“We have never seen anything like this!”

Mark 2:12 ESV

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!”

Throughout God’s Word there were many times when Jesus showed up and the people who were around him were shocked by what He did and even uttered phrases like this.

Let me begin today by asking you, what is the most incredible thing you have ever seen? People have witnessed the birth of a child which is life changing. People have witnessed some incredible weather events or even music or sporting events. Maybe you have been part of a great event in history, and at times we could say I have never seen anything like this. I remember saying this when we were going through a difficult time in our world and Covid had shut down churches. There can be times in history where people can use words or phrases that would communicate that this event that this thing they had witnessed was not normal it was out of the ordinary.

How do I transition this into the needs of people?

As we look around our world today there are many needs that we see.

-People are hungry and malnourished. This is definitely a need.

-We see many folks who are struggling with financial needs.

-We see folks who struggle with emotional needs and relationship needs.

-Then there are those dealing with health needs.

In the Bible we see something very similar there were many folks who had needs just like you and I. In Luke 18 we learn about a person who was blind. They had a really big need. Jesus asks this person about their need.

Luke 18:41 ESV

41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.”

This particular need was that a person was blind and wanted to see. Jesus asks this man what do you want me to do about your need, and the simple response was Lord, let me see. In verse 42 we learn that he did recover his sight.

In our text today we are going to learn about another needy person and this time we see the need was that this man could not walk and yet there was a deeper need that he was not aware of. My point this morning is that we all have needs. Everyone has different needs and yet we all share something exactly the same wether we realize it or not. Every person’s greatest need is the forgiveness of sin, and the only solution to mankind’s sin problem is Jesus. The book of Romans talks about our problem.

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans also tells us about the solution to this problem.

Romans 5:9 ESV

9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

So, the gospel message helps us to see the great pardon to those who would turn from their sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. No other religion provides the means to forgiveness, and many false religions are even leading people to hell. Throughout the gospels we come to learn about Christ and all that He has done for you and I. We see the powerful teaching of Jesus. We see his love and compassion for the needy, and we learn about his death and resurrection. The incredible lesson that I want to share with you today is that Jesus has the power and authority to not only heal our needs, but also to forgive us of our greatest need and that is our sin. Turn with me to Mark chapter 2.

1. The fascinated crowd showed up for all the wrong reasons.

1. La multitud fascinada acudió por las razones equivocadas.

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.

Clearly we see here that many in this crowd had some sort of need. Jesus now returns back to this town named Capernaum. This town was a place of home base for Jesus, however it was not long after he had come back when the crowds began to show up. This crowd wanted to see Jesus because they were intrigued by Him. They wanted to hear his teaching, they wanted to see another miracle, after all many of them had some sort of need. Our text tells us here that there were so many people that had gathered together that there was no more room at this house. The situation was so powerful that you couldn’t even get in the door.

This intrigued crowd was there to hear something and see something from Jesus, and yet so many of them did not see their need to repent from their sin and believe in Jesus. We also know that part of this crowd was made up of some of the religious leaders of this time period. These Pharisees were there to call out Jesus because His teaching went against their legalistic traditions, man made rules, and rituals. These men considered themselves as holier than thou and better than other Israelites and yet all of their so-called religion was external and superficial.

Over and over again these religious leaders opposed Jesus and were looking for a way to put him to death. The scribes and Pharisees now join in with this large crowd not to be supportive of Jesus or learn from Him. This crowd was only concerned about their own desires and needs. Despite their spiritual blindness, Jesus continued to preach the word to them hoping that some would truly believe in Him. Why do you come to church? Why is it that you are interested in Jesus? Is it only that he would take care of your needs? Or have you come to a place where you have realized your desperate condition and that you truly need a Savior.

2. The Needy Sinner shows us the desperate situation.

2. El pecador necesitado nos muestra la situación desesperada.

Mark 2:3–4 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.

It is interesting here that without some really good friends this man would have never made it to see Jesus. In fact, this man’s condition had made him completely dependent on others for help. This man’s need was that he was lame and he could not walk. His story should stand out to us and not for the obvious reason that he had some really good friends to help him see Jesus, but more importantly in what Jesus did for him beyond healing his body.

Let’s go back to our text. We know that this house was so packed with people that there was no way people were going to enter this house. There was already a line out the door. These determined friends of this lame man did not quit, and they refused to give up. They looked for another way to get into the house. What in the world would they do to get their friend in?

These guys decide to think outside the box and remove the roof of this house in order to lower their needy friend down to Jesus. However, what they did that day was incredible because as they took the roof apart they let down this mat that their friend was on and put it down directly in front of Jesus. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Not only was the lame man hoping to see Jesus, but he was hoping to be healed. I want you to understand this today because there are some of you who are here today and you have not yet realized your desperate situation. You have not yet realized that your sin has separated you from Jesus.

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, “You and your sins must separate, or you and your God will never come together.” To believe in Jesus is to trust completely in Him as your Lord and Savior, and to acknowledge that salvation can only come through faith alone in Christ alone. Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin; to repent is to turn from your sin, and to believe is to turn to the Savior. They are inseparable.

