Our Greatest Need
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Introduction
Introduction
What is your greatest need?
Perhaps you feel like your greatest need is
Finances are tight, and you really need a raise or a new job to make a little more money
Perhaps you often feel alone, and what you need is community, you need close friends
Perhaps your single, and you feel like your greatest need is to find husband, or find a wife.
For some of you your greatest need is to have some peace and quiet, the chaos of kids and the busyness of life has left you exhausted.
As we have seen Mark presents Jesus as the great king who is coming - the greater David who will rescue his people.
And in this passage we see that Jesus not only a king who is establishing his kingdom, but he is a king who is keenly aware of the needs of his people.
This story is a popular
Jesus is aware of both our physical needs and our spiritual needs. And he is the one we appeal to in our times of need.
We serve a God who cares deeply for us!
We serve a God who is not only concerned about the advancement of the gospel, but he is concerned about you getting that much needed afternoon nap.
We serve a God who not only cares about sickness like cancer, but also cares for the splinters our kids get after playing outside.
Jesus truly does care, and he hears you when you bring your needs to him.
Lets look at the passage...
And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 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. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 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. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 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? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 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!”
A couple notes on this passage before we get into the text:
This healing story culminates the first cycle of healing stories that are connected to the calling of his disciples
Jesus calls 4 disciples (1:16-20) followed by four healing stories
1. Man with unclean spirit 2. Peters mother in law 3. The leper 4. The paralytic
Following this passage Jesus calls Levi which is followed by one healing story
Mark then names the 12 apostles 8 of whom have not yet been named and it is followed by 8 healing stories.
We also see this story of the paralytic begins a five rapid fire stories where Jesus has conflict with the religious leaders
The conflict really begins to intensify as we move into chapter 2
Here we begin to see the shadow of the cross fall upon the pages of Mark
This first conflict in chapter 2 is the same conflict that leads us all the way to the crucifixion.
And this conflict begins in Capernaum, the same place where Jesus performed his first 4 miracles.
So look with me at 2:1-2
Back in Capernaum
Back in Capernaum
And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 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.
Mark 2:1-2
Now, Jesus was out in the wilderness after cleansing the leper.
If you remember Jesus was unable to go back into the town because the leper told everyone what had happened. So Jesus ends up staying out of the town, as if he were a leper.
However, after some time Jesus returns to Capernaum.
Mark says, “it was reported that he was at home”
Most scholars agree that the geographical location of his home was actually Peter’s home where Jesus healed his mother in law. Others say that this was Jesus’ own home as he moved to Capernaum when he began his ministry.
Peter’s house becomes a sort of head quarters for Jesus while he is ministering in Capernaum.
Capernaum is the place where Jesus spent most of his time, most of his ministry was done in or right around the city of Capernaum
slide of map
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Capernaum
A city on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. Gospel writers refer to it as Jesus’ “own city” (Matt 9:1) because after leaving Nazareth, He went to live in Capernaum
Capernaum was a city on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. Gospel writers refer to it as Jesus’ “own city” () because after leaving Nazareth, He went to live in Capernaum
Capernaum was a city on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. Gospel writers refer to it as Jesus’ “own city” () because after leaving Nazareth, He went to live in Capernaum
You would think that the town where Jesus lives, the town where the gospel was proclaimed by Jesus himself would be a city with great spiritual growth and blessing.
However this is not the case.
Outside of Jerusalem Jesus had the hardest words for the city of Capernaum.
Capernaum was hard hearted toward God.
Jesus says in Matthew 11:23-24…
And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,
And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
Jesus says that the Sodom, the city that God destroyed due to its sin will have an easier time on judgement day than Capernaum!
This is town that Jesus lives in, this is the town in which he does most of his ministry.
Maybe Jesus should have reworded some of his sermons
Lets look back at verses 1-2
Maybe Jesus should have been a little more sensitive to the culture and tried to be relevant
Maybe Jesus should have changed up his philosophy of ministry that would have awarded him a bit more favor with the people?
Jesus preached and lived the perfect gospel message, as Jesus is the gospel. Yet, people there were still heard hearted.
Jesus was faithful to his calling, his success in preaching was not determined by baptisms or conversions, rather his success was wrapped up in his faithfulness to God.
God has called all of us to be proclaimers of the gospel, yet our standing before God is not based on how many people get saved, or how many people come to church, or how many people life transformation stories you’ve been apart of, your standing before God
And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 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.
Mark 2:1-
So now Jesus is back in Capernaum and the news gets out that the great healer and exorcist is back in town!
So many people come to see Jesus at his home.
There were so many people that the house was full and the door was blocked and people were outside in the streets trying to hear what Jesus had to say.
