Teamwork In Transit To Jesus (2022 Version)

TEAMWORK IN TRANSIT TO JESUS

Text: Mark 2:1-12

Mark 2:1-12  When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.  (2)  So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them.  (3)  Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.  (4)  And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.  (5)  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."  (6)  Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,  (7)  "Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  (8)  At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?  (9)  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'?  (10)  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he said to the paralytic—  (11)  "I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home."  (12)  And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" (NRSV).

Mike and Jerry were life long friends who grew up together, worked together, and even hunted together. One day Mike went scuba diving while Jerry had gone hunting alone. It was unfortunate that Jerry fell from his tree stand and his pants leg got caught by a rail road peg that had been used in making a ladder on that tree stand. Jerry landed upside down on his head as his pants leg had been caught by that rail road spike. Jerry was a paraplegic as a result of that accident.

In all that time, Mike was a friend who went the extra mile for Jerry for 17 yrs. Mike would carry Jerry to the Church of God church for the next seventeen yrs. Mike would come by to pick Jerry up and take him to the kitchen where Jerry’s wife would wash his hair. Mike would help Jerry to dressed for church religiously every Sunday. Mike even helped Jerry in his wheelchair into the baptismal fountain when he got baptized, helping the preacher Brother Ron to lean Jerry back so he could be completely immersed for his baptism. Mike would go and get lunch for him and Jerry after church as they would eat in Mike’s truck. Mike’s devotion went beyond just taking Jerry to church, he took Jerry for to the dentist, the barber and to his doctor’s appointments. Proverbs 18:24 says, “Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin” (NRSV). Mike helped Jerry for 17 yrs. until Jerry’s health made it too hard for him to go anymore. Brother Ron, who was the pastor at the church Jerry attended was amazed at Mike’s devotion for his friend Jerry.

Jerry even lived longer than the average life span of a paraplegic. Mike passed away last year. Mike’s wife Jean told me about Mike’s friendship with Jerry. Brother Rob, who preached Mike’s funeral also shared story in Mike’s Eulogy.

In Mark 2:1-12, we have a miracle story about a paralyzed man whose "conscience" seemed to be "troubling him". In the days of Jesus' earthly ministry, it was not uncommon for people to connect suffering with sin. The paralytic in Mark 2:1-12 had paralysis that was obviously caused by his sin. His suffering and his sin were somehow connected. That is why Jesus enables the paralyzed man to experience healing as forgiveness. Today I want to share with you three things about today’s miracle story, conviction, friends and the Savior.

Today we will explore conviction, friendship and forgiveness.

CONVINCTION

Can sin effect us in such a way that it cripples us with conviction?

1) Fill in the blank: Someone has said that the paralytic is a representative of the human race who was paralyzed and helpless in his own strength. (Leslie B. Flynn. The Miracles Of Jesus. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1990, p. 69). We are not told what sin the paralytic was guilty of in this miracle story. The only information that we are given is that he was paralyzed because of his sin.

2) Guilt: Guilt can become paralyzing in a number of ways. It can cause unrest in one's spirit leading to ulcers, high blood pressure, loss of appetite, insomnia and so on. In one way or another guilt can become a prison for the "consciences of those sinners who continue to be troubled by their misbehavior".