500 --> 00:16:24,600 Detailed that these friends carried this man on a bed, They 262 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:26,500 Carried him on a bed. We are not told how they carry 263 00:16:26,500 --> 00:16:28,800 them but I like to imagine that. Each one had a corner of that 264 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:32,100 bed and each one was willing to lift a load. 265 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:35,300 And they all obviously walked in the same direction because they 266 00:16:35,300 --> 00:16:39,800 had the same goal in mind and I cannot help but think but but 267 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:42,600 what would happen if one of them, just one of them chose to 268 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:46,500 go in a separate Direction. What if one of them had a 269 00:16:46,500 --> 00:16:50,800 different path in mind when the other three had a journey set 270 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:52,900 already? Or what would have been like 271 00:16:52,900 --> 00:16:55,500 what would the experience of been like if one was not willing 272 00:16:55,500 --> 00:16:58,300 to carry the load, but maybe cross their arms and criticize 273 00:16:58,300 --> 00:17:02,100 how everybody else is doing it. I think, I think when you just 274 00:17:02,100 --> 00:17:06,300 meditate on the Simplicity of that, we see a great example of 275 00:17:06,300 --> 00:17:11,800 the necessity of equal collaboration, among one 276 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,300 another, if we really want to see, people brought to the feet 277 00:17:14,300 --> 00:17:18,800 of Jesus, what it's going to take is one mind. 278 00:17:20,599 --> 00:17:24,099 What this church needs to be? Made up of people who say our 279 00:17:24,099 --> 00:17:28,200 goal is, yes to glorify Christ honor Christ but to fulfill the 280 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,900 Great Commission and all it takes is one person in a church, 281 00:17:31,900 --> 00:17:34,500 trust me. I've seen it all it takes is one 282 00:17:34,500 --> 00:17:38,400 person in that church, who wants to make Ministry and the church 283 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:42,500 and people and service about them for to make that ultimate 284 00:17:42,500 --> 00:17:45,000 goal that much more difficult than what it needs to be. 285 00:17:46,100 --> 00:17:48,400 And more than that, it's carrying the load equally 286 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:50,400 sharing. Say, we want to make this burden 287 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,600 lighter. We want to make this burden 288 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:53,900 lighter. So every person will say, 289 00:17:53,900 --> 00:17:56,500 whatever load, I need to care. Whatever part of this, I need to 290 00:17:56,500 --> 00:17:59,100 put my hands to. I will do it for the sake of 291 00:17:59,100 --> 00:18:02,300 ultimately, seeing people encounter the Lord Jesus Christ 292 00:18:02,300 --> 00:18:06,600 through the gospel and when you have this idea when you have 293 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:10,200 this, this plan set and you have people who share those values 294 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:13,700 and that attitude, great things can be done, wonderful things 295 00:18:13,700 --> 00:18:16,600 can be accomplished And so remember that in your mind, 296 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,300 remember that it took four of these men clearly to lift this 297 00:18:19,300 --> 00:18:21,100 man. Every single one of us in this 298 00:18:21,100 --> 00:18:24,300 place has a role to play a burden to carry and it can, it 299 00:18:24,300 --> 00:18:27,200 can accomplish much if we just have that continually ever 300 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,000 before us, but not just the collaboration, think about the 301 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,900 determination of these men. It's already a challenge enough 302 00:18:33,900 --> 00:18:38,300 to carry a full grown man with dead weight at any distance. 303 00:18:39,100 --> 00:18:42,100 Without any need for external challenges to make it difficult. 304 00:18:42,100 --> 00:18:45,400 But when you have things like this, a crowd before you 305 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:50,000 blocking the entrance, you can feel the weight even more. 306 00:18:50,900 --> 00:18:53,400 You can feel the pressure to a greater degree. 307 00:18:54,300 --> 00:18:57,100 I want to tell you something bringing people to Jesus is not 308 00:18:57,100 --> 00:19:00,600 an easy task. It is challenging. 309 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,500 It is difficult. It is difficult. 310 00:19:03,500 --> 00:19:05,800 Just dealing with people. But then, when all these 311 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:09,500 external things come, which they often do anybody who has 312 00:19:09,500 --> 00:19:13,700 endeavored to set themselves to such an assignment can testify 313 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,500 of the difficulties that come? When you say, I want to be a 314 00:19:17,508 --> 00:19:20,900 soul winner. The distractions of just 315 00:19:20,900 --> 00:19:23,800 Temptation and life, the discouragements of your own mind 316 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:27,000 and of other people, the Demonic opposition, the demand on your 317 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,700 schedule and your time, these are just a few reasons why 318 00:19:30,700 --> 00:19:33,900 people feel the Temptation is say I quit man. 319 00:19:33,900 --> 00:19:37,400 I don't think I can do this. Not quit on Christ, but quit on 320 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:42,800 bringing people to Christ. And that's often the case in so 321 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:46,900 many people's lives, and so many Ministries and they come up with 322 00:19:46,900 --> 00:19:49,500 excuses and regards to the sovereignty of God. 323 00:19:49,500 --> 00:19:54,100 And we don't need to participate and we try to get ourselves out 324 00:19:54,100 --> 00:19:56,100 of the F4. That is needed for people to be 325 00:19:56,100 --> 00:19:59,200 brought to the gospel or to receive the Gospel. 