His Forgivness Heals You
The Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 5 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
The Son of Man Forgives and Heals
The Son of Man Forgives and Heals
1 When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home.
2 So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them.
3 They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them.
4 Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
5 Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts:
7 “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 Right away Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’?
10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he told the paralytic—
11 “I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.”
12 Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
13 Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.
This shows a combination of forms:
a Healing account
a controversy story
pronouncement story
Healing begins in a typical manner, with the statement of the problem:
a paralyzed man is unable to reach Jesus because of the crush of the crowds. (vv. 1-4)
The man’s four friends improvise by tearing up the rood to lower him into the house.
Jesus is impressed by their faith
we expect him to heal the man, but he shocks the onlookers by pronouncing the man’s sins are forgiven.
The healing now turns to a controversy story,
the religious leaders secretly accuse Jesus of blasphemy for claiming the prerogative.
Jesus bests them by pronouncing his authority as the “Son of Man” to forgive sins on earth (v.10)
and then by healing the man as proof of this claim (vv. 11-12)
The episode climaxes, as often in Mark, with the amazed reaction of the crowds, who praise God, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!”
The Authority of Jesus
The Authority of Jesus
Jesus’ authority is on center stage throughout the early Galilean ministry, and this passage is no exception.
Its central theme is the authority of Jesus as the Messiah both to heal disease and to forgive sins.
Jesus’ miracles confirm his message.
The remarkable claim to forgive sins is verified in a profound and public manner as the man gets right up and walks out “in front of them all”
Forgiveness and Healing
Forgiveness and Healing
The close connection between forgiveness and healing is also central to the story.
Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom of God is not just about the salvation of souls.
It is about God’s reclamation of his creation.
Since the sin of Adam and Eve, creation has been in a fallen state (Gen. 3:17-18), resulting in disease, death, and decay.
Within the OT prophets promised eschatological restoration and linked this with the forgiveness of sins and a reconciled relationship with God.
2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and announce to her that her time of hard service is over, her iniquity has been pardoned, and she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”
3 A voice of one crying out: Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
34 No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.
For Paul, the peace with God achieved through Christ’s sacrificial work on the cross Rom 5:1, means not only forgiveness of sins, salvation of our souls, and eternal life Rom 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” but also
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
the restoration and renewal of creation Rom 8:20-21
20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope
21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
To include the renewal of our bodies. 1 Cor 15:42-44
42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption;
43 sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power;
44 sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
At this time of eschatological renewal, the eyes of the blind [will] be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy”
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for water will gush in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
5 The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,
22 He replied to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,
Jesus offers forgiveness of sins, and then restores this lame man as evidence of the presence and power of the kingdom of God.
Faith and Healing
Faith and Healing
The authority of Jesus to heal and to forgive is central to the passage, there are a few important subsidiary points:
the faith of the friends
the blindness and hypocrisy of the religious leaders
the compassion of Jesus.
Radical faith believes God can do anything and is wiling to take a risk to see it happen.
Faith is closely linked to healing in Mark’s gospel.
In Mark 6:5, we are surprised to learn that Jesus “could not do any miracles” in Nazareth because of their lack of faith.
This “failure” was not because of a lack of power on Jesus’ part, but because he could do nothing for those who refused to acknowledge their need of him.
While faith is not a magic formula that compels God to act.
8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me.
20 Erastus has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.
it is a heartfelt expression of dependence on him and trust that he is able to save.
6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
The religious leaders, who here rejected Jesus’ messianic authority, will in the next episode refuse to acknowledge their need of him.
They are the “healthy” who have no need of a doctor.
Jesus has “not come to call righteous people, but sinners”
17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
those who recognize their need of him.
Sin and Disease
Sin and Disease
We finally see the passage raises the difficult question of the relationship between sin and disease
It was widely believed in Jesus’ day that personal sin led to disease.
In John 9:2
2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
we see Jesus’ disciples assume that a man’s blindness was the result of sin.
But Jesus denies that either is the case.
Paul, however, testifies that sin in the Corinthian congregation - especially disunity in the Lord’s Supper - has resulted in sickness and even death.
29 For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.
30 This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.
31 If we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged,
32 but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world.
The Talmud reveals similar views in later Judaism: “No one gets up from his sick-bed until all his sins are forgiven” (b. Ned. 41a)
James encourages prayer and anointing with oil by the elders of the church for those who are sick and affirms that “prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well… If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” (James 5:15)
15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
This text confirms that infirmity may or may not be related to personal sin.
In Pastoral care, it is important to practice both compassion and discernment, allowing for the possibility that disease or misfortune may result form divine discipline, but never assuming this to be the case.
Whatever the cause, the pastoral response should be the same: to pray for the person and to offer God’s compassion, love, and forgiveness.
Infirmity and hardship always provide opportunities for spiritual growth,
calling us to a closer walk with God and a greater dependence on him.
Our Identity is not determined by what we do; it is determined by who we are in Christ.
Be reminded of your identity in Christ, that they are not just products of your past and that you do not have to be victims anymore.
We need to know that Satan has no power over them unless they allow it.
Remember this:
God’s attributes:
God is omnipotent (all-powerful)
His power is greater than we can comprehend.
He defeated Satan at Calvary in fulfillment of the OT prophecies.
He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Though you may feel you are being pulled by two equal but opposite powers, that is not the case.
That is deception.
You must choose to
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
God is Omnipresent (everywhere at once)
He is here right now.
As Psalm 125:2 says:
2 The mountains surround Jerusalem and the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.
Satan cannot be everywhere at once.
There is a hierarchy of his emissaries, but they are like little gnats.
They get in your face and distract you, but they have no power over you.
God is Omniscient (all-knowing)
He knows the thoughts and intentions of your heart
12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
He loves you unconditionally
8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
He knows the trauma you have experienced and He stands ready to set you free from your past if you will submit to Him.
Satan cannot perfectly read your mind, although he can give you thoughts to deceive and condemn you.
Understand and assume your position in Christ by resolving the personal and spiritual conflicts that are critical between yourself and God.
What counts in not what anyone of us can do for you but what Christ has already done for you.
8 The one who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works.
He came to destroy the works of the devil.
10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
and to give us life
He is the only one that can set us free as you submit to Him.
There are certain identifiable hurdles - spiritual, rational, emotional, volitional, and relational - that must be overcome in order to begin or continue growing in Christ.