Persecution for Forgiveness

Intro

Announcements, Sunday School

Homeless man story

Get my meal, streets of Chicago, wheelchair blind man who ate pizza, happy, then angry

Why the sudden shift?

We see something similar happen with Jesus in .

Body

Mark 2:1–2 NET

Now after some days, when he returned to Capernaum, the news spread that he was at home. So many gathered that there was no longer any room, not even by the door, and he preached the word to them.

Mark 2:

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Miracle Worker

Mark 2:3

Mark 2:3–4 NET

Some people came bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.When they were not able to bring him in because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus. Then, after tearing it out, they lowered the stretcher the paralytic was lying on.

Amazing! Like a super celebrity

Imagine the paralytic wondering if this will finally be what he needs

Mark 2:

Mark 2:5 NET

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

Not quite what the paralytic expects, yet his experience is great so far

Being paralyzed would cause people to wonder what your sins are

He wanted that to be solved so people wouldn’t question his sin

Jesus reversed it and found the solution

Priorities

If a paralyzed man is drowning in the middle of the ocean, which is more important: healing of paralysis, or saving from the water?

“your sins are forgiven” BAM!

Reverse solution. Now he knows he’s saved, so nothing else matters

Has power to Heal, Son of Man

Mark 2:6

Mark 2:6–8 NET

Now some of the experts in the law were sitting there, turning these things over in their minds:“Why does this man speak this way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Now immediately, when Jesus realized in his spirit that they were contemplating such thoughts, he said to them, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?

Human Garbage Cans = Pharisees

Jesus didn’t heal to heal, but healed to point to the most grand thing that just happened —> forgiveness

Has power to Heal, Son of Man

Jesus didn’t fit the equation

Ugly duckling to them

Pharisees claim only God can forgive

That was a fact, but they thought they didn’t need forgiveness!

Shiny, polished garbage can

We are like this sometimes

Mark 2:9

Mark 2:9–12 NET

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—he said to the paralytic—“I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.”And immediately the man stood up, took his stretcher, and went out in front of them all. They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Healing

Jesus didn’t heal to heal, but healed to point to the most grand thing that just happened —> forgiveness

Has power to Heal, Son of Man

Everyone glorified God!

Everyone left thinking about the miracle and who this Jesus is and that He has spiritual authority to forgive

Pharisees left with only one thought on their mind: wishing Jesus dead

Questions

Icebreaker: When was the last time you were jam-packed in a room to see a concert or hear someone speak? How was it?

In what ways do you believe Jesus has power? How does He display that power today?

In the ways that Jesus has power, do you ever ask Him to tap into His power to help you in some way? Anyone want to share?

Why were the Pharisees offended by Jesus forgiving the paralytic’s sins? What are some offensive things that Jesus says, and how does the world respond? (, , )

What ways do we as Christians create lifestyles or beliefs that can cause us to be offended by Jesus’ words and power?

Read and . Have you experience persecution as a result of following Jesus? If yes, is following Jesus still worth it? If you have not experienced persecution for following Jesus, why do you think you haven’t?

Closing

Who do you identify with?

Pharisees or paralytic man?

Our condition

Spiritual paralysis

Spiritually dead, or spiritually unable to do anything on our own

Do you know what Jesus can do beyond what you want Him to do immediately?

He makes everything right spiritually

He has the power to heal

Approaching Jesus

Paralytic didn’t know what He needed

Approaching Jesus = no guarantee of what you want, but given what you need the most

We don’t know what happened to the paralytic after this happened, but maybe became a disciple

Becoming a Disciple

Many of those healed by Jesus were heckled by Pharisees

Your Lord is better than all others, so you’ll be treated as if you think you’re better than others.

Reality check: the implications of following Jesus and having access to an unlimited forgiveness distributor, and other world religion’s thoughts.

Islamic offense

Nobody would have had a problem with Jesus healing, but He came as Truth against their lies, Light against their darkness, God against their idolatry and self-righteousness

Homeless man would have had no problem if I prayed for his health problems, and I did, but there was more to it: his posture before God

You’ll always

As a disciple who has been changed by the forgiveness of God, follow Jesus in the midst of being hated to boldly declare the forgiveness He offers.