SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Capernaum Facts & Trivia
(2). The People Involved.
• The friends.
• The paralysed man.
• The Scribes and Pharisees.
• Jesus.
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• In 1885 Anne Isabella Ritchie, came up with the phrase ;
• "Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day; teach him how to fish, and he'll eat for a lifetime,"
• Wise words;
• But as always there is always some wit who has an alternative take on those words:
“Cook a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
But teach a man to fish and you get rid of him for the whole weekend.”
“Teach a man to fish,
and you can sell him a ton of accessories…rod, line, bait, keep net etc.”
“Teach a man to fish and you've fed him for a lifetime ...
unless, of course, he doesn't like sushi -- then you also need to teach him how to cook.“
“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.
Teach a man to fish and he will store bait in the fridge.”
“Teach a man to get a job, and he can buy fish at the shop.”
• TRANSITION: Those alternatives are of course tongue-in-cheek.
• Now in our travels with Jesus we have arrived at Capernaum;
• Capernaum was a fishing village with a population of about 1,500 people.
(1). Capernaum Facts & Trivia
(a).
• Capernaum was a fishing village established during the time of the Hasmoneans,
• You can see a reconstruction of it in the photograph.
• Capernaum was located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
• It is located below sea level, and is 10 miles (16 kilometres) from Tiberius.
• This next photo shows the type of view Jesus would have looked out at,
• The topography, the lay of the land remains very much the same.
(b).
• The name Capernaum comes from two Hebrew words;
• ‘Kapar’, meaning village (It was of sufficient size to be a large town or city)
• And the name ‘Nahum’ (naham), meaning either sorrow, repentance or comfort.
• (and as far as we know nothing to do with the prophet Nahum).
(c).
• Capernaum is not mentioned in the Old Testament;
• Because archaeological evidence indicates;
• The town did not begin until the 2nd century B.C.
(d).
• Capernaum was a large Galilean fishing village and busy trading centre.
• The main trade route from Syria to Egypt went through Galilee,
• And Capernaum acted as a tax station;
• It was here Levi (Matthew who became a disciple) had his tax-booth;
• (Matthew chapter 9 verse 9).
• It was a good station to be at, besides regular taxes paid by residents;
• Travellers had to stop, present their imported products to the tax official,
• And pay their taxes,
• Herod Antipas kept a military garrison of Roman soldiers at Capernaum;
• Under the command of a Roman centurion.
(e).
• Peter, Andrew, James and John also lived in Capernaum;
• It was here Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law.
• And in Capernaum that Jesus called them to became his disciples.
(f).
• The ancient city of Capernaum was abandoned about a thousand years ago or more,
• And was rediscovered by archaeologists beginning in the 1800s.
• In modern times, it is called Kefar Nahum (Hebrew) and Talhum (Arabic).
• The Bible tells us that a Roman centurion built a synagogue in Capernaum for the Jews;
• (Luke chapter 7 verses 1-5).
• The remains of the basalt synagogue has been discovered by archaeologists.
• And it is a popular stop on the tourist trail.
• The ruins of this building, are among the oldest synagogues in the world,
• The synagogue appears to have been built around the 4th or 5th century.
• Beneath the foundation of this synagogue lies another foundation;
• So you have two ancient synagogues built one over the other
• Many experts suggest that this earlier one;
• Is the foundation of a synagogue from the 1st century,
• Perhaps the one mentioned in the Gospels.
(g).
• After Jesus was rejected and forced out of Nazareth;
• Capernaum became his “own city.”
• Maybe he lived in a house as pictured in the slide,
• Matthew chapter 4 verse 13 tells us that Jesus moved from Nazareth to live in Capernaum.
• This implies that he either purchased a house or shared a house with someone.
• In either case there would be a house in Capernaum that could be referred to as "his,"
• They have found ruins of an old house;
• A simple first-century A.D. home that may have been the house of Peter,
• The home of Jesus or any of the thousands of other residents!
(h).
• Capernaum (along with Chorazin and Bethsaida) received a very strong rebuke from Jesus
• (Matthew chapter 11 verses 21-24).
• Jesus denounced these towns because of the amount of miracles that took place in them;
• And the lack of faith that followed these signs and wonders.
• These cities valued the miracles more than the message or the Messiah.
• These cities were all destroyed,
• And Capernaum became virtually uninhabited ruins for centuries.
• Today, Capernaum’s inhabitants consist of;
• A Franciscan Monastery and a nearby Greek Orthodox Church.
(2). The Narrative.
• Now, that preaching tour is over, Jesus and His men return to Capernaum.
