Luke Chapter 2

The Beginning

We started the Jesus journey with the arrival of JTB preaching this new radical idea of repentance and believer’s baptism.

We catch up to Jesus not at His birth, or childhood, but as a man beginning His ministry.

Why do we not start the story until now?

What was Mark’s focus?

What was the church going through?

We see Mark’s style of writing is fast paced and does not take many breaks.

Immediately is used more in Mark than any other book of the New Testament

We also saw another tool he used to keep the pace up and that’s with the word “and.”

Like listening to your kid tell a story of their day. We did this and this and then this and then this and this and this.

Everything Mark uses is designed to cut through the fog and show a church that is struggling and I am sure scared the nature of the one they follow, Jesus.

Mark helps us relate to Jesus the man and recognize Jesus the Savior Son of God.

Dominion Over All

One theme we have seen and will continue to see all throughout Mark is Jesus’ dominion over all.

He shows His complete control over the spiritual world as we read about the demons recognition of Him and their removal by Him.

He proves His claim as God in flesh as He heals the physical ailments of His created people.

Moving On

Today we jump into Chapter 2 so let’s dive in......

Mark 2:1–13 NIV

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.

So we catch up to Jesus coming back to Capernaum and staying in someones home where He begins teaching again.

If you recall Capernaum is where the ministry really began in Mark so Jesus is already very well known there. Additionally, Jesus is now becoming very well known around the region.

So a great number of people gather at this house. So many that there was standing room only even outside. This sets the scene for an amazing moment.........

I Want My Miracle

Among the packed crowd of those wanting to see and hear Jesus was a group of 4 men carrying their paralyzed friend.

Now we don’t get an age of any of these men, but we can assume being called men they been around for a while on this earth.

And we can also make a small assumption that this paralytic man had dealt with this condition for quite some time.

How many doctors did he see?

How many people prayed over him?

How many times did he beg God to make him walk again?

How many times did hopelessness come into his mind and spirit?

General wisdom would tell you that this man was going to spend the rest of his life in this condition.

But these 5 men refused to give up.

They heard of this man named Jesus who heals the sick and casts out demons. Maybe they had even heard Him teaching.

Regardless deep within their soul they KNEW Jesus was the answer!

Barriers Won’t Stop Me

How often do we give up when we hit a barrier?

Maybe we don’t get the answer we are seeking. Maybe we don’t see God intervene how or when we wanted him to.

We hit struggles and hardship and give up..........

Do you know what it takes to overcome those obstacles..........FAITH!

Faith fights through roadblocks and walls. Faith keeps us moving because we KNOW that He is the solution. NO matter what may come our way.

These 5 men had faith that would not be sidelined by adversity.

Mark 2:2–4 NIV

They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.

These guys gave a whole other meaning to “tear the roof off this place.”

One word comes to mind when I read this scripture. Determination.

These men cam to see Jesus to receive healing for their friend, and they couldn’t even get to Him. They probably couldn’t even see Him.

They said that’s fine we will just go up. So they climb up on this roof all the while dragging their paralyzed friend with them.

Now they get on top of this roof and I can just imagine them reckoning with each other that they were about to destroy someone’s property.

Once they finished discussing who was going to apologize to the homeowner they started getting at it.

Now this would not have been a roof like we see today. It would have had timber lined vertically and then horizontally.

Then reed branches and thistles were laid over all of it. Then about a foot of earth was placed on top of all of that and packed tightly to provide protection from water. During summer there would even be grass growing on these roofs.

All told the roof would be about 2 feet thick. So when it says they dug, they were literally digging a hole in this roof.

But they knew what waited under that roof. Their miracle was under there.

I can just imagine Jesus standing there teaching and all the sudden dirt and debris starts falling on Him as He sees the sun start to peak through where there was once a ceiling.

And after a few moments down comes this man on his mat. His unwavering faith telling Him that this man named Jesus was the solution.

Internal Healing Above The External

As if this story isn’t interesting enough when we have these guys driven by their radical faith digging holes in a roof and just lowering a guy down in front of Jesus, we see something amazing happen.....