3. The forgiveness of Christ shows us the Lord’s loving care.

3. El perdón de Cristo nos muestra el cuidado amoroso del Señor.

Mark 2:5 ESV

5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

More than anything this man desired to be healed and stand up and walk or even run down the street. Clearly everyone in the crowd that day saw that this man had a physical need. He was paralyzed. But only Jesus saw something much deeper and that was that this man needed to be forgiven of his sin.

I’m sure that Jesus took a look around and saw these friends and how loyal and persistent they were to let there friend down through the roof. Jesus not only saw the friends faith, but also the faith of this lame man. Notice the Lord’s words to him, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

What incredible words here. The whole reason Jesus came to earth was for this very purpose. Jesus came to seek and to save sinners, and that through Him sinners might be reconciled to God. We cannot be saved by our good works, we cannot be saved by being a better person, we cannot be saved by anything we do.

This crippled man saw himself as a needy and a guilty sinner. His true disability is that he needed to be forgiven of his sin and through his faith in Christ, he did receive forgiveness.

The greek word forgiven here refers to an idea of sending or driving away. In other words, complete pardon was granted by the Lord’s divine grace and not based on any work that this lame man could do. Church, Jesus loved us so much that He gave His life so that we can be pardoned from our sin. Have you trusted in Christ today? What is stopping you?

4. Hardened and unreceptive hearts always miss the power of God at work.

4. Los corazones endurecidos e insensibles siempre pasan por alto el poder de Dios en acción.

Mark 2:6–11 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?” 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.”

Instead of being excited that this man had been spiritually healed the religious leaders were so upset that they began to attack Jesus. These scribes reasoned in their hearts, or thought why did Jesus say this to the man? He has said something so blasphemous that clearly He has sinned, because only God could forgive sinners. What this shows us church is that the most religious leaders of the time, the most holy of all Israelites missed the fact that Jesus was in fact the God-Man. As the true Messiah and God, Jesus had the right to forgive and pardon those who saw their sin and trusted in Him.

Sadly these people missed who Jesus was and eventually, they would use this same accusation of blasphemy to justify the murder of Jesus. Jesus knew what was on their hearts and minds. He was clearly aware that they did not believe that He was God and therefore their hearts were hardened. But in order to have some fun and prove His point to these religious leaders Jesus backed up His claim that He was God by showing His divine power through physically healing this lame man.

It is here in verse 9 that Jesus asks the question, “which is easier, to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven or to say rise, take your bed and walk?”

It is interesting here that Jesus of course knows that answer to this question. It is easier to say that someone’s sins are forgiven because there is no way to actually confirm or deny the reality of this claim. However, telling someone that they were healed from being paralyzed could be immediately tested right? Of course.

What Jesus did here was incredible. Jesus waited to heal this man until after He said that the man was forgiven of his sin. Why? To show that He was God and that He alone had the power to forgive sins. Jesus proved His authority over sin itself. Don’t miss this.

By performing this miracle, Jesus proved for all to see that He was not a blasphemer. And if He was clearly not a blasphemer, than He was God. Don’t miss the power of God today loved ones. You may be here today and say I am too far gone. I have done too many bad things. I want you to know today that Jesus can and will change your life if you will surrender your life to Him. He can forgive you of your sin.

5. God’s power over sin should cause us to glorify Him.

5. El poder de Dios sobre el pecado debería llevarnos a glorificarlo.

Mark 2:12 ESV

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!”

When this paralyzed man got up and began to walk the crowd was shocked. This man did not have to go to physical therapy to learn how to walk again, he simply picked up his bed and went out before them all. This man had not only been physically healed but more importantly he had been spiritually healed. He had been forgiven of his sin.

This crowd was amazed, and shocked because they had never seen anything like this. They were filled with fear. They had a reverence that came from being exposed to the person, the presence, and the power of God. So, they gave glory or praise to God. The words that Jesus spoke thousands of years ago to this paralyzed man are the same words that He still speaks to all who come to Him in genuine faith.

If you are here today and you are living in sin and understand that you have a desperate need to be forgiven than call out to Christ today. The greatest benefit Christianity offers to this world today is the forgiveness of sins. Jesus Christ made this possible through His death on the cross and His resurrection. Today is Easter Sunday. Today is the greatest day in the history of the world. It is a great day of hope for every Christian. Many people still call Sunday the Lord’s Day because this is the day that Jesus took care of our greatest need. Jesus has risen and we see shown over and over again in the gospels. Look with me at Luke 24.

Luke 24:1–12 ESV

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Sin is still our greatest problem in the world today. It is our greatest enemy and it ultimately separates us from God. The Bible tells us that we are spiritually dead, and if left unforgiven, this results in eternal death in a place called hell. Sin destroys relationships, it causes us to think and act in foolish ways, and it leads us to make bad choices.

Can I be forgiven? Yes.

Who can forgive me? God can.

Today on this Lord’s Day Jesus offers forgiveness just like he did to the paralytic. Jesus offers forgiveness to all who are willing to turn from their sin and believe in His name.

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

(Close in Prayer)