Luke 5:12-26 Building the kingdom. Part 2 Jesus power to forgive sin.
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 570 Mistake to Masterpiece
What was once termed Australia’s biggest “mistake” was later hailed as its greatest—although costly—masterpiece. This is the Sydney Opera House. The original cost estimate announced in 1957 was $7.2 million. The final cost in 1973 reached $110 million. Concerning this unique structure, the state premier of New South Wales said: “The cost has become a secondary consideration to the perfection of the achievement.”
As Jesus is beginning here to call people to follow him, become disciples, and make disciples, it almost appears as if he is making a mistake.
On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
We did not make it to verse 16 last week.
As Jesus popularity grew, it became more and more difficult for Jesus to make the time to do what was important to him.
But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
The more that Jesus had on his plate, the more important that it was for him to get away an pray.
This is an example for us in our own devotion and a challenge to our discipline.
Our need is equally great if not greater than Jesus.
We desperately need God’s help.
We need to withdraw to pray.
Our private prayer lives are the roots of fruitful service to God.
Building the kingdom through unexpected people.
Building the kingdom through unexpected people.
Jesus is building his kingdom through unexpected means.
Fishermen,
Fishermen,
A leprous man
A leprous man
Jesus reached out and touched this man, and rather than becoming unclean, the leprous man became clean.
Jesus can do what the ceremonial law couldn’t.
The law only tells what to do if a person becomes clean, but doesn’t tell how to make someone clean.
A disabled man.
A disabled man.
We now in verse 17 see Jesus again teaching.
The parallel to this passage we find in Mark chapter 2 tells us that this miracle took place in Capernaum.
If you would like to see where that it is, you may have a map in your Bible or you can look in the pew bibles.
This time though there is a group of religious leaders, Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there listening to him.
These men had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and even from Jerusalem.
This was a large crowd.
It is no surprise that they are there.
Someone who is attracting so much attention teaching religious things ought to be investigated carefully.
The same goes for teachers today.
There are teachers that gain fame and notoriety and are then played on TV, radio, or more importantly I think today shared on social media.
We must be careful who we are listening to and what they are teaching.
We must know our Bibles to know if someone is teaching truth or blowing smoke.
That is what these men were doing.
They were investigating Jesus.
This man from the middle of nowhere who has popped on the scene, making quite a scene really, and now calling followers.
In the context of what is happening culturally though, we know that these men are not looking to investigate Jesus teaching alone,
but they are also looking to see if he is going to cause a problem for them with the Romans.
There have already been men who have attempted to gain followers to rebel against the Romans.
As we read our bibles we are introduced to a group called the zealots, they were very radical, extremists we would think of them as today.
The Pharisees and scribes don’t want that trouble, they don’t want to rock the boat.
To a point, they are looking for the Messiah to come, but they are happy with the status quo.
I don’t want to go any further down that rabbit trail because that is not what this passage is about,
However I would like you think about those statements in regards to the church and our own society today.
Are we looking for Jesus return, or are we happy with the status quo? Happy where our lives are at?
Or as I mentioned last week, are we willing to let Jesus cleanse us, to clean us up?
Back to our text, people were coming from all over to see Jesus.
And an interesting phrase that we need to look at comes in the end of verse 17.
And the power of the lord was with him to heal.
The way this is translated almost gives the idea that Jesus doesn’t always have the power to heal.
That is not the intention of the text though.
A very literal translation of the phrase might read something like
And the power of the Lord he was in order to heal them.
The verb translated he was is a verb of being, to be.
This is very difficult to bring out in the text, but it is really more statement about Jesus identity that his ability.
Jesus was, Jesus is the power to heal.
We saw this already with the leprous man.
The best rendering of this text I think is in the HCSB
The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 5
And the Lord’s power to heal was in Him.
Not that at times it was not in him.
But that it had always been in him, but here specifically he would use it.
Illustration about something always there but not always used?
Perhaps we might think of it like an appliance in the kitchen, or a tool in the garage.
It is there but do you always use every appliance or every tool?
Its not that he didn’t always have the power, but that was the tool he was using.
Verse 18 introduces for us this next set of characters in our story.
And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,
These men were persistent, they couldn’t get to Jesus, so they got creative.
but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.
Luke, Vol. 1—That You May Know the Truth (Believing Jesus Can Heal (. 18, 19))
The typical roof of that day consisted of timbers laid parallel to each other about two or three feet apart.
Sticks were closely laid crosswise upon the timbers, and the structure was padded with reeds, thistles, and twigs.
