That’s what friends are for
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A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 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. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 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’? 10 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!”
Sermon preached at St Andrew’s Wakefield 19 February 2006
Opener >> In pairs discuss what are the qualities of a good friend. Play Disney track during discussion ‘That’s what fiends are for.’
I would like to explore this passage using three headings - The Place, The Forgiveness and The Friends
[1]: The Place
The place (Galilee) It is very interesting that Jesus’ ministry was not in Nazareth but Capernaum. Galilee was the one place where a new teacher (with a new message) had a chance of listeners. It’s a small region 50mlsx25mls. Densely populated Josephus records 204 towns & villages each > 15000. Josephus ‘Galileans were ever fond of innovations and by nature were open to change…and never short of courage…more anxious for honour than for gain.’ This place was ripe for the gospel - the good news.
Note also the place (Galilee) was where the 1st tribes were taken into exile (slavery). Now Isaiah’s prophecy 43v19 is fulfilled in Jesus (I will make a way in the desert.. to give water to my chosen people>> freedom begins where slavery started, Isa 43v25 ‘I am the God who forgives your sins.’ Restoration of the kingdom begins where the exile started.
Note also the place was the house (possibly Peter’s) – the good news of Jesus must not be confined to religious places (synagogues) but can be in your house, your school, workplace, your hospital.
You can see the funny side of it. Jesus returns to Capernaum and goes for a bit of peace & quiet to Peter’s house. Word gets around. Crowds come to the house. Peter feels a bit pleased with himself, (a good turnout for Jesus in the house). Jesus starts to speak crowd quietens down. Unknown to Peter there are 5 friends (4 able, 1 disabled). Who are on the roof. They couldn’t get near to Jesus on the ground floor. So as Jesus speaks to a hushed crowd. Mud and dust and rubble starts to fall through into the room downstairs. Jesus pauses to look up at the commotion from above. Peter starts shouting, No not the roof! (It reminds me of a prank from Beadles about!) Jesus says ‘you guys are really determined – I’m impressed!’ When Jesus saw their faith he said ‘your sins are forgiven.’
The story stresses the crowds but Jesus values the individual. We must ask ourselves is our lives so crowded that we cant get near to Jesus. Is our church life so crowded that we cant see the individuals Jesus wants us to love and serve, people we need to lower into Christ’s presence.
[2] The forgiveness
Strange that Jesus should say ‘your sins are forgiven.’ The man’s need was for physical healing but Jesus dealt with spiritual healing as well.
What things are paralysing you? Family pressures, others stresses, work pressures, fears, phobias, how you look, guilt.. these things have the power to paralyse, and we have need of forgiveness (I will explain this later).
This is the first of 5 stories in Mark 2 where opposition begins to build against Jesus. Those who may have been expected to welcome the messiah began to oppose him.
Rightly (v7) the scribes say ‘only God can forgive sin.’ The point they were missing is this Jesus Christ was God in the flesh.
What Did Jesus Mean? ‘your sins are forgiven?
We should 1stly understand Jesus did not mean the man had to do a quick act of self-examination to remember all his sins and bring that list to Christ in an act of penance. That is not what is going on here. To be forgiven did not mean entering upon a guilt trip about his past, or even his present. What Jesus was offering was a new life, changing…. body, mind, spirit, attitudes, behaviour, relationships, plans. Jesus is giving a new understanding of life's purpose and direction – the need to be right with God (forgiven), to be in a place of obeying your ‘new’ Lord and acting differently from now on. Not living in sin, you have a new Lord (old is gone). That’s forgiveness. That graceful act of Jesus (forgiveness) requires faith. Faith that begins a new relationship with God in the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus asks the question ‘which is easier.. to forgive….or heal…’ It is easier to say the words of forgiveness but who will know if forgiveness has taken place? But Jesus did the healing, the physical release so that the spiritual release could be received by faith. The challenge to the man's faith was to believe he was forgiven (transformed, new person) – the physical healing was obvious. So the greater invisible blessing of forgiveness was confirmed by the lesser physical blessing of healing.
[3] The Friends
A story - Sally and Billy were two children at nursery. One day Sally said, "Hey Billy, want to play mums and dads?" He said, "Sure! What do you want me to do?" Sally replied, "I want you to listen to my needs, empathise with my concerns and I want you to communicate your feelings." "Listen? Empathise? Communicate my feelings?" said Billy. "I have no idea what you’re on about.." OK Sally says, " You can be the husband."
Back to the friends, they are central to this story …Love is resourceful; these friends would not give up….Interestingly, the barriers they faced in getting their friend to Jesus could only be overcome together, by co-operation. Often struggles in a community such as Justice, or disability or needs of elderly etc.. can only be achieved by sharing the struggle together – not focussing on our personal needs but in overcoming for others sake.
These friends cant let this chance pass by of bringing their friend to Jesus. They climb the outside stairs and onto the flat roof – refusing to let any obstacle come between their needy friend and Jesus. They lower the friend and there he is looking into the face of Jesus. The faith and determination of these 4 friends is very moving. And Jesus rewards their faith v5 ‘when Jesus saw their faith….’
If it wasn’t for these friends he would not have received the healing or the new life thro forgiveness.
Who can you bring to Jesus for a healing touch who can you bring to Jesus for a new life through forgiveness. What lengths will we go to have Jesus reach a friend of yours? Are we a church which lives up to our mission statement ‘to lead people to Christ..’ Alpha course… If you have friends who could do Alpha…..
You cant force someone to invite Jesus into their lives but you can (by prayer, by friendship, by invitation) do everything possible to bring that person into the presence of Jesus Christ where there is healing and forgiveness.
