The Gospel of Mark #4 – “Whatever it Takes!”
Mark 2:1-12
Intro –
1. ILL – Down on his luck, British writer Michael Arlen went to New York in 1944. To drown his sorrows he paid a visit to the famous restaurant “21.” In the lobby, he ran into film producer Samuel Goldwyn, who offered the somewhat impractical advice that he should buy racehorses. Arlen then met Louis B. Mayer, an old acquaintance, who asked him what were his plans for the future. “I was just talking to Sam Goldwyn —” began Arlen. “How much did he offer you?” interrupted Mayer. Arlen hesitated. “Not enough,” he replied evasively. “Would you take $15,000 for 30 weeks?” asked Mayer. “Yes,” Arlen answered without hesitation. That chance encounter was just what Michael Arlen needed.
2. So was the encounter experienced by the paralytic in Mark 2:1-12. But his meeting with Jesus wasn’t by chance. It occurred through the loving devotion of his close friends. They weren’t about to miss the opportunity to bring him to Jesus, & as a result this man experienced one of the Bible’s great miracles.
3. Mark 2:1-12 (read)
4. Mark wastes no time as he portrays the Son of Man busily engaged in His ministry.
5. We’ve already witnessed Him as He dealt with demons, healed many who were sick & even miraculously healed a leper from his dreaded disease.
6. Unfortunately, much of present day ministry, including the typical mission of the local church is far removed in spirit, practice, & effectiveness from the earthly ministry of Christ.
7. He arrived in a world that was very much like ours. It was a world that is filled with needy, hurting, and hopeless people. **Technology may be different, but not peoples needs.**
8. He made a difference in the lives of those that he touched & in the lives of those that he taught. The difference was recognizable & life changing.
9. The greatest need in our ever increasingly needy world is for Christians & Churches to make a difference in the lives of people.
10. The mission of the church is for each of us to find our way into lives of hurting people & introduce them to the sufficiency of God's grace & the greatness of His salvation.
11. What we really need is commitment – a commitment to do whatever it takes to grow in our relationship with God & to pass on the good news to others.
12. We’ll see this morning the account of five young men who certainly understood the meaning of doing “whatever it takes.”
I. The Ministry of Jesus – Vs. 1-2
By now, the crowds were enormous & an ever-increasing number of needy people rushed to be near the One who could bring healing & hope to the hurting soul.
A. The power of His ministry: prayer – Mark 1:35
1. Remember last week that we learned that the secret to Jesus power was his prayerful dependence on the Father.
2. Luke 5:13 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
3. Heb. 5:7 “During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”
4. So many things clamor for our attention & we often run ourselves ragged trying to attend to them. Like Jesus, we need to realize that our strength comes from God & we can only be strengthened by spending time with Him!!
B. The priority of His ministry: preaching – vs. 2
1. Jesus could have used this opportunity to increase His popularity. He could have performed a few miracles & the people would have been eating out of His hands.
2. Yet, instead, “He preached the Word to them!”
3. It is clear to me that to Jesus, the message was far more important that the miracles.
4. Preaching was central to the life & ministry of the Lord Jesus – the same should be true for the church!
5. 2 Tim. 4:2 “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.”
6. We should pray that our church will stay focused on the message!
II. The Men of Faith – Vs. 3-4
These men were willing to do whatever it takes to bring their friend to Jesus. However, they had to overcome some obstacle to do it! *What did they have to overcome?
A. They had to overcome convention
1. We don’t know what kinds of medical treatment this man sought to treat his condition. He had probably at least been to the doctors of his day.
2. So when these men heard that Jesus had returned to town, they figured it was time to move beyond the conventional means of medicine and bring their friend to Jesus.
3. A “whatever it takes commitment” is centered in something that goes against the conventional wisdom of our time. But that’s really nothing new.
4. 1 Cor. 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
5. Are you willing this morning to risk everything on the promise that Jesus is who He said He is?
B. They had to overcome circumstances –
1. They finally get to where Jesus is and the crowds are so great that even one of them would never be able to get to Jesus, alone four of them carrying another on a mat.