326 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:02,900 But I look at this example, as an inspiration, you have these 327 00:20:03,100 --> 00:20:05,500 these men who are probably burning in their thighs, 328 00:20:05,500 --> 00:20:09,200 carrying their friend and we're probably cramping in there are 329 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:11,400 forums as they're lifting him on that bed and they come and they 330 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:13,800 see this crowd of people and nobody's budging. 331 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:18,300 Nobody has any courtesy, to let this man through easily. 332 00:20:18,300 --> 00:20:20,400 They could have hung their heads and went back home and say, 333 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,200 maybe another day. But instead, they strategize 334 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,500 instead, they were quick thinking, and they saw perhaps a 335 00:20:25,500 --> 00:20:27,900 staircase on the side of the house and they climbed that 336 00:20:27,900 --> 00:20:31,500 house and they break through the tiles and, and they dig, and 337 00:20:31,500 --> 00:20:34,400 they pull and they they continue to encourage each other. 338 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:36,900 They encourage their friend, we're not letting you go in 339 00:20:36,900 --> 00:20:41,400 order to See this accomplished, it takes determination, it takes 340 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:46,000 persistence to see people saved, see people come to know Christ 341 00:20:46,900 --> 00:20:48,500 and we always want things. Easy. 342 00:20:48,500 --> 00:20:51,200 And I can tell you. This ministry is not easy. 343 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,600 So, winning is not easy. You have to be able to push 344 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:55,300 through. True. 345 00:20:55,300 --> 00:20:58,700 Faith is able to push back when you get pushed back. 346 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:04,300 And not to hang your efforts and leave it to somebody else to do 347 00:21:04,300 --> 00:21:06,600 it, those who shrink back so easily. 348 00:21:06,700 --> 00:21:09,500 When there is no immediate fruit, when there is delay in 349 00:21:09,500 --> 00:21:12,600 prayer, when there is persecution, when there is 350 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:16,700 internal strife, will never know, the joys will rarely see 351 00:21:16,700 --> 00:21:20,300 what the gospel is capable of doing in someone's life, because 352 00:21:20,300 --> 00:21:25,100 it requires hands on the plow, white-knuckled, dedication, to 353 00:21:25,100 --> 00:21:29,500 the case of Christ, and the cause of the Gospel, That can 354 00:21:29,500 --> 00:21:31,200 even be said for the owner of the house, right? 355 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:33,800 Well, there is Peter, is somebody else think about the 356 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:35,500 price he had to pay the hose Jesus. 357 00:21:35,700 --> 00:21:40,800 I got to get a new roof now. We never think about that, do 358 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:42,700 we? We think this is like some 359 00:21:43,700 --> 00:21:45,900 Disney story and house, you know, be real. 360 00:21:45,900 --> 00:21:47,500 Be the owner of the house for a moment. 361 00:21:47,500 --> 00:21:50,700 They just broke through my roof. I had to fix the ceiling now. 362 00:21:52,900 --> 00:21:55,500 But any temporal loss in this life is worth the Eternal 363 00:21:55,500 --> 00:21:59,500 reward. And so whether you host whether 364 00:21:59,500 --> 00:22:02,300 you go out into the streets, whether you serve in the local 365 00:22:02,300 --> 00:22:04,500 church, you will pay a price for the price is worth it. 366 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:08,900 Before meant moving on. It's worth mentioning another 367 00:22:08,900 --> 00:22:11,200 element of the true faith that these men show. 368 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:16,200 Notice again, as we read verse 5 and when Jesus saw their faith, 369 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,700 he said to the paralytic son, your sins are forgiven. 370 00:22:18,900 --> 00:22:25,400 Jesus saw their faith. He didn't hear their faith. 371 00:22:26,500 --> 00:22:31,600 He didn't evaluate their Creed or their confession, he saw it. 372 00:22:32,700 --> 00:22:35,300 True. Faith speaks through actions. 373 00:22:38,500 --> 00:22:42,800 True faith will will be determined by your behavior and 374 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:47,000 your deeds will speak unto the doctrine that you adhere to. 375 00:22:47,900 --> 00:22:52,500 That is true. It's tangible, it's measurable, 376 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,500 it's observable, it can be seen, it can be studied. 377 00:22:57,100 --> 00:22:59,700 It makes you stand out, like, these group of men, stood out 378 00:22:59,700 --> 00:23:05,300 from this crowd and these men show that faith is something 379 00:23:05,300 --> 00:23:09,700 that Christ wants to see in us. And not just hear from us. 380 00:23:10,500 --> 00:23:12,700 And what's amazing is you even see this kind of Faith with the 381 00:23:12,700 --> 00:23:15,000 man after he was healed, scroll down to verse 12. 382 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,900 And what do you see? And he rose and immediately 383 00:23:17,900 --> 00:23:22,200 picked up his bed and Out before them all. 384 00:23:23,700 --> 00:23:26,600 Marcus being very specific before them all. 385 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:30,700 Jesus gave a very detailed command and he obeyed unlike the 386 00:23:30,700 --> 00:23:31,900 leper. Who was healed. 387 00:23:32,500 --> 00:23:35,700 He does exactly what Jesus said, but he did it in the presence of 388 00:23:35,700 --> 00:23:37,600 all. What I love about that truth is 389 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:40,000 that In This Crowd, you have a mixed people. 