“One Mat for Sale, Cheap!”
Mark 2:1-13
As Jesus began to go public with His ministry he was about 30 years of age. People were beginning to realize He was the Messiah and it became more and more difficult for Him to remain private. Now you may ask, why did He remain private anyway? The answer is actually simple. His time had not come yet. He still had a great deal of work to do before he would pay the ultimate sacrifice on the cross for your sins and mine. Many of his teachings were accompanied by a sign or a miracle and when, others witnessed these things he was then pushed more and more into the public eye.
At this point, Jesus has already performed numerous miracles. In the first chapter of Mark the text says that whole city had gathered at Peter’s house to see Jesus---large crowds surrounded Jesus to the point he couldn’t publicly enter the city. This is still taking pace in our passage for today. Jesus is in the home of one of his followers; since Capernaum was the home of Simon Peter we can assume this takes place in his home. Jesus is speaking and the crowd is so large there is standing room only.
Homes in Palestine were small of course. One story homes. Fairly low to the ground. It was also common for there to be a ladder outside the home in case you did need to go to the roof to make a repair or to even relax. Obviously we don’t do that but apparently they did. The roof was tiled and covered with what we would call thatch. Stems, leaves and roots all twined together and covered with grass. These 4 men would have to drag the cot up the stairs, tear up the tiles and dig through the thatch. Then the hole would have to be big enough to get the cot and the man through it. This must have been a bit annoying to the people below---they’re trying to listen as Jesus is teaching and now all this debris is falling on them from the ceiling. On top of that the owner is probably not very happy; no mention that anyone asked for permission; I mean has anyone out a new roof on your home recently? It’s not cheap. Now, the home doesn’t belong to Jesus but once He sees their faith it’s like an episode of the Pride is Right, “come on down!”
The text says “He sees their faith.” (Others do see our faith when we exercise it by the way) Seems this is referring to the 4 men who were lowering the man down but I have to think that also He saw the faith of the paralytic. The man on the mat. Think about it. Paralysis in his legs. Can’t control his movement. Life is hard when you cannot completely care for yourself. 4 men hauling you on a mat up a flight of stairs then lowering you through the roof and you have zero control of the whole process. On top of that sometimes we struggle with asking others to help us right? There’s an element of pride; we have to put away and realize you know what, I’m just not in control of my life and by allowing his friends to take him to Jesus, he was admitting he had a need. It takes a lot of faith and a lot of humility to do that.
There are scores of programs that help addicts; those struggling with alcohol or drug addictions; we should all be aware also that there are dozens of kinds of addictions; not just those two. Alcoholics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery, Narcotics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Food addicts, individuals with eating disorders. I read through a list of 42 groups this week----guess what they all share in common in these groups? The first thing you must do in every group is this---you must admit that you have a need. And it’s difficult because…
• We have to let our pride down
• We don’t like to be seen as needy
• Makes us feel like we’re not enough, not as good; as though we don’t have it all together. Or maybe you have it all together, but you don’t know where in the world you put it. And you know what? None of us have it all together. We just don’t.
The first step in getting help in AA is this--- we admitted we were powerless over alcohol --- that our lives had become unmanageable. CR, a Christian based program words it this way---Realize I’m not God---admit I am powerless and life is unmanageable. That’s the first step. In all of these groups and in life there comes a point when we must realize we are not God and without Him we can do nothing. The paralytic in this story knew this better than anyone in the room. So he’s like, get me to the one who can help. It takes a lot of faith to do that. Jesus speaks to the man with compassion---the Greek word he uses here is child. Jesus is claiming a special, personal relationship with this man. That’s the first thing Jesus claims. Then He claims the authority to forgive sin. Mow, we looked at this last week’ physical illness is not necessarily the result of sin but in this case it seems that it was. Jesus knew the man was a paralytic but he looks past his disability and sees a deeper need. There are worse conditions that a physical disability. He is a sinner. It’s what the scripture recorded 2000 years ago in the book of Romans.
Romans 3:23. All have sinned.
Romans 6:23. The wages of sin is death.
