Healed Through Challenges

Many times we face challenges in life and we give in instead of persevering. I noticed something in this morning’s text. We have a paraplegic man who has a desire to be healed but he has some obstacles to overcome before he can get healed. This miracle is covered in all three of the synoptic gospels. It’s in Mark and Luke that we get account of the roof being torn off to lower the man down to Jesus.

I must admit that there have been times in my life that challenges have presented themselves. The challenges have been so great that it derailed my efforts.

Yet something as important as healing surely must take priority.

As Jesus was preaching the word to this packed house, five nameless men arrived. One was a paralytic. Was he born this way? Did he become paralyzed by some tragic event? Was his paralysis the result of sin? We are not told. The text only tells us that four men carried this invalid to Jesus.

These four men encounter a problem. Verse 3 and 4 says 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, (Mk 2:3–4).

These four friends have and issue. The text does not call them friends. But their actions make it clear they had a special relationship to this paralytic. They carried him to Jesus. In our day, a person with paralysis can live with relative independence. That was not the case in Jesus’ day. Without assistance, a paralytic was helpless. John 5 records the story of a crippled man that lay by the POOL OF BETHESDA for 38 years, because no one would help him into the pool. But this paralytic had four friends who cared enough to help him overcome his condition. In Acts 3, another crippled man was laid at the BEAUTIFUL GATE of the temple to beg for money from the worshipers. But did they try to get him help beyond the gate? These stretcher-bearers loved their friend so much that they took him to Jesus for healing. How to you overcome obstacles? You must think out of the box! you must try something you never tried before. You must challenge yourself to try .

THESE Men BELIEVED IN JESUS. Verse 4 says: “And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.”

The houses had flat roofs made of wood planks covered with branches, thatch, and mud. Accessed by ladder, these roofs were used like patio decks. The stretcher-bearers carried the paralytic up the ladder, dug through the roof, and lowered the paralytic at Jesus’ feet. They were determined to get him to Jesus. The presence of the crowd could not stop them. The potential anger of the homeowner could not stop them. The possibility of rebuke from Jesus could stop them. Their friend had a need only Jesus could meet. They had to get him to Jesus. Do you have loved-ones whose lives are in paralysis? It may not be physical. But they are nonetheless crippled, impaired, and broken. Do you believe Jesus can help them? Then grab your end of the stretcher. Tear up the roof. Do whatever it takes to get them to Jesus. Do you have an issue that you know only Jesus can handle. What will you do when you run into challenge? Today we miss our miracles because we allow the least little thing stop us. Some of us has used the pandemic as an excuse not to come to church. Not only will you not come to the sanctuary and I do understand that but you wont even get on line to watch! Obstacles and challenges prevent us from getting our miracles!

That leads me to my first point

Forgiveness comes when we move beyond our challenges.

Preachers do not like their sermons interrupted. But Jesus did not get angry when these men interrupted his message to lower the paralytic to him. Verse 5 says Jesus “saw their faith.” This reference to faith may include the paralytic, but it focuses on the stretcher-bearers. Jesus saw their faith. It was evidenced by what they did, not by anything they said. There is a popular but false teaching that claims faith-filled words create reality. But scripture emphasizes that faith is seen more than it is heard. The profession of faith does not assume the possession of faith. James 2:17 says, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” These stretcher-bearers had living faith. Even if the paralytic didn’t believe, they did. Verse 5 says when Jesus their faith, he addressed the paralytic. Jesus addressed him with TENDER WORDS: “My son.” This is not a statement about his age. It is a term of endearment. Jesus cared about the man like a loving father cares for a troubled son.

Then Jesus addressed the man with TARGETED WORDS: “My son, your sins are forgiven.” The stretcher-bearers brought this paralytic to Jesus for healing, not forgiveness. This is the danger of coming to Jesus. He may give you what you need rather than what you want. Jesus is not preoccupied with felt needs. His priority is to minister to your biggest problem, which is not your physical condition or financial situation, or relationship status. Your biggest problem is that God is holy and you are not. And you will have to answer to God for how you have lived your life. Romans 3:10-12 says: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” We are guilty sinners with no righteous merit to commend for divine approval. We cannot reach up to God but God has reached down to us through the death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus came to solve your biggest problem by providing forgiveness of sins at the cross. I read, “Forgiveness is the greatest miracle Jesus ever performs. It meets the greatest need; it costs the greatest price; and it brings the greatest blessings and the most lasting results.”

Overcoming your challenges will bring critics

Mark does not tell us how the paralytic or the stretcher-bearers responded to Jesus’ announcement of forgiveness. He instead turns his attention to the scribes. The scribes were the theological scholars of the day. When they heard Jesus declare the paralytic’s sins forgiven, verse 6 says they were “questioning in their hearts.” When we speak of the “heart” metaphorically, we refer to the emotions. But in scripture, the “heart” symbolizes the intellect more than the emotions. The words of Jesus did not make the scribes feel a certain way as much as it caused them draw negative conclusions about Jesus. “Why does this man speak like that?” they asked with contempt. “He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark does not tell us how the paralytic or the stretcher-bearers responded to Jesus’ announcement of forgiveness. He instead turns his attention to the scribes. The scribes were the theological scholars of the day. When they heard Jesus declare the paralytic’s sins forgiven, verse 6 says they were “questioning in their hearts.” When we speak of the “heart” metaphorically, we refer to the emotions. But in scripture, the “heart” symbolizes the intellect more than the emotions. The words of Jesus did not make the scribes feel a certain way as much as it caused them draw negative conclusions about Jesus. “Why does this man speak like that?” they asked with contempt. “He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?

”Their stubborn unbelief did not allow them believe in Jesus. But at least they had the theological integrity to draw the lines at the right places. Either Jesus is God or he is a blasphemer. There is no middle ground. It does not suffice to say Jesus was a mighty prophet or a good teacher or a moral example. If Jesus was not God he was a fraud who deserved to die on the cross for his sins. This was the conclusion of the scribes. “He is blaspheming,” they said.

Jesus demonstrated his deity by responding to the unexpressed questions the scribes asked in their hearts. Jesus did not merely read their expressions. He saw their hearts. That is divine omniscience. Omniscience means that God knows everything – known, unknown, and knowable.

“God not only sees men, he sees through them.” Jesus knew what the scribes were asking in their hearts. In verses 7-8, he answered their question with a question: “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?” This was a trick question. On one hand, it was easier for Jesus to say, “Your sins are forgiven.” Because forgiveness is a spiritual issue, no one could verify if Jesus truly forgave his sins. On the other hand, it was easier for Jesus to say, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” Jesus could heal him by cash but he would have to forgive him on credit. Jesus would have to pay for that forgiveness at the cross.

Finally he you overcome your challenges you will get your healing

in verse 11, Jesus says, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive – he said to the paralytic – “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” This is the first of fourteen times the title, “Son of Man,” appears in Mark. Mark 1:1 says: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the son of God.” This is the most important title ascribed to Jesus. Yet he refers to himself as the Son of Man. It may be that he used this self-description for its ambiguity. It can refer to humanity or deity. It can be a human being or a supernatural being. It can express humility or authority. Jesus could be calling himself a man or “The Man.” The hearer had to choose. But Jesus clearly uses the title here to state his divine authority: “that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive.”

In verse 5, Jesus gives forgiveness of sins. Here Jesus gives assurance of forgiveness. We need both. Guilt will burden you down without forgiveness and assurance.