Jesus Heals a Paralytic

Introduction

It is an honor and blessing to be here at Pearl Baptist Church. I would like to thank those who have been prayer warriors for my wife and I as we have been inching our way into the ministry. We have always felt right at home when we have come to visit here at Pearl.

Text
If you would turn in your Bible to Mark 2.1

1And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Title
Today I want to talk about “Some Characteristics of true friends”

Ralph Waldo Emerson said: The only way to have a friend is to be one.

As we look at this evenings text we will discover what is means to be a friend.

The Bible says:

I am guessing that we have never been faced with the dilemma as to where we would be required to prove our love towards a friend by giving up our own life. How much do we honestly esteem our friends? How much do we really care for them? Today we are going to look at some friends in action.

A real friend is a guy who walks in when everybody else walks out.—Anonymous

I. Friends help a paralytic (2:1–4)

A. True Friends will intervene (2:1–3)

1And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house

First thing we see in this passage is that Jesus is back in His adopted hometown of Capernaum. He has just finished up what we would call an evangelism tour which threw him into the spotlight. Jesus had become famous.
Jesus had called His first disciples, He was driving out evil spirits.  Jesus healed many people along the way including a man with leprosy. Jesus was busy being about the Fathers business. In fact the Bible said that so much was going on in his life prior to this that He had to get away from everything to get alone with the Father. (If Christ need to get along to pray how much more do we need to do this? )In this verse He was back in Capernaum probably at the house of Peter. The word noised simply means that people heard that He was in the house.

2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

This little sentence indicates the great object of his ministry. The exercise of miraculous power was subordinated to this; the miracles being simply designed to fix the attention upon the Teacher as One sent from God.

News traveled fast even before telephones, email, and television. The people started gathering at the house where Jesus was probably wanting to catch up on some rest. Instead of turning people away Jesus welcomed the crowd and saw an opportunity to preach the word. The good news of the gospel, that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, for the forgiveness of sins. What a scene it was, seeing people coming from all over to hear the word preached by the Master Pastor.

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

The fact that four men were carrying this paralytic to the house shows were determined. I am sure that it cause quite a stir. Based on commentaries there may have been a small crowd of friends and family following along.

B. True friends will do whatever it takes (2:4)

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

The men ran into a roadblock once they arrived at the house. Scripture says people where all over the place and they could not get the man to Jesus. Think about this for a moment. People where all over the place. Here comes four guys walking up with a paralytic. The crowd was too concerned about their selves to let this group to Jesus. This mob of people was demonstrating selfishness.

Showing persistence they came up with a solution. They climbed up on the house and tore away the roof tiles to lower their friend down to the One who could heal him physically and spiritually.

II. Friends witness the healing of the paralytic (2:5, 11–12)

A. His spiritual healing (2:5)

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee

When Christ looked up and saw a man been lowered down by his friend he realized that they all had a great deal of faith and determination. Christ used the affectionate term “son” to address the man to tell him that his sins were forgiven. This paralytic may have believed that he was paralyzed due to sin so he would have welcomed forgiveness of his sins before healing.

When our Lord looked down, He saw the palsied man lying on his mat; and immediately Jesus went to the heart of the man’s problem—sin. Not all sickness is caused by sin (see John 9:1–3), but evidently this man’s condition was the result of his disobedience to God. Even before He healed the man’s body, Jesus spoke peace to the man’s heart and announced that his sins were forgiven! Forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs. It meets the greatest need; it costs the greatest price; and it brings the greatest blessing and the most lasting results.

B. His physical healing (2:11–12)

11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

Jesus makes the statement to get you mat and go. His work was complete.

12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

The man got up and walked out past everyone. One can only imagine the joy in his heart! Everyone was celebrating with him about this awesome thing they had witnessed. True friends rejoice when great things happens to those whom they love. We say to each other “Oh I am so happy for you!” but are we really?  I think a lot of times we say that but on the inside there are feelings of envy, bitterness, jealousy, and many other sinful thoughts. I imagine these guys rejoiced in this event.

C. Conclusion

My friend

My friend, I stand in judgment now,

And feel that you are to blame somehow,

On Earth I walked with you day by day,

And never did you point the way.

You knew the Lord in truth and glory,

But never did you tell the story.

My knowledge then was very dim;

You could have led me safe to Him.

Though we lived together here on Earth,

You never told me of the second birth,

And now I stand this day condemned,

Because you failed to mention Him.

You taught me many things, that’s true;

I called you “friend” and trusted you.

But I learn now that it’s too late,

And you could have kept me from this fate.

We walked by day and talked by night,

And yet you showed me not the light.

You let me live, and love, and die,

You knew I’d never live on high.

Yes, I called you “friend” in life,

And trusted you through joy and strife.

And, yet, on coming to this dreadful end,

I cannot, now, call you “my friend.”

Beloved which person are you in this story. Are you the ones who where selfish and made it hard on the guys carrying the paralytic?  Are you the faithful one who was determined to get the friend to Christ?  Perhaps you are the one who need to be forgiven of you sins and need to meet Christ.