• They have come ‘home’
• This is probably a reference to the home of Simon Peter and his brother Andrew,
• (Chapter 1 verse 29)
• They entered town with no fanfare,
• But word soon got out that Jesus was back in Capernaum.
• When the people heard that the Miracle Worker had returned,
• They flocked to the house where He was staying.
• Jesus “preached the word to them.”
• It is clear that to Jesus, the message was always far more important that the miracles.
• We do not know what he preached that day,
• It may have been the same themes preached elsewhere (chapter 1 verse 14);
• i.e. the Kingdom of God, i.e. the salvation of God.
(3). The People involved:
• As we look at this story that took place in Capernaum;
• I want us to look at the 4 types of people who make up this story:
• The first being the four friends.
(a) The friends of the paralysed man.
• I love this story because it is a story about evangelism.
• It is a story of four men concerned about their friend.
• It is a story of friends bringing someone else to Jesus.
• That's what evangelism is,
• It is not about techniques (although some methods are helpful),
• Evangelism is not something that only the experts can do,
• Anyone here this morning can do what these four men did for their friend.
• And the principles we see in this story we can all do or we are already doing.
Quote:
• Someone has nicknamed these four friends:
• 'Sympathy', 'Cooperation', 'Originality', and 'Persistence'.
• All those things are needed;
• If we are to overcome the hindrances to bring others to Christ”
(1st). They cared.
• These four friends believed that their friend needed Jesus;
• And that Jesus could heal their friend,
Ill:
• Bruce Beresford is an Australian film director;
• Who has made more than 30 feature films over a 50-year career.
• Notable films he has directed include Breaker Morant (1980),
• Tender Mercies (1983), Crimes of the Heart (1986) and Driving Miss Daisy (1989).
• Remake of the TV series Roots (2016).
• But one of the most difficult films he has ever made was called ‘Black Robe’ (1991).
• It told the story of French Jesuit missionaries working among the Indians of Quebec.
• The bitterly cold winter weather of Saguenay-Lac St Jean created a logistics nightmare.
• But Beresferd’s greatest challenge was not the weather nor accuracy of historical portrayal.
• It was in making the priest’s missionary obsession believable to film-goers today.
• According to Beresferd:
“He had an obsession with getting people into heaven. This is a concept few people these days take seriously. My job was to convince an audience that this is important.”
• TRANSITION: Are we passionate in getting people into heaven?
• Or do we see our faith as an optional extra,
• A leave it or take it life-style choice.
• These four friends believed that their friend needed Jesus;
• And without an encounter with Jesus, their friend had no hope!
(2nd). They acted.
• They didn't sit at home praying about the situation;
• Instead they put some feet to their prayers.
• Real belief results in action!
• Our doing is an expression of our concern.
ill:
• The Good Samaritan (Luke chapter 10).
• The man’s neighbour was the one who ‘did something’.
• Not the ones (Priests & Levite did) who felt sorry for the man;
• But only the Samaritan ‘did something’ for him.
• And the punchline; “Go and do likewise!”
These friends acted, they were determined to get their friend to Jesus.
• But there is a problem (vs 2):
• They could not find a way to Jesus because of the crowd.
Ill:
• Now in eastern culture there was (and still is) an open door policy,
• So when a celebrity visited a home,
• That home soon became crowded with friends and neighbours;
• Now the house where Jesus was staying was not just crowded,
• It was overflowing, it was teeming with people.
This caused a problem:
• The really needy people couldn't get through to see Jesus,
• Often it is those close to Jesus that prevent others from discovering him!
• We can easily allow are own preferences our own prejudices or our own traditions;
• To become a hindering block to others.
Ill:
• In the life of Jesus;
• He was again and again criticised for being unconventional,
• Because he would not play by the rules of ‘their’ religious ideas,
• So Jesus was criticised for where he went and who he associated with;
• i.e. Tax collectors & sinners (end of the chapter)
• Yet despite their apparent righteous criticism of Jesus:
• The text makes it quite clear that it was Jesus who had God’s approval upon him,
• And not the religious leaders,
• Who sadly are called in the scriptures. ‘a stumbling block’
Note:
• The solution to their problem is found in verse 4:
• When there is no natural way forward;
• God give us the ability to find another way.
• i.e. The roof of a Palestinian house was flat,
• It was often used a place of rest and quiet,
• So there was usually an outside staircase, which ascended to it.
• And so the four friends decided to go up the outside staircase.,
• And then to start digging through the roof.
Ill:
• These roofs were usually made by laying timbers across the top of the house.
• These timbers were then covered by a layer of branches.
• This was covered by a layer of clay tiles,
• And finally, a thick layer of mud was placed on the very top.