390 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,300 You have spectators, you have many people who really believe 391 00:23:44,300 --> 00:23:46,500 who Jesus is. We are going to read in a moment 392 00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:49,800 that you had scribes religious Pharisees, who criticize 393 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:51,800 everything. And in the midst of all this 394 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:56,500 kind of people, this man was not ashamed or hesitant to declare 395 00:23:56,500 --> 00:23:58,900 his submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ. 396 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:03,700 I got to be honest, there might be some people in here who know 397 00:24:03,700 --> 00:24:08,700 how to immediately obey Jesus, or to display their submission 398 00:24:08,700 --> 00:24:12,900 to him before some, not all before. 399 00:24:12,900 --> 00:24:16,100 Some that is not true. Faith, that is not the faith 400 00:24:16,100 --> 00:24:19,600 that Jesus is looking for what Jesus is looking for. 401 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:21,500 Is that in any circumstance or setting? 402 00:24:22,100 --> 00:24:25,300 People know this man does not own his life. 403 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:28,400 This woman does not operate by our own wisdom. 404 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:32,900 She he is in submission to the word of God, to the person of 405 00:24:32,900 --> 00:24:36,500 Jesus Christ before them all he obeyed, or when we have that 406 00:24:36,500 --> 00:24:40,200 same faith. Would we have that same faith? 407 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,000 And so we see that these brothers here are displaying a 408 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:46,600 faith. That Christ praised And I pray 409 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:49,300 that not one person in this place who represents Maranatha 410 00:24:49,300 --> 00:24:50,600 Bible Church. And more importantly, the 411 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,900 kingdom of God would be experts at displaying their submission 412 00:24:54,900 --> 00:25:00,000 to Christ before some and not all And so, we realize, as we 413 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:04,900 read on that, after these men break through this roof, the 414 00:25:04,900 --> 00:25:08,100 stunned crowd sees as the debris is falling. 415 00:25:08,100 --> 00:25:12,400 And unusual, light is shining in that place where Jesus is 416 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:16,500 teaching from absolutely astounded at the interruption 417 00:25:16,500 --> 00:25:21,500 and Jesus is preaching, but he chooses to pause You can imagine 418 00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:25,400 the anticipation of the people as this man, seems to be 419 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:29,800 floating by just a few threads and the careful love of four 420 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:33,300 friends who are doing whatever it takes to bring their friend 421 00:25:33,300 --> 00:25:38,000 to the Lord. May I also add this There's 422 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:40,700 something about these friends that testify about the man. 423 00:25:42,100 --> 00:25:44,000 The man himself, who was paralyzed. 424 00:25:46,100 --> 00:25:49,100 Who do you have in your circle that will bring you to Christ 425 00:25:49,100 --> 00:25:54,500 when you can't bring yourself? Who do you have in your life? 426 00:25:54,500 --> 00:25:56,100 That will know how to pray for you? 427 00:25:56,100 --> 00:25:59,300 How to counsel you? How to console you, how to 428 00:25:59,300 --> 00:26:03,100 remind you how to rebuke you? When you are weak. 429 00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:09,400 Not in my notes. But something to consider. 430 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:13,900 Here's this crowd wondering what is about to take place in here. 431 00:26:13,900 --> 00:26:16,600 Is this anticipation being built up? 432 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,000 Is Jesus going to heal, we've seen him heal before we heard 433 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:22,800 that he is healed and you could just imagine the suspense as 434 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:24,900 Christ. Now looks down at this man laid 435 00:26:24,900 --> 00:26:29,100 before him and his sermon was interrupted and whatever. 436 00:26:29,100 --> 00:26:32,000 Astonishment was there would only be Amplified by their 437 00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:36,500 immediate response of Jesus. As we see in verse 5, son, your 438 00:26:36,500 --> 00:26:42,500 sins are forgiven What did the crowd think? 439 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:45,600 I wonder, I know what the Pharisees thought? 440 00:26:46,100 --> 00:26:47,500 What did the friends who went through? 441 00:26:47,500 --> 00:26:50,100 So much to see their friend healed. 442 00:26:50,100 --> 00:26:55,300 Think, regardless Jesus perceived, what this paralytic 443 00:26:55,300 --> 00:26:58,500 truly needed. He saw that. 444 00:26:58,500 --> 00:27:02,300 There is something so much more important than his legs being 445 00:27:02,300 --> 00:27:06,400 revived. And he offers it first. 446 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:12,600 Forgiveness of sin. That tells me what Jesus saw in 447 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:15,900 this man was a disabled spirit before he saw any disability in 448 00:27:15,900 --> 00:27:19,800 his body. What he saw in this man was 449 00:27:19,900 --> 00:27:22,200 somebody was unable to walk in the ways of God. 450 00:27:23,300 --> 00:27:27,000 Somebody who is not in step with the spirit, someone who was weak 451 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:31,000 because of an ancient fall, through our federal head, who is 452 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:36,600 Adam and Jesus pronouncing forgiveness means that he saw in 453 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:40,100 these four men. And in this particular person of 454 00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:43,000 faith that was beyond just just being able to be restored 455 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:46,100 physically these men and this person clearly believe that 456 00:27:46,100 --> 00:27:48,600 Jesus was the one who can offer salvation. 