In the gospel of Mark, Jesus casts out demons, heals many different diseases; like leprosy; am many who has a withered hand, those who were demon possessed and they would beg him to let them go with Him; he fed 5000; walked on water; calmed the sea at the sound of his voice. Healed a young girl and a young boy. Mark’s gospel is filled with healings, but this is the only time where upon a healing a person’s sin is forgiven. Prophets often claimed to have the power to heal---but know this…only God has the authority to forgive. This is what upset the scribes. Look at verses 6-7. The scribes were the keepers of the law. If anyone knew/understood what Jesus was saying, they did. By claiming the ability for forgive sins, Jesus was claiming equality with God. There were only two options here; Jesus either believed Himself to be God or He was committing blasphemy; he was telling a lie.
As always, Jesus knew right at that moment, what they were thinking. He could see into their hearts. So he questions them. V. 8b-9. This question was a very different one for them to answer. It’s easy to say the words---you’re forgiven, you’re healed but to accomplish either one---they were equally difficult. If He could heal this man, then He was God. If He could forgive this man, then He was God. If either was true the scribes had no option other than to worship him as God. And that was something they were simply not ready to do.
Jesus then proves that He cares for the entire person. Peter said cast your cares on Jesus because He cares for you. Jesus cares about every need we face. Physical. Spiritual. Emotional. He cares about every detail of your life. And because He cares, He forgave this man and in doing so the man was healed. So Jesus said, now pick up your mat and go home. Look again at what verse 12 says. Now, let’s look at some BIG TRUTHS that are here in this scripture.
1. It may take more than one person to get someone to Jesus. In this case, it took four. Paul tells us there are those who plant the seed, those who water, but they all matter. In each case, we must know it is God who gives the increase. Here there were 4 men who planted the seed and literally carried the man to Jesus.
2. Whatever effort it requires on our part, it will always be worth it. The Bible says, “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. The effort is always worth it because it always makes a difference. You may not see it right away but it always makes a difference. These 4 men carry this man up a ladder, across the roof and then lower him down. It took all 4 men to get him down to Jesus but he walks out all by himself. Can you imagine his testimony? After he is healed Jesus tells him to go home. Tell your family. Tell your friends. Can you imagine what that must have been like? Hey guys, anyone need a mat? I’ve got one for sale! It’s cheap. Cause I don’t need it anymore. I’m not planning on sitting down for a long time. ? I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Probably said to his wife, hey, I’ve got an idea. We could make a new thing; call it a door mat, you know people can wipe their feet on it before they come in. Cause I don’t need it anymore. And then every time he would enter his home, he could walk across that mat and think of Jesus. The one who healed him and forgave his sin. There is absolutely nothing more rewarding than that; to know our sins are gone.
3. Jesus is the ultimate heart surgeon. It’s been over 50 years now since the first heart transplant was done. Since that time, science and medicine have made incredible progress; now every day we see friends and family receive a stent, a bypass, what would have been a death sentence for many people now is an everyday surgery that is performed. The progress is phenomenal. Amazing what doctors can do. But I don’t know of any doctor who can do or say what Jesus said: your sins are forgiven. Jesus was able to look straight into their hearts; knew exactly what they were thinking. Has Jesus done that for you? Do you know that you know Jesus? Has your life been changed by the power of God? You can receive a new heart today.
Let me ask you, who’s your one? Who is one person you know who needs Jesus and you say I would do anything to get that man or woman to Jesus? Who is it for you?
Mike Weaver, lead singer of the Christian band Big Daddy Weave, Mike Weaver, helped write the amazing song, Redeemed. God has really used that song.
Danny Holmes, confessed to the murder of Cesar Lopez-Flores, nearly three years after the death of the father of three. Just minutes into his trial, Holmes shocked the court when he confessed to the murder. The trial took several years following the murder. Holmes said that he felt that he had to tell the truth. "I knew the Lord was just on me, weighing on me over and over." "I’m 30-years-old, and I’ve been fighting for nothing all my life. I’ve been fighting for gangs. … I ain’t never fought for anything that made sense. But I knew the Lord was telling me to fight for Him this time. I just knew He was stirring on my spirit,” he said. His statement took 20 minutes and during his statement he held in his hands the lyrics to that song. Holmes said he deserved the life sentence he got for his crimes and said he plans to go to prison and tell the young people he meets to find salvation through God.
REDEEMED
Seems like all I can see was the struggle, Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past. Bound up in shackles of all my failures. Wondering how long is this gonna last. Then you look at this prisoner and say to me "son stop fighting a fight that's already been won" I am redeemed. you set me free.
So I'll shake off these heavy chains, Wipe away every stain
Cause I'm not who I used to be, I am redeemed I'm redeemed.
