Let The Load Down

Text

Mark 2:1–12 NASB95

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. 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.”

We take a pause today in our regularly schedule series to say life gets at us

As much as the Mission remains critical, I want you to be reminded that God is not insensitive to your needs

As much as God wants every one of us to tell someone about Him, the reality is that I get burdened by life so much that I cannot even reflect Him

Sometimes I struggle through the week just to make it to the first day to celebrate and commemorate but…I feel burdened

I feel burdenened because I left the madness, and the hell, just to come here and find something to help me face the madness when I leave

If we’re honest for a moment, at times the devil tries to convince us that this is not worth it

He tries to convince you that the load is too much and that you need give up....what you need to do is Let the Load Down

I want to be better/more involved/more available/better husband, wife/father, mother/leader, servant - I want God to be pleased with my offering

But, I’m burdened

Let The Load Down

This lesson is not for the self righteous folk who walk around like they had breakfast with the angels, and Jesus is showing up for Lunch.

This is not for the folk who like to pretend that everything is alright, never had a bad day, never sinned in their life, always the hero to their story.

This is not for the folks that have everything figured out

“Those that sick need a physcian” - That’s who God has come for today

Psalm 51:17 “17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” - lose the restraints

He wants to remind you:

Let The Load Down

The Place

We are in Capernaum

Many regard this as the “hub” of Jesus, as many works would have been done there

He preached, taught, and healed there.

He visitied the synagogue there

The Problem

They came to Jesus with a man who was paralyzed

Paralysis is debilitating

You cannot do things for yourself

It brings about physical changes

The Lessons

Lesson #1 - Burdens Might Bend You But They Don’t Have To Break You

Mark 2:3 “3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men.”

This paralysis restrcited and eventually eliminated this man’s regular function

APPL. Have you ever been paralyzed? - Something gripped you, afflicted - Now you can’t pray, worship, sing, serve - ALL REGULAR FUNCTIONS HAVE CEASED

This man was burdened

These four are burdened with a man who is burdened with sickness

The problem with burdens is that they weigh you down

They impede your movements and sometimes stop it

They stay on your mind and heart

They sometimes grieve you to your core

They show up in some weird ways:

In Depression

In Mental health issues

In Anxiety

In Relationships

The other problem is you carry them wherever you go

Your home, job, with the church, relationship

Now your stressed and everyone around is feeling it because you’re burden

They might take a toll on you/frustrate/grieve you

It might bend you but don’t let it break you:

Let the Burden Down

Lesson #2 - Find a Four

Mark 2:3–4 “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.”

Luke 5:18–19 “18 And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. 19 But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.”

“They were trying” - Don’t just satnd there, do something - Don’t just critcize, help

They gave a continuous effort to get this man to the place of deliverance

These four stopped at nothing to get this man to Jesus

They could not wait for Jesus to come out, they had to make it in

Find a Four

That will bring you at the feet of Jesus

APPL. Be careful with giving your burdens to folks that aren’t spiritual

They will gossip before they pray

They will laugh at it and not leave it with Jesus

They will take a note of it, only to throw it in your face later down the road

They will use it as a stepping stone to say, “at least I’m not like that publican”

Be careful - They play, they don’t pray. They don’t fast,

they’re just fast. Instead of using the information to take you up, they try to take you down

Galatians 6:1 “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.”

[Analogy]

The roads weren’t the best

The distance wasn’t the easiest

The crowd was thick

The roof was high

The opening was difficult to make

Lowering the man was awkward

What will help you let those burdens down is a four who will always point you to the ultimate burden bearer.

And they are not inconvenienced by your problems

Lesson #3 - Sin Will always be a Big Burden

Mark 2:5 “5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.””

To the four his burden was his sickness

To Jesus his burden was sin

APPL. Some of us we address situation with our addressing the sin

Meaning, we try to fix everything around the sin, except the sin

e.g. Some of us are liars, but ask God to put right people around you, who trust you. . .maybe if you stop lying

e.g. Some of us like to gossip, you’re asking God to fix my relationship. . .maybe if you stop gossiping

Sin is your biggest burden, and I’m glad this is what Jesus dealt with first

That’s why you need to let the load down

Bonus obeservation

They heard what He said, they had a good theology “only God can forgive sins” but they failed make the application.

Then Jesus makes a proposal

If I can do the visible impossible, it would prove that I can do the invisible impossible

God can do the impossible

Lesson #4 - Don’t Forget Who Did It

Luke 5:25 “25 Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.”

Jesus will always come through

That’s why you hold on, that’s why you keep praying, that’s why you don’t give up

That’s why I still show up when I’m at the end of the road

That’s why I still believe even though I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel

God will come through in some strange ways just so that you don’t think it was you