• This was rolled and pressed until it was very hard and rain proof.
I would have just loved to have been inside the house:
• While Jesus was preaching, and all of a sudden he looked up,
• And noticed dust and straw and dirt;
• (Quote: Luke Street children’s story “Jesus didn’t mind a bit of dust”)
• Within minutes sunlight shone through the hole,
• Followed by four faces peering through the hole in the roof.
• Jesus must have smiled when he saw their enthusiasm:
• He greets the man with the expression: "Friend".
• A term of affection,
• So he is greeted with a welcome and not with anger over a damaged roof.
• After all it was only a building, an inanimate object,
• This lame man was a living person with feelings and needs.
Notice: (vs 5): "When Jesus saw their faith"
• Matthew, Mark and Luke all agree,
• That Jesus spoke of "their" faith, not "his" that is the man’s faith.
• Jesus always recognised real faith and enjoyed pointing it out to others.
• The friends believed in Jesus;
• And as a result THIER faith was about to be rewarded.
(3rd). They worked together (unity).
• Four men, Mark is the only writer who reports that it took four men to carry him.
• But they had to pull in the right direction or ooops!
Ill:
• The Lone Ranger and his native American Indian friend;
• Where riding together through hostile territory.
• When all of a sudden they were surrounded by Indian warriors on horses,
• Who were obviously dressed for battle.
• The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, “What are we going to do?”
• Tonto replied, “What do you mean ‘we,’ Whiteman?”
• TRANSITION: Unity is so important in the Christian life.
• We need to be pulling together, supporting and encouraging each other.
• ill: Psalm 133.
How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
(4th). They were imaginative.
• They didn't give up when they saw the crowds,
• They used their initiative.
• They dared to do the unusual.
• They were willing to think outside the box!
• One of my favourite quotes from George Verwer (Operation Mobilisation);
• “Pray for sanctified imagination!”
• These friends used their initiative.
• They dared to do the unusual.
• For them, it was not business as usual,
• It took ingenuity to think of breaking up the roof to get that man to Jesus!
• "they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it ":
• These four friends looked at their friend and thought:
• "ok we have a problem, now what’s the solution?"
Application:
• If we want to impact the lives of people around us;
• It will require imagination and flexibility.
Ill:
• We try and do that through ‘bridge-building’ events.
• i.e. Noah’s Ark Parent & Carer Group. i.e. Who let the dads out.
• A variety of outreaching specials.
• They are all good but on their own they are flawed;
• They need to be backed up through building friendships with people.
Quote David Winter:
"Eloquent speeches, visual aids, films, seminars and discussion groups are, after all, no substitute for the daily, unspectacular witness of the rank and file Christian.
If that witness is consistent and open, then no improvement in tactics or strategy will better it as a means of winning people for Christ. If it is not, then no evangelistic programme, no matter how ambitious or sophisticated, will make the slightest impact. That is a lesson we have been slow to learn".
(5th). They were prepared to pay a price.
• Time and effort to carry the man to where Jesus was.
• More effort to dig out the roof and lower him,
• And they were not sure they would be welcome intruders.
• The cost of being misunderstood.
• Don't forget, someone would have had to pay for the roof!
• And it would have probably been the mans friends.
Ill:
• Life ought to teach us that nothing is free,
• It takes time and effort to succeed!
• Book of Proverbs;
• “All hard work brings a reward”
• When it comes to relationships and evangelism;
• It requires time and effort – there are no shortcuts.
(2nd) The paralysed man.
• He came to Jesus the hard way, through the roof,
• We are not told how willing he was to this idea – but this is the way he came.
• I love the surprising words that Jesus spoke to him (vs 5)
• Jesus said to him: "Son, your sins are forgiven":
• The crowd who had gathered, were all expecting Jesus to say:
• "Your legs are healed",
Question: So why say; "Your sins are forgiven"?
Answer:
• Jesus dealt with the mans greatest need:
• Which was not a new pair of legs but a new heart & mind!
• Some have suggested the man’s condition;
• May well have been caused by his sinful life or actions;
• But that is speculation, there is nothing in the text that would suggest that
• I believe Jesus was making a statement to the crowd and the religious leaders;
• By dealing with the man’s greatest need:
• Which was not a new pair of legs but a new heart & mind!
Ill:
• Not far from New York there is a cemetery;
• In that cemetery there is a grave which has inscribed upon its headstone just one word;
• It is the word "Forgiven."
• There is no name, no date of birth or date of death.
• The stone is unembellished by the sculptor's art.
• There is no epitaph, no fulsome eulogy—just that one word, "Forgiven."
