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READ: Mark 2:1
CHALLENGE: Jesus is the Remedy to our Spiritual Problems
Mark 2:1 – A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
The original meaning of Capernaum is “village of comfort”. It was on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee and became known as the “town of Jesus” because it was his home base of operations. This is where He healed the mother-in-law of Peter. Matthew the tax collector was also a resident of this town.
The way those from that vicinity saw it – Jesus has returned home. I love that idea of coming back home because it feels good. Jesus traveled a lot, but he still had this as a familiar and happy place.
There’s no place like home! As a boy, I was born in Wilmington, Delaware. Lived in Newark Delaware, then to Levittown, Pa which was house on house. Then from there to Dallas, Pa which was way out in the country on a dirt road. That was probably my preparation to be in rural Ohio, because I always longed to be in the country from then on. Half of my childhood was spent in Shavertown and then my parents moved and I never had that sense of being home again. Not unless it was grandma’s house. That was the one homestead that was a constant and it always felt great to be back on “the hill”. Home is beautiful place. Belonging is a wonderful feeling. Capernaum was home for Jesus!
We’d like Eagleville to be a spiritual home for people. A place where you feel like you belong. And hopefully, like Capernaum, your church family is a place of comfort. A fortress in a world of storms!
Here are some great and needed things you can find in Christ and church.
- A GREAT WORD
V2 – They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.
Jesus obviously had a kind patron who opened their home to allow him to teach. Then the public turned out in large numbers to hear “THE WORD”. Now, imagine you’re living in town and people are inside and outside and there are cars parked along the road. You might wonder!
I’m sure the crowd caught the attention of others. Hopefully people wonder about Eagleville when they drive down the road on Sunday mornings. Look, there’s something going on.
If this story of Jesus happened today in Ashtabula, it would probably arouse enough attention to make the Ashtabula / Geauga County Crime Page. I wonder what kind of social media sensation Jesus would have been in our day? If he were a podcaster, he’d be bigger than Joe Rogan.
These people are here because they are hearing words that bring a better life. Words that help and heal. Words from God. People are hungry to hear the truth. Everyone needs a great word and here are some other things that we need – great friends.
- GREAT FRIENDS
V3 – Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
These have to be great friends who carry their pal to Christ! Great friends want the people they love to find Jesus and they will help to carry you in the right direction.
This is certainly not a situation where this man has to pay these guys to lug him there. How do I know? Because later Jesus will talk about the faith of the friends. In addition, they are ALL IN
Friendship is a beautiful thing. One thing I appreciate here at church is the good connections and relationships that I see. There are so many people who support each other. I loved seeing all the smiles this week at VBS from our volunteers.
We all need friends from time to time and here’s a thought. Shouldn’t there be some things that can’t be done apart from your friends? Certain obstacles you could never overcome alone? We hate at times to be dependent, but this man needed his friends to carry him. In the excellent story Lord of the Rings, Frodo doesn’t get to Mordor without Samwise.
Friendship requires that we carry a burden from time to time. Who will you help? Who will you stand in for? I know it seems easier to do life alone at times but it’s not better. We need to be connected and we do better when we are. Cf. Dave and Debby staying with Art
We need a great word and great friends. We also need …
- GREAT FAITH
V4 – Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.
These men completely believe that Jesus can help their friend. However, they cannot get the gurney in through the crowd, so they go up on a roof and drop him in through the opening they create! They either have to dig through mud or remove tiles on a home they don’t own. Such boldness!
Faith finds a way. And great faith overcomes obstacles. A great faith does not crumble. As Jesus said, all things are possible for those who believe.
It says in the next verse that Jesus saw their faith. Faith is evidenced by behavior. It’s more than just a belief in an idea. Anyone can mentally ascent to certain facts. Go down the road and ask people if they believe in Jesus and surely a majority will. But who is actually following Him and where is there evidence of faith?
What the friends did wasn’t easy and living out your faith isn’t always easy either. Having faith doesn’t mean there won’t be obstacles or that every door is already open. What if these men used the “open door” measurement? They overcame everything to get to Jesus. Sometimes we can’t overcome the obstacle of feeling tired! The truth is the biggest obstacle is the excuses we make
As James clearly said, “Faith without works is dead”. Faith shows up in confidence, in hope, in service, in helping others, in giving, in persistence. Faith is seen. How are we showing Jesus our faith? Where are we seeing it as we move through life?
- GREAT FORGIVENESS
V5 – When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Son, your sins are forgiven. Perhaps some of this man’s issues were due to poor choices, so Jesus cut to the heart of the issue and forgave him. The Jews believed that forgiveness preceded healing. Forgiveness is faith based and I cannot think of a clearer case! It’s not works based.
Obviously, Christ wanted to communicate that He forgives and that’s just as important as healing! What a way to demonstrate the importance of the soul of humanity. IT’S GOD STUFF!
Sins are a paralyzing force, but forgiveness can set you free. What does forgiveness mean for this man? It means a new life! Freedom from what binds him. Sin is oppressive / Forgiveness frees
Let’s notice that Jesus does something nice for a sinner. He didn’t make him wait to get his act together before rendering assistance. He just helps a man that is directionally coming toward Him. Perhaps the man and his friends have questions but directionally they are headed in the right way. They may not have known every name for God. May not have been going to the synagogue all the time. But they knew one thing – Jesus helps sinners and they needed help. A requirement can never be that you have your act completely together before taking a step of obedience. That might rule us all out. However, directionally we should be headed to being more and more like Jesus.
Vv6-9 – Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?
Jesus had the authority to do something that only God can do. And this demonstrates the true identity of Christ. What about that? Your sins are forgiven.
- GREAT SAVIOR
Vv10-12 – But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Jesus is amazing and he has the power to save. Take up your mat and go home! This could have never happened without Jesus. And let’s recognize our need. Can we recognize that we all need a great Savior?
Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Every single person sins and spiritually we are in the same situation this man is in. We can never get up and work our way to heaven.
Some don’t realize the seriousness of it. Let’s say that every time you sinned, it was only one penny in your pocket. One penny. And you keep it with you always. How full would your pockets be and collectively, pennies are heavy. Now – go swim across Lake Erie with all that weight. You would drown.
Spiritually, this is our peril. Jesus takes the pennies (our sins) and gives us righteousness which would be like a boat! Truly we can walk free of the nonsense that is sinking us. That is leading to problems. That is damaging our relationships.
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Son of man has the authority to forgive sins. Anyone need set free today? You don’t have a great story without a great savior.
This week I was running my tractor into a little trail near a gravel pit. There were two paint cans I was unaware of. I hit them. Grey paint and white paint. The gray sprayed right off. The white was oil base. I doesn’t come off with water! It took a lot of cleaning with paint thinner!!
We need cleaned up and Jesus does it! Come to the well.