Inside Out
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Mark 2:
1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
Again, word got out that Jesus was about, and so many people came that there was no more room, wouldn't that be a great thing to happen here? So much so that people couldn't even get into the door!
Why did they come
There were no other special guests or celebrity speakers, no worship bands or choirs, no stage production or light shows, only Jesus. He was the attraction. He was what everyone was excited about.
Jesus preached the word.
Notice that this wasn't a Sunday morning in the synagogue, it was during the week in a home. It's a different atmosphere when people get into the word of God outside of the church building. It's more personal, not because we are supposed to, but because we want to.
When we approach Him out of love and surrender rather than obligation and appearance, we actually get to experience Him.
3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.
this man was in so bad a shape, that he could not walk, but had to be carried. A person suffering to the point of helplessness. He had to depend on others for things to be done. We all know people like this don’t we?
The compassion of these 4 men to be willing to carry him to Christ, having faith that reaching Him would be all they needed to do.
But it would prove to be a little more challenging than they thought.
4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
Mark 2:4
Seeing that they could not get near Jesus, they did not give up, but found a way to Him. It cost them extra time and effort, but they were determined to do all that they could to get this man to Jesus.
They had to fight to get inside.
Seeing that they could not get near Jesus, they did not give up, but found a way to Him. It cost them extra time and effort, but they were determined to do all that they could to get this man to Jesus.
How many people today would agree to help someone? how many of those people would be willing to go the extra mile after seeing that there were unforeseen obstacles in the way? Too many of us are not willing to help others out, and some that are, will only help until it requires too much from them.
I’m guilty! I offered to help someone, but then backed out because it was taking me too far out of my comfort zone.
Those truly after God's own heart will do whatever it takes to help others reach Christ.
These men went the extra mile to bring this man to Jesus.
Let’s look at what happens:
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
When Jesus saw their faith, He didn’t heal the man of his physical sickness, but forgave him of his sins. The man came for physical healing, but instead he recieved salvation.
Sometimes we ask God for the temporary when what He wants for us is the eternal! What He has for us is far greater than what we ask for.
Which one do you value more?!
How do you think this man and his friends felt after this? To be carried all this way for Jesus to heal him only to have Jesus say, I forgive you! That's great, but it's not what I wanted. I wanted to walk again! What God gives us is usually not what we think it should be is it?
How do you think this man and his friends felt after this? To be carried all this way for Jesus to heal him only to have Jesus say, I forgive you! That's great, but it's not what I wanted. I wanted to walk again! What God gives us is usually not what we think it should be is it?
But we don't get to see their reaction or their response because right away, something else happens.
Jesus works from the inside out.
But we don't get to see their reaction or their response because right away, something else happens.
6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
The scribes are angered over Jesus' words. Are you claiming to be God? Only God can forgive sins.
the scribes are angered over Jesus' words. Are you claiming to be God? Only God can forgive sins.
They are correct. Only God can forgive sins. Jesus is God in the flesh, on the earth and above it.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus is God, sent to us as the Word of God for the forgiveness of our sins.
The physical sickness is merely a result of internal sin. Sin is the cause of all of our ailments. The things we struggle with in this world are the effects of the sin we have chosen, the sin that was chosen from the very beginning. (Adam and Eve).
The outer physical sickness is merely a result of internal sin. Sin is the cause of all of our ailments. The things we struggle with in this world are the effects of the sin we have chosen, the sin that was chosen from the very beginning. (Adam and Eve).
Christ is more interested in treating the cause of our suffering than the symptoms of it.
Jesus works from the inside out.
So let’s look at Jesus’ response to the murmurings of these scribes:
8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?
Jesus responds to the thoughts these men were having. If you think you can keep secrets from God, think again.
Which is easier?
Anyone can say 'you are forgiven'. Any priest or pastor can say the words after a prayer, but only Jesus forgives sin based on grace. There is no one else that can do that, no religion, no law, no tradition, ONLY JESUS.
But since you are skeptical, watch this.....
10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
I can imagine this man lying there listening to Jesus address these scribes and likely dealing with his own doubts about what was happening. He had to make his own choice to believe in the words, power, and authority of Jesus and stand up and walk. What if had chosen not to believe, not to stand? What if had chosen to lay there in his own doubt and fear? He would not have been healed, the people would not have seen his testimony and God would not have been glorified.
Jesus forgave the man of his sins for the man's own eternity, but the healing of his legs was for the others. So that he could be a walking testimony to the power and authority of Jesus Christ.
He went out into the presence of them ALL! And they glorified God.
The Point
This was the point. His will is far greater than what you and I have going on in our lives. things that God does for you and I are not just for you and I. They are done so that we can go out into the presence of ALL and be testimony to who He is so that He may be glorified through us.
Jesus came for the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of the relationship with God that we were created to have.
Where are you in this process today?
Outside, trying to get in.
If you are here this morning, sick, crippled and suffering because of the sin you life, Jesus can take that from you. He knows your heart and hears your cries and waits for you to surrender you life to Him. So that He can forgive your sins and bring you into His love, hope, mercy, and grace, so that you don't have to live the rest of your life and spend your eternity apart from Him. Will you surrender to Him today and make this day the first day of the rest of your life? Your way is not blocked this morning, all you have to do is make the choice to believe in Christ and stand up and walk.
Inside, doubting the power of Jesus inside of you, making excuses for why you can’t get up and walk.
Inside, doubting the power of Jesus inside of you, making excuses for why you can’t get up and walk.
Jesus didn’t forgive you of your sins and tell you to get up and walk if He didn’t have a purpose for you to do so.
When we doubt His love, power, authority, we become like the crowd, blocking the way for others to get to Christ because you refuse to see their needs and your responsibility to make a way for them.
This is not ok! It’s not ok to sit in the crowd and consume Christ week after week without taking seriously the charge of the application of His word to our lives!
The church today needs to proclaim in its words and deeds the same offer of forgiveness and reconciliation. We, as the body of Christ, need to reclaim the power promised to us by God, given to us by Jesus, and sustained in us through the Holy Spirit to take this message with love and authority to the sick in our lives. How far are you willing to go to bring others to Christ?
Jesus brings us in so that He can send us back out for His glory.
He works from the inside out.
Invitation
