Jesus In The House

JESUS IN THE HOUSE

SCRIPTURE:

Mark 2:1 “And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2:2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.”

I. Entering Capernaum

A. Capernaum

1. Located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.

2. The chief commercial and social center of this area during the ministry of Jesus.

3. Here, on the great highway between Syria and Palestine, the custom taxes were collected and a Roman garrison stationed.

(After this event, Jesus summoned Matthew as he was sitting at the receipt of custom. Matthew 9:9)

4. Matt 9:1 “And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.”

This passage shows, that was generally believed to be the birth-place of Christ, because his visits to it were frequent:

5. Here Jesus came after leaving Nazareth, and Peter’s home became his own.

B. Jesus had been in Capernaum

1. Near Capernaum Calling Disciples --- Mark 1:19-20

2. Teaching in the Synagogue --- Mark 1:21-22

3. Casting out demons --- Mark 1:23-27

4. His fame spread abroad --- Mark 1:28

II. In The House.

A. Jesus had been in this house before. (Again, this was probably Peter’s house.)

1. Entered into the house of Simon (Peter)--- Mark 1:29

2. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick --- Mark 1:30

3. Simon’s mother-in-law was healed --- Mark 1:31

4. All the city gathered at the door --- Mark 1:32-33

5. He healed them and did cast out devils --- Mark 1:34

B. Again he entered into Capernaum. Mark 2:1

1. After a period of evangelistic teaching and preaching, Jesus and Peter returned quietly to the home of Peter.

2. He entered the city, doubtless, privately; but his being there was soon known, and so great had his popularity become that multitudes pressed to hear him.

Albert Barnes

Mark 1:45 “But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.”

C. Jesus is in the house . . . again.

1. It was noised.

In that day they had no newspapers, steam-engines, telegraphs, nor telephones, the news only going on the back of a camel, a fleet horse, or a swift pedestrian; yet, to our inextricable puzzle, the tidings flew everywhere with astounding velocity, notifying the people, as here Luke says, not only in the cities, but all the villages, that Jesus has come back from His retirement Into Capernaum, His headquarters, and is again preaching to the multitudes, healing the sick and casting out demons. W.B. Godbey

2. Many were gathered together. Mark 2:2

3. He preached the Word. Mark 2:2

Here we have the Word preaching the word.

4. They come unto Him. Mark 2:3

5. Even through the roof.

Mark 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.”

This center room, or court, is commonly uncovered or open above. In wet weather, however, and in times of great heat of the sun, it is covered with an awning or canvas, stretched on cords and capable of being easily removed or rolled up. This is what Mark means when he says “they uncovered the roof.” They “rolled up” or removed this awning. From the court to the roof the ascent is by flights of stairs, either in the covered walk or gallery or in the porch. The roof is nearly flat. This roof was surrounded with a “balustrade,” or railing, breast-high, on the sides; but where a house was contiguous to another, and of the same height, the railing was lower, so as to walk from one roof to another. In cities where the houses were constructed in this manner, it was possible to walk through a considerable part of the city on

the roofs. A breastwork or railing was of course built in the same manner around the “open space” in the center, to prevent persons from falling INTO the court below. This railing, or breastwork, is what Luke (

Luke 5:19) says they let him down through. They removed it, probably, so that the couch could be conveniently let down with cords; and, standing on the roof “over” the Saviour, they let the man down directly before him. Albert Barnes

These importunate friends of the paralytic, pressing their way through the crowd, use a ladder to climb the house from the outside, reaching the solid stone roof, cemented together so that it looked like a single great limestone rock covering the house, as I have so often seen and walked over them; coming to this