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Introduction
Why did Jesus come to the earth?
What purpose did he have?
What authority does he have?
Mark writes his gospel partly to answer these questions.
According to a recent survey called the State of theology, a large cross section of Americans were asked whether or not they agreed with this statement, “Jesus was a great teacher, but he was not God.”
53% agreed with the statement.
36% percent disagreed with the statement.
I want you to think about the inherit contradiction of the statement for a moment.
If Jesus claimed to be God and was not, could he still be a good teacher?
No.
A good teacher would not attempt to deceive people (or himself be deceived) about his identity.
But consider the weight of this statistic for a moment.
The majority of Americans surveyed believes that Jesus is not God, just a good teacher.
Knowing who Jesus is, knowing Jesus’s purpose and power is of upmost importance for us today, especially in a day when the majority of Americans are confused on the matter.
As I read the text, I want you to consider: what is Jesus’s purpose?
What sort of power does he have?
Mark 2:1-12 “And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.
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.
And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
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.
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that?
He is blaspheming!
Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “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’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”— he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”
And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
The Priority of Preaching
I wonder if I give out a multiple choice question that asked “What was Jesus’s main goal during his earthly ministry going from city to city?” Was it healing?
Was it performing miracles?
Was it casting out demons?
What do you think Jesus’s main ministry in your life is?
Is he supposed to bring you fulfillment?
Bring you healing?
What is it that Jesus is to provide for you?
After spending an entire evening healing, he goes off to pray by himself.
When the disciples catch up with him they tell him that everyone is looking for him.
Notice Jesus’s response in Mark 1:38 “And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.””
What does Jesus say that he came out to do? Preach.
It’s no surprise that that’s what we find in the beginning of Mark 2.
Mark 2:1-2 “And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.
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.”
So, he was in Capernaum before when everyone was coming out to be healed by him.
He then goes throughout Galilee preaching.
When he returns to Capernaum it is reported that he is at home.
This home, we are left to assume, is the home of Simon (Peter) and Andrew.
This home is a small rectangular building, not many would be able to fit inside.
The picture that Mark paints here is that so many people are surrounding Jesus that the crowd is spilling out onto the narrow street.
And what is it that we find Jesus doing?
He is “preaching the word to them.”
Jesus prioritized preaching the word.
We could spend our time in chapel and in our churches doing so many things.
Why do we spend so much time preaching the Word?
Because Jesus prioritized preaching.
But I want to warn you that just because someone is a “preacher” does not necessarily mean that they are following Jesus’s example here.
Let me give you quickly two marks of Biblical preaching.
1. Biblical preaching accomplishes the salvation of the lost and nourishes the sheep.
Rom.
10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
There are many kinds of preachers out there.
Some who want to fill their pews.
Some who want to fill their pockets.
These preachers know what to say to accomplish their goals.
However what true preaching accomplishes is clear.
2. The content of Biblical preaching is what God wants to be said.
One of the reasons we go through a book of the Bible in chapel is to safeguard us from the danger of saying merely what we want to say.
Topical messages can be okay and are sometimes necessary.
However, if all we do is jump from topic to topic we run the risk of emphasizing things that God does not want emphasized.
We run the risk of prioritizing things that are trivial in the kingdom of God.
Pretend for a moment that you know nothing about Christianity.
Then you look up the top Christian songs to learn about this religion.
What do you think would be the priority in the kingdom of God? Look at the lyrics of this popular Christian song:
I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
'Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus
I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
'Til every dark addiction starts to break
Declaring there is hope and there is freedom
I speak Jesus
'Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire
I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over fear and all anxiety
To every soul held captive by depression
I speak Jesus
In many ways our culture is somewhat obsessed with physical healing; however, I would argue that our culture right now is even more obsessed with psychological healing and therapeutic fulfillment.
This idea that you just come to Jesus and he will meet all our self-centered needs.
I don’t pray that Jesus becomes my therapist, I pray that Jesus wrecks my life.
If my psychological comfort does not produce holiness then it is an idol.
Our Desperate Need for Jesus
We see in our text a group who recognized their desperate need for Jesus.
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