• In Mark 1:21, we read, “And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.”
• After he got through in the synagogue, he left Capernaum to go to Peter’s house and He healed Peter’s mother-in-law and many more.
• But as we come to chapter two, he tells us that the Lord returned to Capernaum. Look at verse 1, we read, “And again he entered into Capernaum…”
As you read through the Book of Mark, you can’t help but notice the continuous flow of information in the life of Christ. In this passage of scripture we want to look at several things.
First, we need to consider-
I. THE CROWD
Look at verses 1-2, we read, “And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 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.”
Notice, we see His popularity continues to grow. The Bible tells us that he entered a house, and the Word of God says, “…And it was noised that he was in the house.” The knowledge He was in the house accomplished two things:
• The Bible tells us that, “…Straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them…” Knowing He was there brought out the crowd. Again we can see that his popularity is really beginning to mushroom!
• Notice what happened once the crowd came out to see Him. It is important for us to see that when He had this large crowd, “…he preached the word unto them.”
IS THIS SIGNIFICANT? Yes, it is very significant! If the Lord Jesus was here on earth and He was going to start a church, have you ever wondered what kind of church He would start?
I do not believe it would be anything like many churches today. For example, we live in an age where the emphasis is on:
• Magnificent church buildings
• Great singing
• Entertaining dramas
• Activities
There is not a thing wrong with any of these things. But there is something wrong when we make these the emphasis and the drawing card to bring people to our churches.
Illus: These things may draw a crowd, but the circus that comes through town can also draw a crowd. A crowd does not constitute a church.
To be honest with you, I am not sure Jesus would use any of the things some churches today are using to draw a crowd. But one thing I know He would do is PREACH THE WORD OF GOD to the people.
So little of the Word of God today is being preached.
Illus: This is why many of these television hucksters can stay on the air. People are so ignorant of the Word of God!
Illus: These people in their ignorance make me think of the girl on her second date with a diehard baseball fan, and she was a little nervous. It was her fault that they arrived at the stadium a full hour after the game had begun. Taking her seat, she glanced up at the scoreboard. It was a tight pitcher’s battle; bottom of the fifth, 0-0. "Look Charlie," she exclaimed in relief, "we haven’t missed a thing!"
There is a lot of ignorance today, but especially among Christians who profess to be saved.
Sometimes we see large coliseums, auditoriums and churches that literally have thousands of people attending. What is so sad about the situation is that when some of these preachers get up to preach, there is so little of the Word of God preached.
Illus: One of these fellows on television came out one day looking like a clown from a circus. He had patches of cloth all over his coat and trousers. He was telling people that he had been wearing these patches for days and they were anointed by God.
He should have said, “If anyone in this listening audience is crazy enough to send me a thousand dollars I will send you one in the mail and you and put it on your body and you will be healed immediately.” He didn’t say the “crazy enough” part, but he did say the rest.
We have many preachers who give the impression that they get all their sermons straight from God. THEY ARE FULL OF THEMSELVES! Here is the problem; they have placed all their emphasis on THE MESSENGER, not THE MESSAGE!
Listen, I see nothing wrong with preaching someone else’s sermon word for word if it is Bible based. What is important is THE MESSAGE, not the MESSENGER! But when a person is FULL OF THEMSELVES, they never miss a shot at looking spiritual!
God honors His Word regardless who presents it. This is something a lot of preachers have never come to recognize.
Illus: Everete L. Wilson, said, “Preaching is the most undemocratic of routines in a free society. Week in, week out, people come and listen for a half-hour at a time to someone like themselves. They do not interrupt; they do not walk out. They can't switch channels. Sometimes the speaker scolds them, and they sit still for it. They are not students in a university, intimidated by a professor's power over their marks and futures; they are not employees dependent upon the speaker's power over their income. Many of them, in fact, are giving sacrificially to keep the speaker's family fed, clothed, housed, and educated. Those of us who have assumed such an undemocratic prerogative had better believe we are engaged in the ministry of the Word of God; otherwise there is no hope for us!
Preaching the Word of God is essential. This is why Paul told Timothy, “Preach the Word!”
When the crowd came together in this house, the Bible says, “He preached the Word unto them.” This is something all preachers should be doing. When they have done this, they can do no greater thing!
We have looked at THE CROWD, but let’s look at-
II. THE CONFIDANTS
Look at verses 3-4, we read, “And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 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.”
In this portion of scripture, we see a beautiful picture of four wonderful friends bringing a diseased man to the Lord. This is a perfect picture of Christians working together to bring the lost (helpless) to the Lord.
Often, people say with a nonchalant attitude, “I can’t bring anyone to church.” What they really should say is that they are not willing to sacrifice their time or energy to bring someone to the Lord.
