Sermon Tone Analysis

Through the eyes of Jesus

Forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs.

It meets the greatest need; it cost the greatest price; and it brings the greatest blessing and the longest lasting results.

Today as we look at our study passage (Mk2:1-12) try to look through the eyes of Jesus.

As He looks down: He sees a paralytic; He had a problem, a sin problem more than the physical ailment.

As He looked around: He see’s the critics who came out to check Him out and look for ways to accuse Him

As He looked within: He sees the heart of man; they had a critical spirit and were accusing Him of blasphemy.

Now with your bibles let us look at the passage and then break it down.

Mk2:3-4

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

First off we can tell He is back in Nazareth, in Capernaum, in the Galilee region.

This is Jesus home town.

We can guess he is at home, the family home, though Peter, Andrew, John and James all lived there too, so could be in one of their homes too.

we can see word was out that He was home and many gathered.

Then we can see what Jesus was doing “speaking the word to them.”

(v.2)

This brings us to the narrative of the story now, you can find this in all the synoptic gospels (Mt9:1-8, Lk5:17-26 as well as our passage today).

Now having discussed the location and the set up there are:

Two areas I would like to focus on today:

The Narrative

The Lessons to learn

I.

The Narrative

We know the place, we can even know the time (see 1:35ff; 2:1); we know the location, a house; and we know the setting, it was filled with people.

So now looking at the story, the narrative before us.

Some general questions:

What happens in (vv.3-4)?

What did Jesus see (v.5)?

What did Jesus do v.5)?

With friends like these, look at them; They were deeply concerned for their friend and brought him to the One they believed in, had faith in, knew could heal him.

They were men of action not just of prayer, they brought the friend and made an effort to get him before Jesus.

They were not discouraged by difficult circumstances (boy can we learn from that).

Here is this paralytic, confined to a mat, having to be carried around by others.

He was helpless and hopeless and had to count on others.

We too were hopeless and helpless for we could not save ourselves.

(Mk2:1-5; Eph2:8-9)

Can we save ourselves?

How about can we save others?

The answer is no to both, but this man had friends who with great effort brought him to Jesus who could save him, heal him.

Are we willing to make an effort to be a friend like this who brings someone, or people to the Lord?

They made a way through the roof, they did not destroy, the roofs there in that region with thatch roofs, flat, tiled with wooden cross beams overlaid with branches and dried mud, to it was easily fixed after they were done.

We too may need to help do some digging for a friend to be able to help them.

But there is help (vv.4-5;

Mt9:2)

What did Jesus see in these friends who were willing to do some digging because they had deep concern for their friend?

May our faith be visible too!

Jesus seeing their faith tell him his sins are forgiven; Mt says to be of good cheer too.

So we see the forgiving before the healing in this case don’t we?

We will see and hear Jesus purpose shortly.

So from the helpful friends we come to the hostile foes (vv.6-10;

Lk5:21; JN2:24-25)

Now I have to say this, the religious leaders were right in checking out this teaching from this person from Nazareth, not of line of Aaron, for they were the ones who were responsible (Deu13; focus on vv.1-5; just mentioning here, they would have to see if what was said comes true to see if really a prophet or if what they said was against the scripture).

Though they came with wrong heart, a reasoning heart (vv.6, 8) they were looking for reason to accuse.

What were the scribes doing (v.6)?

Scribes were reasoning in their hearts

What were they saying (v.7)?

Scribes were not speaking they were silently accusing.

Can we do this too at times, silently accuse people of things and not say anything at all?

What did Jesus do (v.8)?

Jesus knows the heart of man and knew they were reasoning

We know that only God can forgive sins, and Jesus just told the man his sins are forgiven (v.5) so Jesus is saying He is God and shortly will prove it.

Let e back up with some scripture to help fill out the passage more

In addition to the Scribes, Luke says Pharisee’s were there too (Lk5:21)

And John gives a little more here about Jesus

This now brings us to the point, the goal, what Jesus wanted to do (vv.9-11)

and the results (v.12)

What did Jesus say (v.9)?

Jesus asks a question; it is the same question we should be asking too, what is more important the forgiveness or the healing?

Who is He speaking to (v.10) in first part, then in the second part?

He is speaking the scribes who were reasoning withing themselves

In the second part He starts to address the paralytic

What does Jesus claim, who does Jesus claim to be (v.10)?

Jesus in speaking to the scribes tells them He is the Son of man and because such He has the authority to forgive sins.

What were the instructions (v.11)?

Get up!

So from the friends faith bringing him; to now calling his faith to come into action by getting up.

What was the result (v.12)

What was the results (v.12)?

The man activated his faith

The people were amazed

The people were glorifying God

They acknowledged they had not seen anything like this before.

And believe it or not we have not gotten to the second point for today as of yet.

We have seen a man healed, people amazed, Jesus authority and power proven and God glorified, that now brings us to the second point.

II.

Lessons to learn

From helpful friends to hostile foes to a happy finale, it is good, but there is more we can glean from our passage.

Power and authority of Christ to forgive sins (Mk2:5, 10-11; Lk7:44-48; Lk23:39-43)

Jesus has shown us the power and authority to forgive sins in our passage as well.

M

And you can look at:

Lk7:44-48 - with the sinful woman washing Jesus feet

Lk23:39-43 - with the thief on the cross

Forgive sins in heaven as well as on earth to those who obey the gospel (Mt26:28; Eph1;7; Mk15:16; Act10:42-43; and restoration 1Jn1:7-9)

Jesus continues to have power to forgive sin, and restore a wayward Christian even from heaven, all made possible by the shedding of His blood.

To those who obey the gospel

and restoration by forgiveness

Another lesson, the greatness, preciousness of friends of faith, so be a friend of faith!

(Mk2:5; Heb10:24; Gal6:1-2)

Remember what Jesus saw?