457 00:27:49,100 --> 00:27:52,000 They heard that message of repentance they heard about the 458 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:55,900 kingdom of God. and they had this trust that this Jesus was 459 00:27:55,900 --> 00:28:00,700 more than just a faith healer, he was the Savior and in Christ, 460 00:28:00,700 --> 00:28:06,400 estimation spiritual disability, Was more important to restore 461 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:08,300 than one's ability to physically walk. 462 00:28:08,300 --> 00:28:11,200 And we should have the same estimation. 463 00:28:12,100 --> 00:28:14,100 Forgiveness is the greatest miracle. 464 00:28:15,900 --> 00:28:19,800 Reconciliation with God, is more important than even the health 465 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:22,600 of your body. And if you have any doubt about 466 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:26,500 that, realize how Jesus says it in Matthew chapter 9, turn your 467 00:28:26,500 --> 00:28:30,000 Bibles to Matthew, which is the first gospel account in the New 468 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:32,300 Testament. And look at verse 2 of chapter 469 00:28:32,300 --> 00:28:41,000 9, notice an added detail that Matthew has Matthew 9 verse 2 470 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:43,600 and behold some people were brought some people brought to 471 00:28:43,608 --> 00:28:48,400 him a paralytic lying on a bed and when Jesus saw their faith, 472 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:51,200 he said to the paralytic, take heart. 473 00:28:52,500 --> 00:28:57,300 Take heart, my son, your sins are forgiven in the King James. 474 00:28:57,300 --> 00:29:01,400 I like how the phrases is red. Be of good cheer. 475 00:29:02,100 --> 00:29:04,500 You have the new King James, I will say the same be of good 476 00:29:04,500 --> 00:29:07,600 cheer, my son. Your sins are forgiven. 477 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:11,200 Now, think about the significance of that, as you 478 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:14,500 look at the sequence of the events, Jesus tells them to be 479 00:29:14,500 --> 00:29:19,000 of good cheer on the basis of being forgiven before, he even 480 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:24,700 received the miracle before, the miracle came Jesus could tell 481 00:29:24,700 --> 00:29:29,300 this man genuinely your heart can actually swell with joy. 482 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,900 You can actually know a happiness and contentment even 483 00:29:32,900 --> 00:29:36,200 though at this point you are unable to walk, you can no 484 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:38,300 genuine cheerfulness of the Soul. 485 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:41,900 Now what that tells you and I is that this is a principle of 486 00:29:41,900 --> 00:29:45,500 truth that sustaining joy as possible, regardless of the 487 00:29:45,500 --> 00:29:49,500 afflictions that we endure in life, regardless of them, even 488 00:29:49,500 --> 00:29:52,700 if it's a severe, as burdensome as not being able to walk up a 489 00:29:52,700 --> 00:29:57,700 flight of stairs you and I can tap into a certain happiness, on 490 00:29:57,700 --> 00:30:01,200 the revelation of what Christ has done with our record of sin. 491 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:07,800 And here's how you can live in that Joy, it's by taking all of 492 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:11,600 these things, all of these, crushing circumstances, these 493 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:15,900 life-altering events, and to, and to contrast them in light of 494 00:30:15,900 --> 00:30:18,800 Eternity. Listen, this man could be of 495 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:22,400 good cheer because he died 2,000 years ago. 496 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:28,800 He died two thousand years ago. But he is enjoying what Christ 497 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:31,700 offered for all of eternity and that is his forgiveness. 498 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:35,400 And that is how we have to understand it. 499 00:30:35,408 --> 00:30:38,500 We have to view all things in light of everlasting life, and 500 00:30:38,500 --> 00:30:42,000 The Temper temporal things of this world that will wash away 501 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:45,300 when Christ calls us home. You and I have to see that I 502 00:30:45,300 --> 00:30:48,300 want to call you to be of good cheer this afternoon if you're 503 00:30:48,300 --> 00:30:51,100 truly forgiven realize. Now I know you won't realize it 504 00:30:51,100 --> 00:30:54,600 now because you talk to Christians and and it's just 505 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:56,000 they paired it, they understand it. 506 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:57,300 Jesus forgave me. Jesus, forgive me. 507 00:30:57,500 --> 00:30:58,800 Trust me. I know it's difficult for you to 508 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:00,100 get joyful. Now, I know it's something 509 00:31:00,100 --> 00:31:02,600 that's old news to you, but you're going to really, really 510 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:05,200 appreciate it. When you Before God, you really 511 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:10,500 going to appreciate it. And I can't wait to see the 512 00:31:10,500 --> 00:31:13,900 Frozen chosen, erupt and praise when they realize the 513 00:31:13,908 --> 00:31:17,000 significance of the Redemption as they stand before. 