Mark 2:5 NIV

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

How many of you have sought after Jesus for something you wanted only for Him to give what you NEEDED?

This man wanted to walk. He wanted the healing that only Jesus could provide. He had absolute faith that Jesus could do it.

But Jesus saw this man so much deeper than just his physical ailments.

He saw a soul that needed cleansing.

Jesus saw their belief in Him. Their faith in Him. And He knew that man’s soul was infinitely more important than his legs.

So He healed what truly needed healing.

Radical Claim

When I picture this scene it is such a beautiful picture of His mercy. Of Jesus true nature. His love for us.

It is so easy to skim over the scriptures, but when we do we can miss these absolutely beautiful moments. We don’t see this grand entry of Jesus speaking to thousands of people in this giant setting. Screaming I am the Son of God!!

True to His life and His nature, we see Jesus revealed as God’s son with simple words to a man looking for his healer.

However what you may not realize is that Jesus just did an absolutely radical thing. And it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Mark 2:6–7 NIV

Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Jesus knew exactly what He was saying. And He knew exactly was there when He was saying it.

Before this point no one recognizes Jesus as the Son of God. God in flesh except demons.

But with that one sentence, Jesus reveals who He truly is. He is God........

This clearly does not sit well with the scribes.

And Jesus knows this......

Mark 2:8–11 NIV

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”

I can’t help but almost sense sarcasm in Jesus’ response to the scribes.

You’re okay with me healing the body but not the soul?

Jesus poses a question… What’s easier tell this man that he is forgiven or to tell him to walk.

And I can just imagine him walking back over to the man and saying get up take your mat and go on home. And then just looking back at the scribes and letting that sink in.

One of my favorite parts is what the crowd says as the man walks out. We have never seen anything like this!

Jesus is different in all ways. He didn’t come to conform to the status quo.

Matthew

Jesus leaves the house and continues His ministry and along the way meets my wife’s favorite disciple Matthew.

Mark 2:14 NIV

As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

Now unlike Peter and James, there is no indication that Matthew and Jesus had a prior relationship before this interaction. I am sure Matthew had heard of Jesus, but nothing beyond that.

And yet the interaction is the same. Two words- Follow Me! And Matthew leaves it all to join Him.

Sometimes we have over complicated this life. We create steps and processes and ceremony and dog and pony shows to be Christians.

But the call was so simple. Follow Me!

Jesus requires nothing of us but our faith and belief in Him. There is no initiation, no dues, no contract. Just.....follow Him.

A Hospital

After Jesus calls Matthew we catch up to Him in Matthews home sitting and enjoying a meal. But even Jesus meals are subject to controversy.

Mark 2:15 NIV

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.

This does not sit well with the scribes and Pharisees.

Mark 2:16 NIV

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Over the thousand years from Moses to Jesus a shift was made placing appearance above mercy.

The pharisees saw themselves as above these tax collectors and sinners. It was outward works not inward grace that mattered to them.

And so they in their minds they could not understand why if Jesus was who He said He was why would He associate with these low life’s?

Per the usual Jesus’ response was an absolute gut check to the status quo.

Mark 2:17 NIV

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

It constantly amazes me the simplicity in which Jesus can speak, but the impact is mind blowing.

Even today His words can be a punch to the church.

How often does the church create their “group” of dedicated believers and they basically shut the doors to anyone else.

But Jesus tells us in this scripture that we are to be a hospital. We are to be a place where the sick go.

And it’s not always pretty. Just like in a hospital it’s not always scratches and sprained ankles. Sometimes it dirty and messy and tough, but just as Jesus showed with the paralytic and those He chose to dine with.

The soul is what matters......

Closing

Jesus knows that more important than your health, than your miracle, than your life, is your soul.

All we know. All we have. All we want will someday pass away, but your soul is eternal. At the end of the day that is what matters.

He is calling all of us with two simple words. “Follow Me”

If you don’t know Him let’s change that

Anything you want prayer for.