Mark tells us that Jesus was preaching the word to them.
This would not doubt be a similar message that he preached to the other town when he left Capernaum in 1:38
Its the same message that he preached in 1:15 saying, The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; Repent and believe in the gospel.”
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Jesus continues to tell them that the kingdom they have been waiting for is here. And they need to repent and believe and follow the Christ.
A Paralyzed Man and His Friends
A Paralyzed Man and His Friends
Once again the buzz in the city would have been electric!
Capernaum was not a big city, only about 1500 people, and they all knew about Jesus. They all knew about his powers to heal and they all were aware that he was talking about a new kingdom.
You could imagine the crowd around the house.
People trying to look through the window
Mothers crying because she can’t get close with her sick child
Introverts wanting so bad to see Jesus but trying to avoid being caught in the big crowd
There were a lot of needs people had, and they wanted Jesus to meet their needs
Within all chaos of Capernaum that day there were 5 men who had a great need
Their greatest need was not to make more money
Their greatest need was not to remodel their house
Their greatest need was not to go on vacation
Their greatest need was not for peace and quiet
Their greatest need was to get their friend to Jesus so he could be healed.
This need was so great that they would do whatever it would take to make it happen.
Look with me at vv.3-5
And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 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. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
One of the five was a paralytic, a paralyzed man, unable to walk. (the bible doesn’t tell us if he was paralyzed due to sickness or injury)
This group of friends unable to get into the house because of all the people went up to the roof to find a way to Jesus
HOUSE SLIDE
House in 1st cent. Israel were about 15ft. tall and had flat roofs with a stairway outside the house.
Part of the roof of the house was made out of wood and was used for work, sleep, or even as a lounge to enjoy the nice weather
The other part of the roof was made of clay, straw, reeds, dirt and other like materials. This was called a thatch roof
So the friends unable to get into the house go up the stairs onto the roof, in order to dig through the dirt and clay and reeds of the roof to make a hole in order to lower their paralyzed friend on his bed down to Jesus.
After digging this hole in the roof they lower him down and how does Jesus respond?
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:5
I want to campout here for a few minutes because if we are not careful we will move right through this story without taking time to really consider all that has just happened
I want to campout here for a few minutes because if we are not careful we will move right through these three verses without taking time to digest all that has just happened
So before we dive into what this might mean, lets look at the whole situation and try to understand what has just happened.
And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 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. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:
I want to call your attention to 3 important elements to this story
These
Friends
Faith
Forgiveness
First lets look at the friends of the paralytic
Friends
Friends
These four friends are one of the best models of true, christ honoring, friendships
These men loved each other as friends, they cared for each other.
These four men assumed upon themselves the greatest need their friend had.
These men loved their friend so much that they would go to great lengths to see him healed.
They even vandalized someones home in order to see their friend healed.
More importantly than that, these four men are an example of true friendship because true friends bring each other to the Christ. no matter what the cost!
true friends will literally carry one another if necessary to bring them to Jesus.
Jesus is the destination of all true relationships
Is Jesus the destination of your relationships? Are you bringing your friends and your family to Christ?
EXAMPLE
Ladies
When you have time with the girls do your conversations, the words of your mouth, usher the others ladies with you into the presence of Christ?
Are you intentional about bringing each other to the feet of Jesus?
Men
When you get together are your conversations demonstrating the presence of Christ in your midst?
Do your actions lead people toward Christ?
Parents and spouses
Our kids need Christ just as we do. Do we bring them to Jesus? Do we place them at his feet and then show them what it looks like to bow before the king?
With our spouses, are we carrying each other to Christ? Are we constantly taking each others hands and bringing each other into the presence of our God?
These four friends show us what it like to have and to be true friends; true friends will bring you to Christ. And if you are a true friend you’ll bring others to Christ.
These friends helped the man get to Christ - even dug a hole in the roof in order to lower him down to see Jesus
The man
Its interesting how this whole scene looks more like a burial than it does a healing
You have a hole being dug
He would be for ever thankful for his sickness
you have four men carrying a man who is not moving (poll bearers)
And lowering the man down into the hole they just dug. Sounds like a funeral
But thats appropriate isn’t it?
To come to Jesus we must die. We must die to ourselves so that we can live with him
There is a super obscure story in 2 Kings 13 that actually sheds light on this story
So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
There is a hole being dug
You don’t need to turn there its only two verse long so I will just tell you
There were some Israelites burying a friend when a band of moabite robbers came rushing toward them.
There are a group of men/friends digging the whole
There were some Israelites burying a friend when a band of moabite robbers came rushing toward them.
