Introduction
A. The students in my third-grade class were bombarding me with questions about my newly pierced ears. "Does the hole go all the way through?" "Yes." "Did it hurt?" "Just a little." "Did they stick a needle through your ears?" "No, they used a special gun." Silence followed, and then one solemn voice called out, "How far away did they stand?"
B. We continue our walk through Matthew
1. Today, Matthew 9:1-8
II. Body
A. Joni Earekson Tada
1. Not too long ago we were watching the John Ancherburg Show with Joni, she is a beautiful Christian woman who was paralyzed from the neck down after a diving incident.
a. Though she does have some control of her arms
2. Here in Matthew 9:1, after being kicked out of the country of the Gadarenes because allowed demons to destroy their pig industry, Jesus returns to Capernaum
a. By the way, notice Jesus complied with their wishes
b. I remember one individual saying that God is a gentleman and will not force Himself on anyone.
(1) Whether this is so or not I cannot tell you
(a) But just take note
(2) The local citizens asked Jesus to leave, so He did, He left
(3) What an opportunity lost
(4) When people reject Christ, He complies with their wishes and leaves
(a) As I said, Jesus won't force Himself on anyone
(b) He won't force Himself on you
i) Just think, the town’s people were paralyzed by their heart attitude toward Christ
B. Now if you will remember, before Jesus and the disciples left in the boat, there was a large crowd
1. But, by the time He returned to the other side of the lake, the previous crowd has disbursed, but several days later, according to Mark 2:1&2, they hear He is back in town and come from everywhere to hear Him speak.
Mark 2:1-2 NKJV
And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. {2} Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
2. Now this is where Jesus heals the paralyzed man
a. We have read Matthew 9:1-7, but lets read it again
Matthew 9:1-7 NKJV
So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. {2} Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." {3} And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!" {4} But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? {5} "For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'? {6} "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"; then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." {7} And he arose and departed to his house.
b. We also read Mark 2:1 - 12, but lets read it again
Mark 2:1-12 NKJV
And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. {2} Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. {3} Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. {4} And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. {5} When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." {6} And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, {7} "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" {8} But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? {9} "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'? {10} "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"; He said to the paralytic, {11} "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." {12} Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
3. Why does Jesus heal this paralyzed man, but not Joni?
4. I can only say that Joni has been used of God all around the world to bring many people to Christ
a. Could God heal her?
b. Yes!
5. So, why hasn't He done so?
a. I don't know?
b. I can only look at this and see what God can teach me concerning healing.
C. This paralyzed man is brought to Jesus
1. We ask, is this really the same guy as the one lowered through the roof in Mark.
a. It seems so
(1) Turn to Matthew 9:1 - 2
Matthew 9:1-2 NKJV
So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. {2} Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."
(2) Notice that it was after "seeing their faith" that Jesus said to the paralyzed man "Son, be of good cheer! Your sins are forgiven you."
(a) By the way, in verse 2 of Matthew 9 and verse 5 of Mark 2, we see the word “son” but in the Greek it is a word that is better translated “child”
i) There is a different word used when speaking of the Son of God and other very specific sons
ii) So we shall use the word child
(3) Jesus sees the real paralysis
(a) He was paralyzed by his sins
(b) What sins? Was He referring to the damaged roof when He spoke of sin
(c) I don’t think so.
(d) I think it went deeper than that somehow, though I am sure the home owner wasn't all that thrilled with the roof damage
D. I have a few questions.
1. Why did Jesus call the paralyzed person "child"
a. Turn to Hebrews 11:6
b. Was it because he had become a child of God, been born again and Jesus saw that?
