Mark 2:1-5 / Undeterred

Mark 2:1–5 ESV

1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 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, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Characteristics of a Missionary:

A Missionary...

Knows the answer is Jesus

This point isn’ really referencing one verse but the story as a whole.

There was one central focus

Get him to Jesus.

We don’t have enough details..

They probably didn’t know who Jesus really was.

But they still knew He was the answer.

They probably didn’t know He was the one who would say,

I AM the way, truth, life....nobody come to the Father except through me

Miracles

Rejection

Cross

Holy Spirit

Church 2000 years

They couldn’t have know any of that

and yet they knew He was the answer

Today … We know all of those things about Jesus.

Mark 2:3 ESV

3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.

And they came...

Who is “they”?

Wouldn’t it be cool to do something good enough to get honorable mention in the Bible.

You think years later they were still alive when the Gospels were written and read...

Tells people, “I was one of the four.”

Nobody knows who they are

BUT GOD KNOWS.

and that’s enough.

Embraces their role as intercessor

Intercessor: “One who intervenes on behalf of another, especially in prayer.” Oxford Dictionary.

Many came to Jesus that day.

But they did something that set them apart.

They stopped to get their friend

and brought him to Jesus.

Could they not have rushed to the house to get a seat?

They seemed to understand

I want to be with Jesus

But their is someone who needs it more.

Jesus is the great intercessor

Who gave his life on our behalf

Because we couldn’t do it

We are called to be like Jesus

We are called to be intercessors

We are called to put our own desires aside

and bring people to Jesus

Sometimes that is hard to do, you say....

Mark 2:4 ESV

4 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.

Couldn’t this picture be symbolic of the average church today?

I’d love to go to Jesus but their are so many things in my way.

Some of which are the other people who are already with Jesus … “The Church”

Wouldn’t you agree that the church today is filled with people who are content that they found a seat.

Think about those at the door.

Many of them (maybe most) are there because Jesus performed some miracles.

Four men come up carrying a man on a bed.

Don’t you think they knew why he was there.

Did they move?

Were they worried about being displaced?

It’s not what Jesus will do among us who are here. But what He wants to do through us to those who are still “out there”.

So let’s not be a church like those who were crowded around our lord.

Let’s be like the four who were on mission to bring their friend to Jesus.

Mark 2:4 ESV

4 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.

“They removed the roof above Him...”

But when that failed...

Let make sure we understand this scene.

This was some flimsy roof (5 men + bed)

Tiles... (Luke 5:17-26)

Bit of roof falling to the floor

Beam of sun breaks through

They kept going (whole bed let down)

A Missionary...

Doesn’t wait for permission.

This pretty radicle.

Radicle is how we describe ISIS

We don’t want to be like them.

We are not called to force anyone

We aren’t called to kill

But shouldn’t we be radicle for the Gospel

We want to be respectful and kind

But were aren’t to be timid

Believes in the Grace of Jesus

Mark 2:5 ESV

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

I wonder if those guys ever thought,

You think this is going to work?

Through all the obstacles and effort to get to Him

What they found was a loving Savior who was please for to forgive the sins of those who come to Him.