Urgency pt2

This passage in Mark 2 is one of my favorites. I have preached it many times. I love what is taking place with the men who destroy the roof, the paralyzed man, and most of all with Jesus.

But I will admit, I have never noticed, or paid much attention to the “immediately” in this passage. It is subtle. And didn’t really stand out until I started studying the use of the word in the Gospel of Mark.

And yet, the two uses of the word here show 2 different reactions to what Jesus says to us.

I want you to take a moment and think about how you respond when Jesus tells you a truth. Do you question or do you believe?

I am not talking about having doubts or struggling in your faith. I am talking about when you are at a point where Jesus comes to you with an answer, a reply, a truth…what is your response? (talk about the word “home” in my personal devo this week)

Because that is what is on display here in this passage is the difference between someone who wants their own truth, their own religion their own terms…and someone who is fully dependent on God for their rescue. Who is URGENT about the words and teaching of Jesus.

So let’s set the scene- Jesus is in a house- possibly’s Peter’s house- and the crowds mentioned in chapter 1 have found Him. And they are clamoring for His attention. And He is preaching to them- an SRO crowd- with people literally out the door hanging on every word.

Basically every pastor’s dream. LOL

And then come four guys. The faithful friends of the paralyzed guy, who are not daunted by the crowds. They can’t get in the door, then they will make their own.

The Gospel according to Mark The Authority of the Son of Man (2:1–12)

Being part of the crowd around Jesus is not the same as being a disciple of Jesus. The crowd stands and observes; disciples must commit themselves to action, as illustrated by the plucky squad of four

(Quick side about being desperate to get someone we love to Jesus- appeal for evangelism)

And when they get him there…Jesus forgives his sins. Maybe not the result their were looking for, but the purpose is far greater than one man walking.

Remember, the miracles that Jesus performed were not a show. They were demonstrations of His greater power- His mission from the Father- to save people from their sins. That is why Jesus is here.

v6-7

Confronted with this statement, the scribes are appalled. Jesus has said something that they refuse to believe. And their denial of His words are rooted in their denial of His Person. They do not believe that He is God.

Let’s stop right here for a moment. Who do you believe Jesus is? Not who do you “say” He is, many of us can give the right answers, but who do you believe He is?

Mark (1) Over the Forgiveness of a Paralytic (2:1–12)

What they failed to recognize was that the reign of God had drawn near in Jesus and that he had authority to act on God’s behalf.

Because who you believe He is has a direct bearing on what you believe about what He says. Do you recognize who Jesus is and what He has done? He has brought the Kingdom near, invited you in, and given you the opportunity to follow Him.

In our day and time, we have a lot of religious people, church people. nice people who give a lot of lip service to who Jesus is. But the way they live their lives, conduct their business, run their homes, handle their finances, cast their votes, treat other people, respond to enemies…is NOTHING like what Jesus said. And when confronted with this reality, the typical reaction is DOUBT.

Is that what Jesus really meant? Is that REALLY what the Bible says? Is that REALLY what is expected of me? Because the expectations of Jesus are not in line with what is normal or acceptable in society.

And we are reaping what we have sown in this doubting in our nation and state today. There is a reason the influence of the church is shrinking. Why we are not trusted. Why we are ignored. We have not been consistent. And the end results are disasterous.

(Talk about the controversy over “Amen” in Congress this week- Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver- former UMC pastor-”so be it”- this is a result not of political correctness or progressivism gone wild…it is the result of biblical illiteracy…and who is responsible for teaching that- WE ARE!!!!)

What I love about this is Jesus confronts this immediately! (surprise, surprise) He jumps right in the big middle of them-

v8-10

He calls them out, not for their lack of faith, but for their unwillingness to take Him- God in the flesh- at His Word!

How often do you do that? God says you are something and you come back with “Yeah right.” God tells you how to be obedient and you respond “Maybe” or “We will see.” God comforts you amidst trial and you blow Him off. the list could go on...

God is not going to leave your doubt unconfronted.

Mark Jesus and the Paralytic (2:1–12)

It is one thing to claim the power to forgive sin. That only requires a touch of megalomania, a phenomenon observed with surprising frequency in our own time. Jesus’ claim to forgive sin was not, however, an idle boast. He understood the objection that the teachers of the law harbored unspoken in their hearts, so he posed a question: Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take your mat and walk”? Then he told the man on the mat to get up and walk. In this account Jesus gave a visible justification for a claim to an invisible power. At the point when the paralytic stood up, the world of tangible forms served as a sign for a spiritual truth. The man’s physical disease symbolized his spiritual condition, and Jesus’ power to heal his body authenticated the claim to restore his standing before God.

Because what is at stake is YOU!

So how should we respond?

v11-12

When He says something, take Him at His Word and ACT!

The Gospel according to Mark The Authority of the Son of Man (2:1–12)

Jesus can heal a man of physical paralysis; the larger question is whether he can heal the scribes of spiritual paralysis. The scribes are no less dependent on Jesus than is the paralytic for the work of God, but their learning and status make them less aware of their need for it. Jesus wants them to know

Some of us are spiritually paralyzed. Jesus says we are forgiven and healed and called and we say…really? Well if I was why this or when will this end? We are more like the scribes than we realize. And we need to be more like the man on the mat.

To do that we must be wholly dependent on Jesus. And take Him at His Word.

Why won’t you do that today?