2.3.8 1.15.2023 Mark 2.1-12 Beginning of Conflict.

Start:

Entice: Popularity often becomes the occasion or even an incentive for opposition. This is largely because some of the more powerful human emotions have a negative pull on us.

Jealousy,

resentment, and envy

all come from a warped conception of self. This warped conception is a part of the sinfulness which comes with the fall. These negative incentives are not equally powerful in all people.

Exceptional circumstances bring out the best and the worst in people. The presence of Jesus was just that sort of an exceptional circumstance.

Engage: Can you imagine that people questioned Jesus’

integrity,

sanity,

words,

and

deeds?

It’s hard for those of us who wear His name to imagine

the controversy

the opposition

and

much of

the conflict

that surrounded Him. And some of that controversy, opposition, and conflict was inevitable because they involved what was central to Jesus identity and mission. That’s what we see in today’s text.

Mark 2:1–12 ESV

1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But 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, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Expand: The scribes and other members of the religious establishment began to have conflict with Jesus not over theological or what we might think of as ministry issues but over control. If God is able to work directly in and through Jesus, where do the scribes and other’s fit in? Some want to be guides and others want to be gatekeepers. Jesus sets the terms. He’s really the only object of faith the only gatekeeper.

This is a perennial issue for those who wish to establish terms of entry for others. That is why the scribes as representatives of “how we’ve always done things” get bent out of shape in this passage.

Excite: Jesus’ goal is to correct and unbend those who get bent out of shape by His new message. But we’re just in chapter 2 and we all kind of know how it goes from here on in. Yet the Church is still energized by those who bring the hurting to Jesus, or who crowd around Him to hear His message. We Will always live in a context that shows us that

Explore:

Where faith in Christ grows, some will question and oppose.

Expand: In today’s text we examine several characteristic responses of the Mission of Jesus in Capernaum, and Evansville, and Grayville

Body of Sermon:

1 Attractive teaching.

Mark 2:1–2 (ESV)

1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.

2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.

As Jesus continues proclaiming the Kingdom, more people heard His message and responded. This likely included all kinds of listeners from the sold out to the merely curious, and every possibility in between. The immediate result is that Jesus has a

1.1 Growing Reputation.

The interplay of

Miracle

and

Message

People flocked to Him because they knew He was different.

And as more and more people came to hear, and the message grew both organically and purposefully Jesus and His disciples discovered the first downside to His attractive teaching.

His growing reputation resulted in

1.2 Diminishing Resources

And there were two particular resources that were running out very quickly.

Space

and

Time .

Even large, public spaces were not enough to accommodate the growing crowds.

The press of people led to the rapid passing of time. Lines and Waiting. Minutes led to hours, hours to days and soon weeks and months were passing.

Some of this is in the text but we just kind of miss it as we get involved in the story. Mark was a genius storyteller, and he compresses this story into a few bulging verses. The scenes he describes in these verses were likely worked out over the course of nearly a whole day, from the

gathering of the crowds, the approach of the paralytic, finding their way blocked, climbing up and digging through the roof.

Jesus’ ministry will often find itself short in time and short on space specifically because what He said was so attractive.

Attractive, immersive, engaging teaching increased Jesus’ influence. Diminishing resources of time and space required Him to constantly refine His mission.

Which leads us to scene number 2 which tells us of a man and his problems, and his friends and their

2 Assertive action.

Mark 2:3–5 ESV

3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Real faith is active. If finds ways to serve. It is always looking to get closer to the active life-changing word of Jesus. This episode begins with a

2.1 Marginalized friend.

We live in post ADA USA. We expect public buildings to have access for those who are disabled. First century culture discarded the disabled and marginalized the unfortunate.

However, this marginalized man had friends or family who literally crashed the party, they were the

2.2 The nameless faithful.

that are at the heart of this text, willing to overcome obstacles and break through roofs. Their faith was active, assertive, bold, and adventurous.

That kind of faith brings people into contact with the

2.3 Master of forgiveness.

So faithful people flocked to Jesus

attracted by His authoritative words and deeds.

Others stood back and watched.

Consequently, the next reaction we see in this text is an

3 Antagonistic observation.

Mark 2:6–7 (ESV)

6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,

7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

3.1 Every audience contains

seekers, supporters, and skeptics.

3.2 The scribal skeptics in this text show us how to

Make Good observations

but

Draw wrong conclusions

This episode ends, as we might guess with Jesus once again providing an

4 Authoritative response.

Jesus responds by a question of His own, and a demonstration of divine authority...

Mark 2:8–12 ESV

8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But 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, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Jesus

4.1 Calls out His critics.. 8

Next, Jesus

4.2 Demonstrates His authority. 9-11

Then finally, Jesus

4.3 Confirms His influence. 12

I’m not a real fan of impassive, stoic, unemotional depictions of Jesus. I imagine Him most of the time with an ironic smile on His face and a bit of a chuckle behind His words.

He called out His critics

without hating them.

Demonstrated His authority

without diminishing them

and

expanded His influence

without attacking them.

We could sure learn a lot from how Jesus dealt with negative questions and emerging conflict.

Shut Down

The fact is that good things and bad things happen to everyone. Much of what occurs in our lives is outside of our control. We do, however control our reactions. Much of this text concerns the growing tension surrounding the mission and message of Jesus. Behind the text there are several human emotions and characteristics that guide how individuals and groups respond to Jesus.

Love and companionship for a friend.

Amazement and enthusiasm for a revolutionary new teacher,

jealousy, fear, and anger at a possible loss of influence.

And Jesus, simply acts as only God in the flesh can act, He removes the paralytic’s sin and restored his otherwise broken physical life.

We will always be reacting to Jesus in some way. This text, all the unnamed characters and moving parts remind each of us that we choose Jesus with our mind, our heart, and our actions.

Choose you will,

even when you think that you are deferring your choice

to another day,

another time,

another place.

Each of us experiences internal and external conflicts and questions. Sometimes we function as the cripple, and other times his friends. Sometimes we find ourselves in the crowd around the door swept up in the spectacle, other times we are muttering beneath our breath like the scribes. In the end, you, and I each of us, choose. I think the best choice is to join the side of the one whose first instinct, even when it creates controversy—is to forgive sin. That’s God’s affirming word to us today. 1.15.2023.