He Can

17 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.

18 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, 19 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.

20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

24 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.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

Jesus can teach about God.

“As [Jesus] was teaching. . .”

Jesus was in Capernaum

Many were gathered — no more room — not even at the door (Mark 2:1)

Maybe 50 or more?

Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem.

Pharisees

Religious leaders usually from Jerusalem (shows Jesus was becoming known)

heritage goes back to probably time of Ezra (return from exile)

Passionate about staying true to the Law — so they wouldn’t fall into captivity again.

They used traditions to “fence the Law” - those traditions became legalistic

They focused on the Law and missed the One in front of them who gave the Law!

Teachers of the Law

Also known as scribes - they were found in most cities and villages

Their job was to teach the children and the people of the village the Law of Moses

Were some there who had “taught” Jesus?

And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

“Some men”?

highly doubtful they were simply “walking by” carrying their friend

Perhaps they were part of listening crowd.

Perhaps part of Jesus’ teaching included Isaiah 35

Isaiah 35:5–6 ESV

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

There was no way in so they climbed onto the roof to lower him to Jesus

flat roof

stairs or ladder on outside

perhaps mud and branches or possible (as Luke notes) tile

whatever it was it made a mess and destroyed a roof

(Farmer’s Insurance?)

Their goal was to “lay him before Jesus.” Why? so he could hear better? No, they knew who Jesus was.

Jesus can forgive as God.

“Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

Whoa. “Your sins are forgiven?”

Maybe specific sins

Notice faith in Jesus ALWAYS precedes forgiveness of sins.

This was big deal to Pharisees and scribes

They said it was blasphemy

only God can for forgive sin or God’s prophet

they didn’t believe God was speaking anymore through prophets so they saw this as a claim to deity.

Interesting Jesus perceived their thoughts and not their words. Why did Jesus address their thoughts? Perhaps to reach them? Show his authority to them and the crowd?

22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

We often move quickly on to the next part where Jesus heals the man and see that as the harder thing — and it is the harder thing - to verify, but ironically, it is not the harder thing to affect in reality.

When Jesus is saying “I forgive you” (as the One who will actually become the sacrifice for sins) He is saying, “If you trust me I will take this for you — I got this”

24 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.”

Jesus can heal with God.

“And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. . . ‘Rise.’”

25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.

Major miracles:

Ability to walk

Strength to walk

This all displays the authority of Jesus and urges us to answer:

Do you believe Jesus CAN?

⁃ Some people believe Jesus can’t, might, could IF, shouldn’t

⁃ DO you life your life with a Jesus CAN outlook?

⁃ In this way we are just like the Pharisees and teachers of the Law — we believe the greater miracle is the man standing and walking rather than his sins being forgiven.

⁃ DO we really understand the cost of our salvation? The weight of our sin?

⁃ ILLUST - when you buy the child the expensive gift and they play with wrapping paper.

⁃ OR ILLUST - Turkeys pardoned for Thanksgiving - PB&J - why food names?

⁃ We were worse off than the paralytic — at least he was alive

⁃ Eph. 2:1(-10)

⁃ Three groups of people listening to Jesus:

⁃ Those there to investigate Jesus (no faith)

⁃ Those there to lean from Jesus (faith?)

⁃ Those there who believe enough to put it into action! (great faith!)

How far are you willing to go to bring someone to Jesus?

⁃ His friends risked:

⁃ Bear his weight

⁃ Embarrassment

⁃ Rejection

⁃ Failure

⁃ Loss of comfort

⁃ Digging into the dirt

⁃ Two things compelled them: their faith in Jesus and their love for their hurting friend

⁃ Three groups of people listening to Jesus:

⁃ Those there to investigate Jesus (no faith)

⁃ Those there to lean from Jesus (faith?)

⁃ Those there to bring people to Jesus (great faith!)

⁃ Some stood aloof (thought they knew God well - usually the ones commended for great faith)

⁃ Some stood near for their own benefit

⁃ Some who ran to grab the hurting.

⁃ If Jesus were healing people in our church here today, who would you bring?

⁃ If Jesus could forgive sins today, who would you go get?

Is your gratitude based on grace?

Is your gratitude based on grace or on “gots”?

⁃ The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (depending on the context)

⁃ It’s a gratitude of GRACE

⁃ Thankfulness leads to happiness

Article from Harvard Medical:

“Two psychologists, Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami, have done much of the research on gratitude. In one study, they asked all participants to write a few sentences each week, focusing on particular topics.

One group wrote about things they were grateful for that had occurred during the week. A second group wrote about daily irritations or things that had displeased them, and the third wrote about events that had affected them (with no emphasis on them being positive or negative). After 10 weeks, those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. Surprisingly, they also exercised more and had fewer visits to physicians than those who focused on sources of aggravation.”

- https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier

They recommend you write down things you are thankful for in order to become more mindful of them and then become happy

⁃ “I don’t have anything to be thankful for”

⁃ Good news! Salvation can always be #1!

⁃ We may have many needs but our greatest need is salvation from sin.

⁃ If that is the case, then we should have greater joy when we think of our discuss our salvation from sin than we do thinking about God fulfilling any of our other needs.

⁃ If we do not feel this way, is it perhaps because we do not realize how great our salvation is.

⁃ Of course, it’s a popular theme among pastors to preach on thankfulness on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

⁃ We are thankful for Jesus because he is therapeutic for our lives; we are grateful because he saved our souls.

Gratitude is the response to grace.

⁃ Only when God’s grace ends can our gratitude end.

⁃ What can 80+ years on earth do to you that eternity in heaven cannot undo?

⁃ If Gratitude is the response to grace, then grace is the KEY to gratitude.

Psalm 118:1 ESV

1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

⁃ Notice — he went home and glorified God

⁃ He didn’t need to go to CHURCH to glorify God

⁃ Home is usually where we are LEAST thankful - that’s where all the irritations are most clearly felt

⁃ When we live in the shadow of the cross the events of our lives are put in perspective.

Do you believe Jesus CAN?

How far are you willing to go to bring someone to Jesus?

Is your gratitude based on grace?

(Invite deacons forward)

*PRAY*

⁃ Thankfulness for salvation is perhaps most clearly expressed through our worship

Communion referred to as the “Eucharist”

Comes from the Greek verb εὐχαριστέω= to give thanks, thanksgiving

A form of the word appears more than 30 times throughout NT

Has as it’s root, charis or “grace.” Grace is the root of gratitude

Nowhere is that more apparent than at the table of the Eucharist.

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 (ESV)

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

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