The whole thing was overlaid with about a foot of earth, which was packed down to minimize leakage.
All told, the roof was about two feet thick.
During the spring, grass flourished on these primitive roofs. So the paralytic’s friends had their work cut out for them—they were performing a mini-excavation.
I can almost picture the scene in my mind.
Jesus, sitting an teaching in the building,
All of the sudden small bits of dirt perhaps begin falling, Jesus continuing to teach as if nothing is happening.
People inside starting to look around, wondering what is going on.
When all of the sudden, a whole is opened up and a man is lowered down.
And how does Jesus respond?
And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
Jesus saw their faith.
This begins to show the importance of community.
Was it the paralyzed mans idea to go to Jesus, was it his friends, we don’t know.
Perhaps some of the men were family with the paralyzed man.
What we do know is that these people loved their friend.
They believed Jesus could help.
They overcame some significant obstacles to bring this man to Jesus.
They cared about him, and their love they had for him was part of the faith they had.
We might wonder at this picture, what Jesus thought.
This is essentially what was happening with Him.
His being lowered down to earth so that he might make the sacrifice for our sins.
And that is exactly what Jesus does for this man.
Because of all of their faith.
He tells him
Man, your sins are forgiven you.
Did Jesus tell him he was healed?
Not of his paralysis no.
Why did Jesus say your sins are forgiven?
Because despite his physical distress, his greatest need was for forgiveness.
What good would it be for this man to have a healed body only to enter eternity without Jesus.
We need to have this eternal perspective in our minds.
Forgiveness was the far greater work.
So much so that it would cost Jesus His life.
This is the same idea Jesus teaches in the sermon on the mount when he teaches about lust.
And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
This man being brought to Jesus is a beautiful picture of our coming to Jesus for forgiveness.
In the task of fishing for men, what are we hoping to accomplish?
We are hoping to bring others to Jesus.
We bring them because we have faith that Jesus alone can forgive.
Just as this man’s friends or family were helpless to see him healed.
We are helpless to see other people healed of their sin.
The only place we have to go is Jesus.
So we must tell others about Him, and more than that, we must take them to Jesus.
You know, we actually have it easier than these men did.
As Christians, what, or perhaps to state better, who do we have living inside of us?
The Holy Spirit.
We bring Jesus to the paralyzed people of this world everywhere we go.
Luke is seeking to draw us into the most important part of God’s message.
The gospel.
To good news as he quoted Isaiah back in chapter 4
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 (Through the Roof)
Jesus had preached the gospel, cast out demons, healed the sick, called disciples, and cleansed the leper.
But now he was meeting an even deeper need.
He was making a man right with God through the forgiveness of his sins—a gift that would last for all eternity.
What Jesus said to the paralytic he says to everyone who trusts in him.
He says it to anyone who comes to him in faith.
On the basis of his death on the cross—the killing penalty that he suffered for sinners—Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven”
A problem arises though.
Not out loud, but in the minds of the the scribes and pharisees.
Matt. and Mark help us to see this a little more clearly.
Mark 2:6 (ESV) Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,
Matthew 9:3 (ESV)
And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 (Reaction and Response)
These powerful religious leaders had come to investigate.
They had heard something about the gospel Jesus preached and the miracles he performed, but they wanted to see for themselves.
They were watching him with suspicion, reserving the right to reach their own conclusions about his person and ministry
Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 (Reaction and Response)
When Jesus claimed that he could forgive sins, they immediately objected.
“He can’t do that!” they said. “Only God can forgive a sinner!”
But Jesus perceived their thoughts and answered them our text tells us in verse 22.
There was a problem with their reasoning.
The problem stems from a lack of knowledge and a lack of belief.
Yes, only God can forgive a sinner, but Jesus really is God.
Jesus asked the scribes and Pharisees to ponder a question.
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
Logically our mind thinks it is easier to say your sins are forgiven.
The man laying before Jesus did not have his sins open and on display for all to see.
That however is the more difficult one, as the Pharisees understood.
You must have the authority to forgive sin to declare sin to be forgiven.
Jesus links the two together with his statement that follows.
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
Then Jesus acts so that all those present can know that he, the Son of Man had the authority to forgives sins.
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
Not surprisingly for us, the man rises and walks out, glorifying God.
But all in attendance were amazed and filled with awe.
Luke The Healing of the Paralytic and the Authority to Forgive Sin (5:17–26)
Jesus has just painted a picture that speaks more than a library full of books on Christology. He has backed up his words with action. God is vindicating Jesus’ claims. At crunch time Jesus applies his authority with great skill. As the paralytic walks, the question becomes who will walk with him and share the forgiveness Jesus has pictured. Fence-sitting is no longer possible, given the nature of Jesus’ claims.
