Faith Expressed in Love
Notes
Transcript
1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
True friends bring their friends to Jesus.
Background of the house.
3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
Never stopped, they found a way.. they could have said “there is no sense trying to get to Jesus today! Let’s come back tomorrow.” Never give up..
Testimony of answered prayer.
The friends of the paralyzed man did not just pray, they put some feet to their prayers.
Do you have a friend who needs healing, hope and forgiveness? Bring them in and lay them before Jesus.
Invite friends to church.
2. Jesus has authority and POWER over ALL things!
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
2.a Only God has the authority to forgive sins!
Not all sickness is caused by sin (John 9). Could his condition be a result of his disobedience?
Jesus addressed the greater sickness. He performed the greater miracle.
Forgiveness is the greatest miracle.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: What the Servant Offers You (Mark 2:1–3:12)
Forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs. It meets the greatest need; it costs the greatest price; and it brings the greatest blessing and the most lasting results
In forgiving the man’s sin, Jesus claimed to be God.
2.b Jesus claimed to be God.
6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
It is a curious thing that the house is packed to capacity yet the scribes were there close to the action… they even came early, unlikely that the Lord reserved for them a special place — be careful of infiltrators...
Jesus already proved Himself to be God by reading their hearts.
8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?
Rhetorical question (I love Jesus): Which is easier “to say his sins are forgiven or to heal him?” of course it is to just say...
10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic,
The Lord Jesus claimed to be God by two ways, first He forgave the man’s sin, Second, He called Himself “The Son of Man” - A messianic title in Daniel 7 --
11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
What are you facing today (enumerate)? Jesus can do something about it..
2.c. Jesus is after your spiritual healing.
Physical healing is one, but Jesus wants to heal you of your spiritual sickness.
The Lord heals our spiritual sickness — sin.
He goes beyond just forgiving you...
God is saying it is not enough that I heal you, I can turn you into someone so special
3. God can turn an illness into a witness.
12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
He turns your mess into a message.
He turns your test into a testimony.
The same mat that the man lied on for years, God knows for so long.
The bed is a symbol of his oppression.
Take authority. over Satan.
Sermon series: The miracle started with faith..
In other instances...
Lord Jesus said “O ye of little faith” if you just have faith as small as a mustard seed..
Jesus marveled at people’s faith
“Your faith has made you well.”
In this instance we see Jesus observing, not the faith of the man that was healed,,
Mark 5:5a “And when Jesus saw their faith...”
Faith working through love.. (Galatians 5:6)
Seen in action —> evangelism
Let us pray for one another and lift each other up before the Lord.