They end up lowering their friend into Elisha’s grave
And upon being lowered into the whole the man was raised and stood up.
The men through the dead friend into Elisha’s tomb and as soon as the dead man hit Elisha’s bones he was revived or resurrected and stood on his feet.
So what does this story tell us? It tells us that Jesus is the new and better Elisha!
Through Elisha’s death this man was resurrected from the dead and lived
Through Jesus’ death we will be resurrected and live for all eternity!
You see the difference is that Elisha’s bones are still in the ground, so the man that was healed will follow in Elisha’s foot steps and die again
Jesus has been resurrected and is now in glory with God, so we will follow in Jesus’ footsteps and be raised to glory!
Back to Mark
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.
The friends brought him to Jesus so that he could be healed, they thought healing was his greatest need, but Jesus as the greatest of all friends knew his greatest need
a hole is dug
a man unable to stand is lowered into the hole
resulting in a resurrection
Though we haven’t gotten to the resurrection part of the healing yet.
The man
The friends brought him to Jesus so that he could be healed, they thought healing was his greatest need, but Jesus as the greatest of all friends knew his greatest need
The mans greatest need was not to have use of his legs again,
The mans greatest need was not to be able to work again
His greatest need was not to have a certain social standing
Jesus knew what his greatest need was, and it was to have his sins forgiven.
So Jesus address the greatest need first and forgives the mans sins
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
The immediate question that arises when reading this text is, “If salvation is through faith alone, is Jesus saying that the friend’s faith was applied to the paralyzed man for the forgiveness of his sins?
Well lets look at next important element of this passage, Faith
Faith
Faith
Jesus saw the friends faith
So how is it that the faith of the friends led to forgiveness of sins for the paralyzed man?
A few affirmations about this concerning the question.
Was it the friend’s faith that saved the man? Yes
Was it the friend’s faith that allowed the man to have his sins forgiven? Yes
Was it the friend’s faith that brought their friend to the feet of Jesus? Yes
Now did Jesus look at their faith and apply it to the paralyzed man so that he could have his sins forgiven?
Faith is a powerful word in the NT
When we think of faith we usually think of it in terms of confidence in Christ, belief in Jesus for what he has done for us.
And this is correct, but its not the only meaning of the word pistis (faith)
Other aspects to the word is commitment, allegiance, reliability, fidelity, faithfulness
Jesus saw their faith at work on behalf of their friend
They were faithful to him, they were commited
And they were faithful to Jesus, They knew that only Jesus could heal their friend. They knew that their friend had a great need and it was only Jesus who could meet that need.
So their faithfulness both to their friend and their confidence in Jesus is what Jesus recognized in the four friends. That is why we can say their faith,
saved their friend
allowed their friend to have his sins forgiven
And brought to the feet of Jesus.
So what we see here is the reality that faith is born, nurtured and matured in the context of community.
Faith is born, nurtured and matured in the context of community
It was this mans community that brought him to the feet of Jesus
It was this mans community that had faith in Christ that he could heal their friend
It was this mans community that put him in the position where Jesus could heal him and forgive his sins
A biblical faith apart from community is figmental, a figment. Its not real, its not biblical. The bible goes out of its way to link faith with community.
Mark is not trying to say that community faith (or the faith of friends) trumps or replaces personal faith for salvation.
What he is doing is stating that community faith really does matter.
The faith of the parents matters for your children
The faith of a wife matters for her husband, and a husbands for his wife
The faith of a church matters for the people
The faith of a leader matters for those whom he leads
Faith is not only individual, but it has corporate implications.
And in this story we see that the implications of the faith of the friends was the healing and forgiveness of the paralyzed man.
Forgiveness of Sin
Forgiveness of Sin
It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
Up to this point their has been some conflict, but not that much. As I mentioned earlier this story is where the conflict really begins to intensify in Marks Gospel. The reason conflict erupts is because Jesus has offered the paralyzed man forgiveness for his sins.
True friends helps you get to Jesus
The scene seems more like a burial
Now, the people have loved seeing Jesus heal and cast out demons - as this is what they were hoping for in the Messiah.
You see, people were expecting the messiah to come and be the great king, who comes in the power of God. Yet, the people of Jesus’ day did not expect YHWH himself, God himself to come as their king.
So when Jesus forgives the man of his sins he is speaking as if he has the authority of God.
Jesus see’s the faith of the friends
Look how the people respond.
faith is born, nurtured, matured, in the context of community
Jesus see’s their faith, and says, “son your sins are forgiven”
What does Jesus do?
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 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? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?
The felt need was not the greatest need of the man
***The main problem in any persons life is not his suffering but his sin***
The scribes were indignant, they say that Jesus is a blasphemer!
