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Gospel of Mark: Jesus a life to serve • Sermon • Submitted
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Through the eyes of Jesus
Through the eyes of Jesus
Forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs. It meets the greatest need; it cost the greatest price; and it brings the greatest blessing and the longest lasting results.
Today as we look at our study passage (Mk2:1-12) try to look through the eyes of Jesus.
As He looks down: He sees a paralytic; He had a problem, a sin problem more than the physical ailment.
As He looked around: He see’s the critics who came out to check Him out and look for ways to accuse Him
As He looked within: He sees the heart of man; they had a critical spirit and were accusing Him of blasphemy.
Now with your bibles let us look at the passage and then break it down.
1 When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them.
3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.
Mk2:3-4
5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?
9 “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? 10 “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic,
11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
First off we can tell He is back in Nazareth, in Capernaum, in the Galilee region. This is Jesus home town. We can guess he is at home, the family home, though Peter, Andrew, John and James all lived there too, so could be in one of their homes too.
we can see word was out that He was home and many gathered. Then we can see what Jesus was doing “speaking the word to them.” (v.2)
This brings us to the narrative of the story now, you can find this in all the synoptic gospels (Mt9:1-8, Lk5:17-26 as well as our passage today).
Now having discussed the location and the set up there are:
Two areas I would like to focus on today:
The Narrative
The Lessons to learn
I. The Narrative
I. The Narrative
We know the place, we can even know the time (see 1:35ff; 2:1); we know the location, a house; and we know the setting, it was filled with people. So now looking at the story, the narrative before us.
Some general questions:
What happens in (vv.3-4)?
What did Jesus see (v.5)? What did Jesus do v.5)?
With friends like these, look at them; They were deeply concerned for their friend and brought him to the One they believed in, had faith in, knew could heal him.
They were men of action not just of prayer, they brought the friend and made an effort to get him before Jesus. They were not discouraged by difficult circumstances (boy can we learn from that).
Here is this paralytic, confined to a mat, having to be carried around by others. He was helpless and hopeless and had to count on others. We too were hopeless and helpless for we could not save ourselves. (Mk2:1-5; Eph2:8-9)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Can we save ourselves? How about can we save others?
The answer is no to both, but this man had friends who with great effort brought him to Jesus who could save him, heal him. Are we willing to make an effort to be a friend like this who brings someone, or people to the Lord?
They made a way through the roof, they did not destroy, the roofs there in that region with thatch roofs, flat, tiled with wooden cross beams overlaid with branches and dried mud, to it was easily fixed after they were done.
We too may need to help do some digging for a friend to be able to help them. But there is help (vv.4-5; Mt9:2)
What did Jesus see in these friends who were willing to do some digging because they had deep concern for their friend?
May our faith be visible too!
Jesus seeing their faith tell him his sins are forgiven; Mt says to be of good cheer too.
2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
So we see the forgiving before the healing in this case don’t we? We will see and hear Jesus purpose shortly.
So from the helpful friends we come to the hostile foes (vv.6-10; Lk5:21; JN2:24-25)
Now I have to say this, the religious leaders were right in checking out this teaching from this person from Nazareth, not of line of Aaron, for they were the ones who were responsible (Deu13; focus on vv.1-5; just mentioning here, they would have to see if what was said comes true to see if really a prophet or if what they said was against the scripture). Though they came with wrong heart, a reasoning heart (vv.6, 8) they were looking for reason to accuse.
What were the scribes doing (v.6)?
Scribes were reasoning in their hearts
What were they saying (v.7)?
Scribes were not speaking they were silently accusing. Can we do this too at times, silently accuse people of things and not say anything at all?
What did Jesus do (v.8)?
Jesus knows the heart of man and knew they were reasoning
We know that only God can forgive sins, and Jesus just told the man his sins are forgiven (v.5) so Jesus is saying He is God and shortly will prove it.
Let e back up with some scripture to help fill out the passage more
In addition to the Scribes, Luke says Pharisee’s were there too (Lk5:21)
21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
And John gives a little more here about Jesus
24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.
This now brings us to the point, the goal, what Jesus wanted to do (vv.9-11) and the results (v.12)
What did Jesus say (v.9)?
Jesus asks a question; it is the same question we should be asking too, what is more important the forgiveness or the healing?
Who is He speaking to (v.10) in first part, then in the second part?
He is speaking the scribes who were reasoning withing themselves
In the second part He starts to address the paralytic
What does Jesus claim, who does Jesus claim to be (v.10)?
Jesus in speaking to the scribes tells them He is the Son of man and because such He has the authority to forgive sins.
What were the instructions (v.11)?
Get up! So from the friends faith bringing him; to now calling his faith to come into action by getting up.
What was the result (v.12)
What was the results (v.12)?
The man activated his faith
The people were amazed
The people were glorifying God
They acknowledged they had not seen anything like this before.
And believe it or not we have not gotten to the second point for today as of yet. We have seen a man healed, people amazed, Jesus authority and power proven and God glorified, that now brings us to the second point.
II. Lessons to learn
II. Lessons to learn
From helpful friends to hostile foes to a happy finale, it is good, but there is more we can glean from our passage.
Power and authority of Christ to forgive sins (Mk2:5, 10-11; Lk7:44-48; Lk23:39-43)
Jesus has shown us the power and authority to forgive sins in our passage as well.
5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
10 “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.”
M
And you can look at:
Lk7:44-48 - with the sinful woman washing Jesus feet
Lk23:39-43 - with the thief on the cross
Forgive sins in heaven as well as on earth to those who obey the gospel (Mt26:28; Eph1;7; Mk15:16; Act10:42-43; and restoration 1Jn1:7-9)
Jesus continues to have power to forgive sin, and restore a wayward Christian even from heaven, all made possible by the shedding of His blood.
28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
To those who obey the gospel
16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
42 “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
and restoration by forgiveness
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Another lesson, the greatness, preciousness of friends of faith, so be a friend of faith! (Mk2:5; Heb10:24; Gal6:1-2)
Remember what Jesus saw?
5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Jesus saw the precious faith of the friends of the paralytic; And may we have the heart to consider our friends how we can stimulate and help them.
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
And like the friends who were willing to bear the burden of their friend, may we be willing to do the same.
1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
For we, when doing such fulfil the law of Christ which is love!
Gal6:1-2
Privileges can be easily squandered (Mt9:1; mt8:5-13; 14-15, 16, Jn4:46-54)
Quick question, where was Jesus when all this happen? (hometown)
1 Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city.
In his home town, own city He did much work, but not accepted.
There was the Centurion's servant (Mt8:5-13)
There was Peters’s mother in law (Mt8:14-15)
The demon-possessed (Mt8:16)
And finally the nobleman’s son (Jn4:46-54)
Squandered privileges bring about judgment (Mt11:23-24)
23 “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24 “Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”
So, don’t squander our privileges we have living where we live with the liberties we have here. In a country where we can gather in the open and not hide.
But with privileges comes responsibility too
48 but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
Are we willing to be “Friend’s like these” that we have looked at today? Their faith, their visible faith lead to the paralytic having faith, sins forgiven and body healed.