Illus: If a fisherman made as little effort to catch fish as some who are trying to win men and women to Christ, they would never catch fish.
We live in an age when folks do not want to sacrifice. They do not mind others sacrificing, but they do not want to sacrifice.
These four men thought enough of this man with Palsy that they had to carry him there, fight the crowd, and then literally tear a hole through the roof to get him to the Lord.
• Many houses of Jesus' day had an outside stairway that climbed up to a second floor
• The roof was easily reached from this stairway
• The roof was flat and made of tile-like rocks matted together with a straw and clay-like substance
• The roof was sturdy enough for people to sit upon it and carry on evening conversations and other activities
• These men dug and scooped out an opening through the roof. They were so sure of Jesus' power to help, nothing was going to prevent them from getting to Jesus — they had an unstoppable faith
When they did this, the Lord saw two things:
(1) THE FAITH AND THE NEEDS OF THE MAN
We do not know the whole story. Perhaps this man said to his four good friends, “I need to ask a favor. I need someone to transport me to where the Lord is, because I believe if I can get to Him He can heal me.” When the Lord saw this man being lowered down, I believe that this man’s eyes were focused on the Lord and the Lord could see the faith that this man had.
But the Lord saw something else-
(2) THE FAITH OF THE FOUR MEN WHO BROUGHT HIM
Look at verse 5, we read, “When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”
Notice, the Lord said, “their faith.” I am glad we can pray for each other, but I am also glad we can exercise faith for those we love.
The faith of the friends played a large part in the man being healed and receiving forgiveness of sins. They literally UNCOVERED the house and lowered him down to the Lord.
We have looked at THE CROWD and THE CONFIDANTS, but let’s look at-
III. THE COMMOTION
Any time the WORD OF GOD IS PREACHED and the Lord is beginning to move, you can be sure the devil will also begin to move.
Notice, the Lord did two things:
• He healed him physically
• He healed him spiritually
Evidently when the man was being lowered down through the roof, the Lord Jesus recognized he was not saved. This is why He said to him, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” Jesus forgave the man's sins first.
IS THIS SIGNIFICANT? Yes. By so doing He taught that the most important thing for a man to seek is forgiveness of sins.
Illus: I have a problem with some of the so-called ministries today. Some feel it is the responsibility of Christians to provide a place for SINNERS to come each day and eat and sleep. There is nothing wrong with that, but if we do not PREACH THE WORD to them, we are like a farmer that is fattening his pigs up for the slaughter.
There are those today that place a tremendous emphasis on divine healing. They do this because in the religious world we have hucksters that prey on the weakness of mankind. For example, when a person is sick they will give their life savings to get their health back. These con men know that and they prey on that desperation. This is why they stand up and tell people it is always God’s for them to be healed. These poor people, out of desperation, will grab their checkbook and send them a couple hundred dollars without any hesitation.
While physical healing is important, it is not as important as spiritual healing. A man should always seek to be forgiven before anything else.
Jesus wants man to live eternally, not just for a few short years. Before he can live eternally, man must willingly come to Jesus for forgiveness of sins. Jesus proclaimed forgiveness in tenderness and compassion.
For example, when a man comes to Jesus for forgiveness, Jesus does not...
• Accuse the man of past sins
• Find fault with the man: what he has done - why he has come - where he came from
When a man comes to Jesus, Jesus responds tenderly and compassionately. This is seen in the word "Son." In the Greek, "son" (teknon) means child. Looking upon the man lying at His feet, Jesus saw a child, and Jesus responded to the man just as any of us would respond to a child lying helpless at our feet; tenderly and compassionately.
Jesus proclaimed forgiveness in His own authority. It is critical to see this. He did not say:
• “God, forgive this man."
• "God, I wish You would forgive this man."
Jesus said, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” He forgave the sins Himself, in His own name, by His own power and authority.
The point is unmistakable. Jesus is proclaiming to be God, the very Son of God, and the people understand exactly what He is doing.
Look at verses 6-7, we read, “But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?”
Notice, the Bible says they REASONED THIS WITHIN THEIR HEARTS. Listen, the only way I know you have something bad to say is for you to say it. There is no such thing as a mind reader, but there is one who can READ YOUR HEART.
Look at verses 8-12, we read, “And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.”
Jesus saw what he had in his heart and He showed them in a definite way that HE CAN FORGIVE SINS as EASY AS HEALING A CRIPPLED MAN! Why? Because He is Immanuel, God with us!
Conclusion:
The good news as we read the Gospel of Mark in this passage is that the Lord Jesus can still:
• HEAL US SPIRITUALLY
• HEAL US PHYSICALLY
We have looked at:
I. THE CROWD
II. THE CONFIDANTS
III. THE COMMOTION