• But that is the greatest thing that can be said of any man or woman,
• Or written upon their grave, "Forgiven."
• TRANSITION: Jesus dealt with the man’s greatest need:
• Which was not a new pair of legs but a new heart & mind!
• A new pair of legs might last the man 30, 40 maybe 60years (until he died);
• A new heart and mind would put him back in touch with the living God (eternity!)
Quote Warren Wiersbe:
"Forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs.
It meets the greatest need; it costs the greatest price; and it brings the greatest blessing and the most lasting results".
(3rd) The teachers of the law.
Notice: verse 6:
• The leaders had come to hear Jesus from all over the country, ("Every village")
• Even from the capital Jerusalem;
• They had sent down the big guns, the religious heavyweights to check him out.
• Now they were in one sense right in their capacity as guardians of orthodoxy,
• To check out this new itinerant rabbi, teacher.
• They wanted to make sure he was in line with their rules and regulations.
• That he was kosher!
Note:
• But Mark in his gospel shows us why they were wrong:
• As Jesus looked at them he saw a critical spirit in their hearts:
“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?”
• They had every right to investigate this new teacher,
• But they came with minds already made up and not with open minds and hearts.
• They were looking for error (negative) rather than the truth (positive).
• It was a case of: "We've made our decision, now don't confuse us with the facts".
Look how Jesus responds to them (vs 9):
“Which is easier: to say to this paralysed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take your mat and walk”?”
• The obvious answer to the question is the second ("Get up…and walk"):
• Because no-one can prove whether forgiveness took place or not, it's uncheck-able.
• Because it is inward and invisible.
• And any charlatan, con artist could say the words “You are forgiven,”
• Because no-one can prove whether forgiveness took place or not, it's uncheck-able.
So notice what Jesus does:
• Jesus does something which is also impossible, yet visible!
• He will do something that they can see!
• e.g. Heals the mans body in front of their very eyes:
• Thus proving he could also do that which was invisible!
• Verse 29b: "Get up, take your mat and go home".
• Jesus knew that when the man picked up his mat,
• Everybody would see that he had been instantly and completely healed.
• Those outside of the house who saw him go in through the roof lying on it,
• Would now surprisingly see him coming out through the door;
• With his mat tucked under his arm.
• What had once been a symbol of his miserable confinement,
• Was now a trophy of his total freedom.
• While the people followed the man with their eyes,
• Their ears must have been still ringing with Jesus' words:
• Verse 10: "The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins."
• Jesus had made his point.
• This is amazing stuff:
• In those words, in that sentence;
• Jesus has made a statement that puts him on a parallel with God:
Ill:
• In the Jewish faith, no one can forgive sins except God.
• If a man claimed to be able to do this, it was blasphemy and the penalty was death.
• So here, by his words, Jesus is claiming to be equal with God.
• These words must have shocked, amazed and angered the religious leaders.
• To them Jesus was just a carpenter turned preacher,
• Yet now he has the audacity to play God!
(4th) Jesus.
• The title "Son of man":
• Is used 80 times in the New Testament.
• 79 times in the gospels,
• 1 occasion outside the gospels (Stephen’s speech Acts chapter 7 verse 56).
Two possible meanings:
• It can simply mean: "A man", "A person".
• It is used in the Old Testament like that (i.e. Psalm 8 verse 1, Ezekiel chapter 2 verse 1).
• It was also a Messianic term (to do with the Messiah / Christ).
• ill: Daniel chapter 7 verses 13-14.
• Daniel talks about one who receives:
• "Authority, glory and sovereign power".
So it was a title that the Messiah / Christ would own:
• And here in this context remember Jesus talks about "Authority" & "Forgiveness".
• Messianic, Godly characteristics, which he himself possesses.
Verse 12b:
“This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’”
• Forgiveness was nothing new to the Jews,
• But seeing a man like themselves actually forgive sins was a first.
• Those who witnessed what he had just done,
• Must have sensed that he was more than just a man,
And finally:
• By healing this man, Jesus proved that he was worthy of faith!
• He was proving that he was the Messiah.
• He was proving that he was God in the flesh.
Notice
• His words in verse 10,
• “the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins”.
• Jesus is saying that the place to receive forgiveness is here on earth!
• It will be too late to be forgiven when this life is over.
• The time to seek out and come to Jesus is now.
• If you need forgiveness, the time to come to Jesus is now.
• Question: What about you?
• Question: Has the Lord spoken to your heart today?
• If He has, I invite you to do whatever it is that He wants you to do.
• Jesus is in the house today – don’t miss him!
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=8eOenryckezH4C2WrlfQmaebIvBuyk45&forceSave