514 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:21,600 God, I'm waiting and I pray that God would keep us in praise and 515 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:25,600 adoration until then. That's why Jesus can say 516 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,500 something as shocking as it's better to enter into life 517 00:31:28,500 --> 00:31:33,000 crippled or lame. Then to have both your hands and 518 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:35,500 both your feet and be thrown into Everlasting fire. 519 00:31:37,700 --> 00:31:42,400 Be of good cheer. The essence of our faith is not 520 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:47,600 physical restoration. Or material Prosperity, but a 521 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:49,800 heart that has been reconnected to God. 522 00:31:50,700 --> 00:31:54,400 Because of what Christ has done on our behalf. 523 00:31:55,500 --> 00:31:56,900 And that is the point of this miracle. 524 00:31:56,900 --> 00:31:59,700 The point of the miracle is this forgiveness is the greatest 525 00:31:59,700 --> 00:32:02,900 Miracle. Reconciliation is the greatest 526 00:32:02,900 --> 00:32:06,400 Miracle of them all in Warren, Weir's be said, quote, 527 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:09,600 forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs 528 00:32:09,900 --> 00:32:13,800 it meets the greatest need, it costs the greatest Price, and it 529 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,700 brings the greatest blessing in the most lasting results, and 530 00:32:16,700 --> 00:32:22,400 quote, and to that, I say, Amen. son, your sins are forgiven, 531 00:32:22,900 --> 00:32:27,300 unfortunately, the greatness of that statement was Was esteemed 532 00:32:27,300 --> 00:32:30,100 as the complete opposite by a few scribes who were in 533 00:32:30,100 --> 00:32:33,900 attendance that day. Mark tells us here in verse 6, 534 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,200 that there were some who were sitting there, who are 535 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:40,300 questioning in their hearts as they received the shock wave of 536 00:32:40,300 --> 00:32:44,100 disgust for a mere man to be able to pronounce that someone 537 00:32:44,100 --> 00:32:49,200 is actually in right standing with God, it was utter blasphemy 538 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:51,800 to them and they meditated on that thought. 539 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:55,500 But before they can even think another one, we are told very 540 00:32:55,500 --> 00:32:59,700 clearly. Jesus in verse 8, immediately 541 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:03,400 perceiving in his spirit. That scares me. 542 00:33:05,500 --> 00:33:10,000 Because what is hidden from man. What is coated with skin? 543 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:14,900 And a skull is plane to Jesus Christ. 544 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,300 It's so clear. It's as though I'm speaking on a 545 00:33:17,300 --> 00:33:18,600 microphone. Every thought that runs through 546 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:22,100 my mind, he sees it and he considers it. 547 00:33:24,700 --> 00:33:26,400 What? A great motivation to cultivate. 548 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:29,500 A holy thought life. I've said it before and I'll say 549 00:33:29,500 --> 00:33:30,900 it again. True holiness. 550 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:35,600 Is putting your effort into the cleanliness of the inside of the 551 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:37,100 cup and not the outside of the cup. 552 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:41,300 Legalism is concerned about the outside of the cup and has no 553 00:33:41,300 --> 00:33:46,200 concern about the health of the Soul. what may be hidden before 554 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:51,500 Jesus is obviously naked and clear to him and that's why I 555 00:33:51,500 --> 00:33:56,300 continually seek his cleansing from within What does the Lord 556 00:33:56,300 --> 00:34:00,400 doing in this moment? What is he about to do? 557 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:05,200 These men are accusing him of blasphemy and we see in verse 8, 558 00:34:05,300 --> 00:34:08,300 immediately, Jesus perceiving in a spirit that they thus question 559 00:34:08,300 --> 00:34:11,000 within themselves said to them. Why do you question these things 560 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:12,800 in your hearts? You can imagine the chill down 561 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:15,600 their spines, he just read their minds. 562 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:19,600 I mean, imagine stopping in the middle of a sermon or an event 563 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:22,400 and turning and somebody just reading your thoughts, I know 564 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:24,000 what you want for lunch after the service. 565 00:34:27,900 --> 00:34:33,300 What Jesus is doing with this response is making his claim of 566 00:34:33,300 --> 00:34:36,199 divinity, all the more undeniable first because he 567 00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:38,800 exposes what these men are thinking. 568 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:43,100 Think about that, these men, these scribes and Pharisees were 569 00:34:43,100 --> 00:34:45,600 experts in the law. And if they were truly students 570 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:49,300 of the word, they would know that the scriptures are so clear 571 00:34:49,699 --> 00:34:53,300 and giving the prerogative of Minds being read and hearts 572 00:34:53,300 --> 00:34:55,100 being known to God and God Alone. 573 00:34:56,300 --> 00:34:57,500 You don't have to turn there but listen to it. 574 00:34:57,500 --> 00:35:00,100 When Solomon prayed, listen to what he said about this truth. 