Here is where the shadow of the cross lands on the text
It is the charge of blaspheming that put Jesus on the cross
In
Mark 14:62-64
You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.
However, Jesus was not a blasphemer against God, rather, Jesus was blaspheming the religious system they had established.
To blaspheme is to slander, revile, defame, speak irreverently/impiously/disrespectfully of or about something.
And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.
slander, revile, defame, speak irreverently/impiously/disrespectfully of or abo
William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 178.
So for Jesus to forgive this mans sins, Jesus was at the same time defaming the religious system that had been established to forgive sins.
There was already a system put in place for the forgiveness of sins
Part of the reason the scribes were so upset at Jesus’ pronouncing forgiveness was because there was already a system put in place for the forgiveness of sins
Jesus was threatening their system
Temple, Priesthood, Sacrifice
Mainly the,
Temple, Priesthood, Sacrifice
Jesus is speaking as if he had the authority to forgive sins
as if he was the
temple,
priesthood,
sacrifice
Jesus was the fulfillment of all of these things
This is the threat,
For the scribes and the Pharisees this was not only a spiritual problem but also an economic problem
EXAMPLE NOAH’s
Lets say that this venue, NOAH’s Event Venue was the only place in town where people could get married.
Only NOAH’s could hold the ceremony, only NOAH’s could print the marriage license,
Only through NOAH’s
Wedding cake
Wedding dress
flowers
food
invitations
Everything that you need for a wedding is found only at NOAH’s
You could ONLY get married here, at NOAH’s - And it cost you a pretty penny to get married here.
An
And then the leadership at NOAH’s finds out that there is some traveling preacher who is performing weddings and handing out marriage licenses - And he’s doing it for free!
This is a threat to NOAH’s, they are going to want to shut this man down because not only is the wedding business in danger, but their entire economic eco system is now being threatened.
This is what it was like for the religious leaders of Jesus’ day
Jesus is claiming to be the new priest, the new temple and the new sacrifice - thus abolishing the entire eco system of the old covenant - and their livelihood.
He is blaspheming! this is the charge brought against Jesus that led him to the cross
Mark 2:
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? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?
So Jesus knew what they were thinking and says to them
The shadow of the cross is not beginning to fall on the pages of Mark
What is easier
What is easier TO SAY?
TO SAY?
To say your sins are forgiven?
no empirical evidence
Rise, take up your bed and walk?
Must have evidence
This seems a lot harder
It seems that Jesus has moved from the easier to the harder...
Healing comes through his words
Forgiveness comes through his cross
Words can heal. but only death can forgive.
What is the real miracle in the story?
The greatest miracle is the forgiveness
If Jesus does the greatest thing of all, forgive his sins, then he will do the lesser as well, heal your body.
We may think our greatest need in life is
Financial
The need for friends
A spouse
Peace and quiet
But God knows our greatest need, He knows that what we truly need is forgiveness of sin
Jesus is accused
The felt need was not the greatest need of the man
Jesus is vindicated.
He address the greatest need
The felt need was not the greatest need of the man
***The main problem in any persons life is not his circumstances, but his sin***
AND WE SERVE A GREAT GOD WHO CARES ENOUGH TO FORGIVE US
AND WE SERVE A GREAT GOD WHO NOT ONLY FORGIVES, BUT ALSO CARES ABOUT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES
Jesus then heals the man
Mark 2:10-12
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 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!”
Son of Man
Son of Man
Why does Jesus call himself Son of Man? What does it mean?
Son of Adam, second Adam = dominion of earth has been restored
Ezekiel is called Son of Man
Jesus is a new Ezekiel
What did Ezekiel do?
Announced temple distruction
On the other side of that distruction there would be restoration and a new exodus
Daniel
Son of man rides on the clouds
Accends to the ancient of Days and is given dominion and authority
Nations are beasts in Daniel
As Adam has authority over the beast of the fields, The Second Adam has authroity over the beasts that are nations - dominioin over all the world
This God who has dominion over the whole world has looked upon you in your needy state, he has looked upon me in my needy state - and he has met our greatest need, he has through the blood of Christ forgiven our sins.
With his words he gives us healing
Does that mean we don’t have to worry about bodily/physical issues?
But it took his death to give us forgiveness
NO! Jesus forgives (the greatest) and healed (secondary) - Jesus does them both.
He has met your greatest need, and if he has done this, he will certainly meet all your other needs as well.
We go to him in faith for forgiveness, and we go to him in faith on behalf of others, we go to him in faith for all of our needs. And we walk by faith, we walk in allegiance to our king, we walk knowing that all of our needs will be met at the feet of Jesus.