c. It would certainly seem as if this man had responded positively to the saving power of Christ to forgive him
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
(1) Turn to James 2:20
James 2:20 NKJV
But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
2. Jesus responds to their faith and the faith of the paralyzed man.
a. His friends can't forgive this man of his sin
b. Only Jesus can
c. All they could do was bring their friend to Jesus
d. That's all I can do too
e. Bring my friends to Christ
f. Only He can save someone
g. Only He can heal someone
(1) Turn to Luke 11:9 - 10
h. My friends need me to make the pallet and be willing to destroy a roof
(1) Which, in the log run, means to do all I can to bring them to Jesus
Luke 11:9-10 NKJV
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. {10} "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
(2) In other words, .”keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
(3) The four men did everything they could to bring him to Jesus
(4) My deepest desire is that people know Jesus so if they don't know Him or the power of His forgiveness, then I will bring them now
(5) Don't suffer from the paralysis of procrastination
(6) Sin obviously was a great barrier in this man's life and Jesus assured him of forgiveness
3. But why is their faith important here, the faith of the friends?
a. Perhaps this is saying that Jesus saw that those who brought this man had faith in Him, but they weren't sure about the paralyzed friend
b. He may have intended to make it clear to them that this man has faith also, by calling him "child" and declaring his sins forgiven
(1) We know that faith is a prerequisite for my sins to be forgiven
E. Remember, the citizens around where the demons destroyed the pigs were more concerned about the pigs then they were about the men who were had been freed of their demons
1. Well note here that the scribes sitting, listening to Jesus had a similar problem
a. Sunday morning the congregation filed into the church. There was a man sitting near the door in ragged clothing with a bottle of Thunder Bird wine wrapped in a brow paper sack clutched in his hands. This guy had a tattered broad brimmed hat pulled over his eyes. The congregation moved to the further side of the entrance to avoid the vagrant as they enter the church. Came time for the service to start and the pastor was absent. Every one waited, then began to discuss the issue of the vagrant and the missing pastor. Then the door opened and the vagrant walked down to the pulpit. When he removed his hat he revealed that he was the pastor. “Every one of you walked around or stepped over me, not giving a damn about the bum outside the church. And right now you are more concerned that your pastor used the word damn than you are about the people who are starving in this world. Starving for food, starving for love and starving for the peace the passeth all understanding.
2. The scribes were more concerned that Jesus may have uttered blasphemy then they were about the paralyzed man.
a. Jesus knew their thoughts.
b. You can't hide from Jesus
c. In Mark 2:4 it says that Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves
(1) Turn to Matthew 9:4
d. In other words Jesus knew their very thoughts
Matthew 9:4 NKJV
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?
e. Now Matthew simply says, but Jesus, knowing their thoughts
(1) The scribes suffered from a paralysis of the heart
(2) Unlike the paralyzed man, they obviously were not forgiven, and Jesus gives them a chance to examine their lives, repent and come to Him in faith
(3) But their hearts were hardened by religion rather than relationship
(4) Was it because He was God that He knew their thoughts, or was it because He had a word of knowledge
(a) Or both?
(5) Could I do this?
(a) Could God give me insight like that into how someone is thinking?
(b) Yes!
(6) But, in many instances one need only look into the eyes of someone like the scribes and they would know the gist of their thoughts
(7) Jesus calls Himself the "Son of Man"
(a) This was the name Jesus used for Himself and probably used it in so many instances
(b) To the religious leaders this would also be blasphemy.
(c) It's interesting that they were waiting for the Messiah who would forgive sins and heal the sick but when He came, rather than acknowledge the signs that He was the Messiah, they accused Him of blasphemy.
(d) Their interest was only for their self made religion, position and their money.
(8) When the man was forgiven, the scribes were outraged
(9) When the man was healed the praised God for sending Jesus
(a) They saw His great authority as given by God
(b) They also had the opportunity to receive Christ by faith
(c) Sometimes it is the paralysis of fear that actually holds people back from receiving Christ
f. So did Jesus heal the man just to prove He was the Messiah?
(1) Does Jesus heal people just to prove a theological point to those who have "evil in their hearts"?
(2) I think He healed the man because He had compassion fro him, He loved him.
(3) He cares about people being forgiven and in a right relationship with God
(4) He shows me that He cares for me, forgives me, brings healing to me.
g. Do I still sin?
(1) Yes and in Christ one day I will sin no more
(2) Do I still get sick? Yes and in Christ one day I will be totally healed
(3) In the meantime I pray for heaven's authority to be activated on earth for my life and for those around me as I bring people to Jesus to be restored
(4) Jesus is good with paralyzed people
(5) We need only to come to Him and ask Him to heal the paralysis of our heart
(6) And He can send us home restored.