575 00:35:00,100 --> 00:35:04,000 And First Kings 8:39, then here in heaven, he praised your 576 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:07,300 dwelling place and forgiving act and render to each one whose 577 00:35:07,300 --> 00:35:10,900 heart, you know, according to all his ways for you. 578 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:15,500 You only know the hearts of all the children of mankind. 579 00:35:16,300 --> 00:35:18,700 You. And you only, you're the only 580 00:35:18,700 --> 00:35:21,900 one who occupies that category of mind reading. 581 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:25,600 And here's this Jew from Nazareth, who is now. 582 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:28,500 Eating and exposing the thoughts of these Pharisees. 583 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:32,000 Giving us the clear conclusion that he is, in fact, Yahweh in 584 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:35,900 the flesh. Furthermore, within the 585 00:35:35,908 --> 00:35:38,900 criticism of these men, there is a truth. 586 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:42,700 We see it at the end of verse 6, who can forgive sins, but God 587 00:35:42,700 --> 00:35:44,400 Alone. Yeah, you're right. 588 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:48,200 No one. And that is the accusation that 589 00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:51,000 had this man is claiming to be God, but what's so interesting 590 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:54,500 is that when Jesus responds he does not attempt to deflect that 591 00:35:55,500 --> 00:35:57,300 he's not attempt to correct them. 592 00:35:58,500 --> 00:36:00,700 If anything, he is putting them in a corner. 593 00:36:02,100 --> 00:36:05,400 And it's it's the same Truth for people today. 594 00:36:05,500 --> 00:36:09,100 Concerning the person of Jesus you only have two conclusions 595 00:36:09,100 --> 00:36:12,500 with the acts of Jesus and the statements of Jesus and it is 596 00:36:12,500 --> 00:36:17,300 this he is either a blasphemer. Or he is God in the flesh. 597 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:21,300 Now if he is a blasphemer like these men are accusing him to 598 00:36:21,300 --> 00:36:24,200 be. Then you have every right to 599 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:28,100 disregard every claim of the word of God, you can walk away 600 00:36:28,100 --> 00:36:32,800 and do you, man, just go because this man is a blasphemer. 601 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:37,500 He's a sinner. He's a, he's a lunatic. but if 602 00:36:37,500 --> 00:36:41,700 he's God In the Flesh which is the only other option based on 603 00:36:41,700 --> 00:36:45,200 the claims and the acts of Jesus, then what you do with 604 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:49,000 Jesus will have consequences Those are the only two options. 605 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:50,900 There's no third. There's no neutrality. 606 00:36:51,500 --> 00:36:53,700 Jesus made that clear. They either for us or against 607 00:36:53,700 --> 00:36:56,400 us, right? They either scatter or they 608 00:36:56,400 --> 00:37:01,500 gather I'm either a blasphemer or I am God. 609 00:37:02,300 --> 00:37:06,900 If I'm a blasphemer, go ahead. If I'm God, bow, your knee. 610 00:37:08,300 --> 00:37:10,500 That's exactly what is happening in this moment. 611 00:37:11,100 --> 00:37:15,500 Jesus questioning their claims and he does this in many places. 612 00:37:16,500 --> 00:37:19,300 And it's a blessing to know that through the condemning criticism 613 00:37:19,300 --> 00:37:21,500 of these men. We find a nugget of Truth. 614 00:37:21,500 --> 00:37:24,400 One of the strongest evidence has that Jesus Christ is in fact 615 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:26,500 God. But not only does he expose 616 00:37:26,500 --> 00:37:28,200 their thoughts? He's preparing to silence them 617 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:30,300 for the time being because he presents a question. 618 00:37:30,300 --> 00:37:32,600 Jesus was a master at asking questions. 619 00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:36,700 And he does. So here verse nine, which is 620 00:37:36,700 --> 00:37:40,900 easier to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven or to say 621 00:37:40,900 --> 00:37:47,000 rise, take up your bed and walk What, an awesome evangelist. 622 00:37:48,100 --> 00:37:52,100 What a wonderful apologist which is easier answer me to say your 623 00:37:52,100 --> 00:37:55,600 sins are forgiven or to say to the paralytic rise up and walk. 624 00:37:57,000 --> 00:37:59,500 Do you know the answer to that? I'll give you what I believe. 625 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:02,600 It's easier to say your sins are forgiven. 626 00:38:04,700 --> 00:38:08,000 Why? Because to claim Authority, that 627 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:12,200 somebody's sins are forgiven. Does it have tangible evidence? 628 00:38:13,300 --> 00:38:14,900 I can go up to anybody. Like your sins are forgiven. 629 00:38:14,900 --> 00:38:16,300 Okay? Well, where's the proof of that? 630 00:38:16,300 --> 00:38:18,700 And you and I we believe that Christ. 631 00:38:18,700 --> 00:38:22,400 Forgives us though, there is no writing on a wall or tablet that 632 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:24,600 falls from heaven. That gives you a certificate we 633 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:26,700 by faith believe that he has forgiven us. 634 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:30,900 And so it's it's very difficult to challenge some of these 635 00:38:30,900 --> 00:38:33,300 Authority based on something that's invisible. 