2. But they weren’t deterred by the seemingly closed doors. They found another way to make their way to Jesus.
3. As Christians we often talk about how God leads us by “opening & closing doors” in our lives. But when I read this and other similar passages, I’m struck by just how many people refused to be deterred by the closed doors before them.
4. Maybe it’s time we start looking for another way around some of those closed doors. Don’t give up, find a way to follow Jesus!
C. They had to overcome convenience –
1. They could have seen that there was no way to Jesus & given up! They did not!
2. Explain - type of roofs & “digging through”…
3. How many times in our life to we fail to “do whatever it takes” because it’s just not convenient. Examples –
a. It’s not convenient to get up a little earlier each morning so that I can spend time letting God talk to me through His Word & then talk to Him in prayer.
b. It’s not convenient to get up an hour earlier on Sunday morning so that I can join together with other believers to study God’s Word.
c. It’s not convenient to take the time to go meet a neighbor & bring them a meal.
d. It’s not convenient to go visit someone who is sick in the hospital.
4. I know in the real world we struggle with those kinds of issues – because I do too!
5. ILL – We love convenience! In New Roads, LA, there is even a drive through mortuary. For the convenience of time-pressed mourners, the deceased is displayed before a five-by-seven picture window. Friends & relatives can drive up to the window & pay last respects without getting out. Says the owner, Alvin Verette, “We wanted something for people who didn’t have time to dress.”
6. If I really want to grow in my relationship with God this year, I have to be willing to sacrifice some conveniences in my life. I have to sometimes be willing to give up even some things that might be good, so that I can do those things which are best.
D. They had to overcome criticism –
1. Although the criticism from the scribes was aimed more directly at Jesus, it’s not too hard to imagine that the scribes, and maybe others, were a little upset that these 5 men were interrupting the proceedings.
2. But these men were so focused on getting to Jesus that they didn’t allow any of the comments from the crowd to deter them.
3. Jesus constantly faced criticism, especially from the religious leaders.
4. Matt. 11:18-19 “18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”
5. If you want to do something great for God, you will be criticized!
6. ILL – Bro. Steve Barber…25th anniversary…
7. It is really easy to let the criticism of others distract us from what God has called us to do. But a “whatever it takes” commitment says that I’m willing to follow God, even if others choose to criticize me for doing it.
III. The Miracle of Forgiveness & Healing – Vs. 5-12
The order in which Jesus deals with this man’s problems is important to take note of.
A. 1st, He dealt with the spiritual issue: sin - vs. 5
1. He says, “your sins are forgiven.” He simply makes a statement. The authority & power of Jesus’ Word is demonstrated.
2. I don’t think this necessarily means that the man’s paralysis resulted from personal sin. I think it is just that Jesus recognized that the man’s greatest need was spiritual and not physical.
3. Humanity’s greatest need is not education, political reform, money or even compassion – these are all good things – what we really need if forgiveness!
4. Rom. 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
5. ILL – 1992, getting saved & getting house arrest…
6. If we don’t have our sins forgiven by Christ through salvation, all the physical healing in the world doesn’t matter.
B. 2nd, He dealt with the physical issue: paralysis - vs. 11
1. While we understand that salvation is the most important thing – praise God, Jesus is so good that he gives us much more!
2. He graciously healed this man’s paralysis & proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that He not only had power over sickness & disease, but He had the authority to forgive sins. This proved that He was in fact God in the flesh!
Conc. –
1. If we don’t have our sins forgiven by Christ through salvation, all the physical healing in the world doesn’t matter.
2. You may be here today with all kinds of needs, let me remind that your greatest need & God’s greatest desire is for you to know forgiveness through Jesus Christ!
3. 2 Pet. 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
4. Will you do “whatever it takes” to get to Him today? Will you do “whatever it takes” to get others to Him?