But most still didn’t get it.
Jesus power to forgive sin is displayed.
Jesus power to forgive sin is displayed.
In both of these men and the miracles that were performed, we see more of Jesus authority put on display.
We see Jesus authority over sin put on display.
Jesus uses the seeming impossible thing, having the paralyzed man get up and walk, to show the even harder thing, the power to forgive sin.
Other than the picture of coming to Christ, another thing that we can take away from this passage is
The importance of community.
The importance of community.
Was the paralyzed man able to approach Jesus on his own?
Some men came, carrying on a mat a man who was paralyzed.
They tried to bring him before Jesus but could not get through.
They found a way though to bring him to Jesus.
This story provides for us a powerful example for our own evangelism efforts.
What people need more than anything is for someone to bring them to Jesus.
God is at work drawing people to himself.
He uses us to help them overcome obstacles and barriers.
We are part of the plan.
How often do we let little things get in the way of inviting a friend or coworker to church, or even having any sort of spiritual conversation with them.
Whatever the trouble, these men in our text, these men worked through it to bring their friend to Jesus.
Even something as simple as offering to pray for someone can have an impact.
What lengths are we willing to go to in order to introduce someone to Jesus?
The people around this paralyzed man, his community, were instrumental in bring him to Jesus.
That is true for you!
You can be instrumental in bringing someone to Jesus!
Community is also important in dealing with sin in our lives.
We don’t know why this man was paralyzed, but the picture we are provided is of him not being alone.
Satan tempts us to despair.
In dealing with sin in our lives, one of the greatest lies we often face is that we are alone in our sin.
I think this is especially prevalent when it comes to addictions.
Addictions are not just to drugs or alcohol either, there are plenty of things in this world that take the place of God in our lives.
To break free from the cycle of sin, we need open honest community.
We need fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to bring us to Jesus when we are down.
We need accountability.
None of this can happen without being open and honest with one another about our struggles.
The best place for this is through small groups and Bible studies.
That is part of what I hope we can accomplish through our men’s and lady’s studies.
Open, honest community, where we can grow in God and His word.
The article “What Good Is a Tree?” in Reader’s Digest explained that when the roots of trees touch, there is a substance present that reduces competition. In fact, this unknown fungus helps link roots of different trees—even of dissimilar species. A whole forest may be linked together. If one tree has access to water, another to nutrients, and a third to sunlight, the trees have the means to share with one another.
Like trees in a forest, Christians in the church need and support one another.
Another thing we can take away from these beginning passages of Luke is that as a Christian, you are
Called into God’s kingdom.
Called into God’s kingdom.
If you have trusted in Jesus as your Lord and savior, you are called into this new community that Jesus has built.
It is becoming increasingly difficult in the times we live in to not be distracted by the craziness of the world around us.
As we are called into God’s kingdom, are we willing to allow God to God to clean us up?
Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 Unclean! Unclean!
Leprosy is an ugly but accurate illustration of our spiritual condition before we are healed by the gospel.
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 5428 What Kind of Sinners in Church?
5428 What Kind of Sinners In Church?
The church of which Mr. Samuel Colgate, the great American businessman, was a member, entered into an agreement to make special prayer for the conversion of sinners. For some days they prayed earnestly.
One day applicants for church membership were invited to present themselves. A woman came forward. Heartbroken, she told her story of what a sinner she had been and how God had forgiven her for Christ’s sake, and she wished to slip into a corner of the church and have the fellowship of God’s people as she made the start for Heaven.
The silence was oppressive. Then a member arose and moved that action on the application be postponed. Mr. Colgate arose and said in substance: “I guess we made a blunder when we asked the Lord to save sinners. We did not specify what kind. I think we had better all ask God to forgive us for not specifying what kind of sinner we want saved. He probably did not understand what we wanted.” They all saw the point. The woman was received into fellowship.
—Quiet Hour Echoes
Luke (A. Introduction)
Jesus called people to follow him.
Many followed because of his miracles. Some followed to check out his unorthodox teachings and reprimand him.
A few followers were seeking to learn from him and to obey his teachings.
As we study the life and ministry of Jesus, we must keep asking ourselves, why do I follow him?
What are my true motives?
Do I expect miraculous blessing?
Am I trying to gain personal prominence?
Or am I a dedicated learner, wanting to obey Christ’s new teachings?
Am I seeking to be used by God as He builds His kingdom?