Faith

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE:

During an especially trying time in the work of the China Inland Mission, Hudson Taylor wrote to his wife, “We have twenty-five cents—and all the promises of God! (Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, W. Wiersbe, p. 242)

Jesus chose Capernaum as the headquarters of His Galilean ministry. This was a commercial city on the main road of traffic between Egypt and Damascus. We find Jesus back in this city in a crowded house preaching the Word. Four men came carrying their paralyzed friend on a stretcher. They could not get to Jesus because of the crowd so they went up on the roof, made a hole and let the man down through the hole to Jesus’ feet. In seeking to bring their friend to Jesus, we notice:

1. The determination of the four. - Mark 2: 3 “And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.”

2. The difficulties they faced. - Mark 2: 3b “……bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.” In a very real sense, these four men were willing to bear the physical burden of their friend in order to get him to the One who could help him.

3. The deliverance they fostered. - Jesus said, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee" (v. 5). As usual there were some scribes sitting there "reasoning in their hearts" (v. 6), "Who can forgive sins but God only?" (v. 7) Jesus knew that they resented His implication that He could forgive sins. They were actually right in their theology that God alone can forgive sin, but wrong in their deduction that Jesus was an imposter and not the Son of God.

APPLICATION:

Ask the question: Who are I the most like?

___ The paralyzed man ___ The crowd

___ His friends ___ The religious leaders

Which one would I like to be more like?