Jesus Healed and Forgave

Big Picture Question:

“Is Jesus God or human? As the Son of God, Jesus is both fully God and fully human.”

Welcome:

Tell me about a time you were in a crowded place. Maybe you were at a crowded event or a theme park.

Did the crowd block your view?

Did you do anything to see better?

Introduce the Bible Story:

We have been learning stories from the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels. Can anyone tell me the four Gospel books? Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the four books of the Gospels. These books help us know about Jesus's time on Earth. While Jesus was on Earth, he performed miracles because he wanted to show that he is both fully God and fully man. Since Jesus is fully God and fully man, the greatest miracle he can offer us is forgiveness and salvation by faith in him.

Big Picture Question:

Is Jesus God or human? As the son of God, Jesus is both fully God and fully human.

Jesus walked this Earth with a real human body like ours. He ate meals, traveled, grew tired and hungry, and experienced joy and sadness. He is human like Us in every way, except he never sinned. But Jesus is also fully God. Everything that God is, Jesus is too. And because Jesus is fully God, he has the power to forgive sins.

Review the Timeline:

During Jesus's time on Earth, he performed many miracles. Did you know the Bible tells us that Jesus did so many amazing things that the world couldn't hold all the books about his works? Jesus is miracles proved that he is God. We learned last week that Jesus has all power and control to stop a storm. Just by speaking he was able to calm the wind and the waves. Today we will learn about another miracle Jesus did and how this miracle also proves Jesus is God.

Learn the Bible Story

Matthew 9:1-8

Section 1 (Matthew 9:1)

Matthew 9:1 “1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.”

Question: Why would Matthew begin this story this way?

“And getting into a boat…”

Because Matthew also started out the last story with Jesus getting into a boat.

And how did that story turn out?

Jesus spoke to the winds and the waves and they obeyed.

Jesus has the power to control the winds and the waves, but Matthew is writing this story to tell us something more of Jesus.

Section 2 (Matthew 9:1-2)

Matthew 9:1–2 “1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.””

Question:

What is a paralytic?

Someone who is paralyzed or can’t use their legs or maybe even their arms

What does Jesus say to the paralytic?

You’re healed! - No. - He says “your sins are forgiven.”

Is that why they brought this man?

No

Which did the man need more? Sins forgiven or his legs healed?

Sins forgiven

Section 3 (Mark 2:5-7)

Mark 2:5–7 “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?””

Question:

Who can forgive sins?

God alone

So you have these religious teachers who had studied and memorized the Scriptures and new the right answer. They knew that a Messiah was coming, but when the Messiah that had been promised was staring them right in the face, they did not recognize him. They memorized the Word, but did not recognize the Word.

So they knew that God alone could forgive sins. But what does Jesus do to prove that he is God? He authenticates his message by performing a miracle

What does it mean to authenticate something?

To determine if it is real or not.

Jesus could say “Your sins are forgiven.” But, how does he show it or prove that it is a real?

Section 4 (Matthew 9:4-6)

Matthew 9:4–6 “4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.””

Question:

How did Jesus authenticate his words?

He healed the man physically. He fixed his legs.

Jesus showed that he had power over the winds, the waves, the human body, and over eternity. Jesus forgave him of his sins and secured his position in heaven with him forever. That’s the power of Jesus.

What is the Gospel (Good News)?

God

God created all things

God created us

God tells us how we are to live

Man

Man rebelled, disobeyed God

Wages of sin is death (What we earned)

Jesus

Jesus came and lived a perfect life

Obeying all of God’s laws

Jesus paid the penalty for sin by dying on the cross

Jesus defeated death by rising again from the dead

Response

Jesus calls all men everywhere to repent and believe the good news

Repent and Believe

Repent of what? (Our sins)

Believe what? (The good news of Jesus)

God tells us to have faith in him (to trust him)

Christ Connection:

The man who was paralyzed needed to be healed. Jesus did something even greater; Jesus forgave sins, and then He healed the man. Because Jesus is God, He has the power and authority to heal and forgive. Jesus forgives everyone who trusts in Him.

Key Passage:

Today’s story reminds us that Jesus is both fully God and fully man…

John 1:18 “18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”

No one has ever ________ God; the ________ only God, who is at the __________ side, he has made him _________.”

Pray