636 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:38,000 But the say rise up and walk the claim you have authority to 637 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:43,000 raise up the sick based on what happens will determine whether 638 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:46,100 you're a fraud or your genuine. It's a simple as that. 639 00:38:46,100 --> 00:38:50,100 So which is easier well obviously both are impossible 640 00:38:50,100 --> 00:38:55,200 for man to accomplish but in the sense of evidence, Your sins are 641 00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:59,100 forgiven. And that's exactly what Jesus is 642 00:38:59,100 --> 00:39:01,600 doing. He's he has a strategy in mind, 643 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:04,500 he's making a case and he's setting them up. 644 00:39:05,900 --> 00:39:10,700 The Lord purposely waits to heal this mint, after his claim of 645 00:39:10,700 --> 00:39:13,600 divine authority to make somebody right in there standing 646 00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:16,100 with God. So that when he does, he'll this 647 00:39:16,100 --> 00:39:19,000 man it would back up the initial claim of his authority. 648 00:39:20,200 --> 00:39:24,200 So he sets it up in such a way where he says, which is easier 649 00:39:25,400 --> 00:39:28,300 And if they say, well, your sins are forgiven because you have to 650 00:39:28,300 --> 00:39:31,300 prove the latter. Now he's about to say, okay, I'm 651 00:39:31,300 --> 00:39:35,000 going to confront you with that, the timing of this healing would 652 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:38,500 leave the scribes much to think about, as Jesus would say rise 653 00:39:38,500 --> 00:39:42,800 up and walk, they would lead leaving scratching their heads 654 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:44,500 wondering. Well, if he was able to raise up 655 00:39:44,508 --> 00:39:47,800 this man to walk, then maybe he has the ability to forgive sins. 656 00:39:47,800 --> 00:39:50,000 That's exactly what he's doing. And it is brilliant. 657 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:54,300 There's a principle there to tucked in that helps. 658 00:39:54,300 --> 00:39:58,300 Many of us, I hope. Whenever Jesus delays in 659 00:39:58,300 --> 00:40:01,500 anything that we're asking for, believing God for, it's always 660 00:40:01,500 --> 00:40:03,400 so that he can maximize his glory. 661 00:40:05,500 --> 00:40:07,400 He could have healed this men immediately and it would have 662 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:10,100 glorified him. He could have brought about 663 00:40:10,100 --> 00:40:12,300 restoration right there and then and he could have received 664 00:40:12,300 --> 00:40:16,100 praise, but how much more now when he had waited just a little 665 00:40:16,100 --> 00:40:20,300 bit longer to bring about that. So that a greater thing could be 666 00:40:20,300 --> 00:40:23,600 accomplished. I believe the Lord for that. 667 00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:28,800 So they are stunned by this because we read here in verse 668 00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:32,600 11, I say to you arise pick up your bed and go home. 669 00:40:33,300 --> 00:40:34,900 And look at this. In verse 12, he rose and 670 00:40:34,900 --> 00:40:38,000 immediately picked up his bed and went out before the mall, 671 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:41,000 just like the woman that was healed by the fever immediately. 672 00:40:41,000 --> 00:40:45,000 There is there is this jolt of joy that we know in our 673 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:50,600 experience of Christ that brings about immediate change immediate 674 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:53,700 obedience. It may not be perfect obedience 675 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:57,000 but there is a Closet of a desire to says, I want to live 676 00:40:57,000 --> 00:40:58,900 for him. I want to honor him. 677 00:40:58,900 --> 00:41:03,300 I want to walk as he calls me to walk and he rose and immediately 678 00:41:03,300 --> 00:41:05,400 picked up his bed and went out before them all. 679 00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:08,300 So they were all amazed and glorified God saying, we never 680 00:41:08,300 --> 00:41:13,100 saw anything like this. We never saw anything like this. 681 00:41:16,500 --> 00:41:19,200 I look at this and there's many things that can be said, but one 682 00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:21,300 thing stands out to me, I remember when I first read this 683 00:41:21,300 --> 00:41:25,400 story being saved, And something stood out to me and it still 684 00:41:25,400 --> 00:41:27,900 stands out to me today. Maybe you noticed it as well. 685 00:41:29,200 --> 00:41:33,100 Jesus said, I say to you arise pick up your bed. 686 00:41:35,300 --> 00:41:39,900 And go home. Why take the bed? 687 00:41:43,100 --> 00:41:45,700 I think it's more important than just being courteous to the 688 00:41:45,700 --> 00:41:50,100 owner of the house, pick up your bed and we're told here that 689 00:41:50,100 --> 00:41:54,800 this meant picked up his bed, rolled it up and went first to 690 00:41:54,800 --> 00:41:58,100 his home. And when the thought came to me 691 00:41:58,100 --> 00:42:02,400 reading this initially many years ago It's still a thought 692 00:42:02,400 --> 00:42:07,300 that resonates with me today and it is this, that bed was his 693 00:42:07,300 --> 00:42:12,100 testimony. That bed was his story. 694 00:42:13,500 --> 00:42:16,300 That bed was the evidence of where he was before he met 695 00:42:16,300 --> 00:42:20,400 Christ and where he is today because of Christ. 696 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:24,800 And what I love about this is that the testimony of 697 00:42:24,800 --> 00:42:29,200 encountering Christ in Christ. Mine was not to stay there but 698 00:42:29,200 --> 00:42:33,400 was to go out. For others to be able to see for 699 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:35,300 themselves. What Jesus had done. 700 00:42:37,200 --> 00:42:42,600 And each of us has something to point back to, to say this is, 701 00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:46,900 this is where I was before, Jesus, but look at me now. 702 00:42:47,700 --> 00:42:53,100 See me now. And it's amazing that the first 703 00:42:53,100 --> 00:42:57,100 place where God wanted him to go to testify was the home. 704 00:42:57,100 --> 00:43:01,000 We're making a full circle, here was to go home and to show. 705 00:43:01,700 --> 00:43:03,800 If you had a wife, his wife, he had kids his kids. 706 00:43:03,800 --> 00:43:06,400 What Jesus had done. That is the first place where 707 00:43:06,400 --> 00:43:09,400 people should see the marks of a man who has been touched by 708 00:43:09,400 --> 00:43:16,500 Jesus. And you wonder what happened 709 00:43:16,500 --> 00:43:19,500 after this. We are not sure but all we know 710 00:43:19,500 --> 00:43:21,900 is that this man did the opposite of what the leopard 711 00:43:21,900 --> 00:43:27,700 did. And as I Look to this story, I 712 00:43:27,700 --> 00:43:31,200 think like the leper that this is significant in a spiritual 713 00:43:31,200 --> 00:43:34,000 sense. This man could not walk. 714 00:43:35,200 --> 00:43:37,400 And his friends can only do so much for him. 715 00:43:39,300 --> 00:43:41,900 And Romans tells us that before Christ came, we were weak in the 716 00:43:41,900 --> 00:43:45,400 flesh, we were weak and that is when he came to save us. 717 00:43:46,600 --> 00:43:48,300 I want to close with this thought and this is, I know, 718 00:43:48,300 --> 00:43:52,400 it's not in has points and titles for each point, but I'm 719 00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:54,000 just going to speak from the heart. 720 00:43:56,100 --> 00:43:59,200 For those who have that desire for, for someone that you love 721 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:01,000 to come to Christ. Realize that though these 722 00:44:01,000 --> 00:44:03,400 friends did so much, there is only so much that they can do. 723 00:44:04,600 --> 00:44:08,100 All they can do was bring the person to Jesus. 724 00:44:09,400 --> 00:44:13,100 And that is where it all ends for you and I in our work for 725 00:44:13,100 --> 00:44:15,200 Christ that we bring them to the Lord. 726 00:44:15,600 --> 00:44:20,200 And in that moment it's between their faith and the Christ and 727 00:44:20,200 --> 00:44:26,800 how it moves forward from there. But we don't get their names, we 728 00:44:26,800 --> 00:44:29,600 don't get their response. Well, you can imagine the great 729 00:44:29,600 --> 00:44:33,100 joy that these men felt and the efforts that they put into this 730 00:44:33,100 --> 00:44:37,500 moment being known. And there are some people who 731 00:44:37,500 --> 00:44:39,900 may not be physically, crippled but are in so many different 732 00:44:39,900 --> 00:44:42,400 ways. And if we want to experience 733 00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:46,400 testimonies in the next few years as God preserves us to 734 00:44:46,400 --> 00:44:48,600 say, we never saw anything like this, we never thought anything 735 00:44:48,600 --> 00:44:52,700 like this could happen, it will required a collective effort to 736 00:44:52,700 --> 00:44:57,600 be able to lift people who might be emotionally disabled. 737 00:44:59,400 --> 00:45:01,600 Who might be definitely spiritually? 738 00:45:01,600 --> 00:45:04,700 Broken. Say, let me bring you to Jesus. 739 00:45:06,300 --> 00:45:10,000 And that contribution was enough for Christ to change this man. 740 00:45:10,400 --> 00:45:13,500 Don't underestimate your efforts for the kingdom of God. 741 00:45:14,400 --> 00:45:18,000 The many things I can say, if you haven't noticed, it's 742 00:45:18,000 --> 00:45:20,500 outside of my comfort zone to deal with a larger text, I'm 743 00:45:20,500 --> 00:45:23,500 much more comfortable dealing with two verses and getting as 744 00:45:23,500 --> 00:45:25,600 much out of it, but I trust that the Lord has spoken to our 745 00:45:25,600 --> 00:45:27,500 hearts. Why don't we pray together? 746 00:45:51,900 --> 00:45:58,600 Lord, we see this story and we realize that we should glory in 747 00:45:58,600 --> 00:46:02,600 our Redemption. Above all else. 748 00:46:02,700 --> 00:46:07,400 If nothing else works for us. We can be of good cheer. 749 00:46:09,900 --> 00:46:11,900 Many people are familiar with that truth. 750 00:46:13,500 --> 00:46:16,000 But are numb to the feeling that it should cause. 751 00:46:17,900 --> 00:46:21,200 Lord, just renew the joy of your salvation in our hearts. 752 00:46:22,300 --> 00:46:26,500 As a church, Lord, help us be of one mind of one heart to share 753 00:46:26,500 --> 00:46:28,900 the effort in the burdens of the ministry. 754 00:46:31,200 --> 00:46:34,000 For the sake of souls, coming in contact with you. 755 00:46:35,400 --> 00:46:39,000 Lord, we pray for those who might have entered today who 756 00:46:39,000 --> 00:46:42,900 have likes to walk, but their hearts are paralyzed. 757 00:46:44,800 --> 00:46:48,200 And they are dead in terms of their relationship with you. 758 00:46:48,200 --> 00:46:52,200 They have no life, they have no power to walk in your ways. 759 00:46:53,600 --> 00:46:56,300 But Lord, as we are here, maybe they've been invited by a 760 00:46:56,300 --> 00:46:59,300 friend. Maybe they were convinced to 761 00:46:59,300 --> 00:47:02,700 come just for this day. Lord, would you would you let 762 00:47:02,700 --> 00:47:06,000 him know that you're willing to heal them and save them? 763 00:47:07,500 --> 00:47:09,500 And that they can leave here with a testimony. 764 00:47:10,100 --> 00:47:15,000 They can walk out of here. With their past and their sin, 765 00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:18,600 and their evil and their habits that Dishonored you in a 766 00:47:18,600 --> 00:47:20,800 destroyed. So many other things that they 767 00:47:20,800 --> 00:47:25,100 can walk out of here restored with a story. 768 00:47:25,700 --> 00:47:31,100 What Christ has done in my life? Lord, we just give you all the 769 00:47:31,100 --> 00:47:34,700 glory for your word today and we pray that as we sing even now 770 00:47:35,200 --> 00:47:39,200 you would shower us with a reminder of the Eternal blessing 771 00:47:39,200 --> 00:47:42,700 in the gospel and how this life is, but a missed. 772 00:47:43,300 --> 00:47:44,700 It will mean more than anything else. 773 00:47:44,700 --> 00:47:48,400 On our deathbed is not her bank account or what experiences we 774 00:47:48,400 --> 00:47:50,700 had or what places were places we travel to. 775 00:47:50,700 --> 00:47:56,200 But one thing am I saved, am I redeemed in my his child? 776 00:47:57,200 --> 00:47:58,500 And Lord. We just thank you that we can 777 00:47:58,500 --> 00:48:01,800 know that now. And we rejoice in it today and 778 00:48:01,800 --> 00:48:05,100 your name, we pray. Amen, let's stand and worship.