The Capernaum Caper

Mark 2:1-12 KJV And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. [2] 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. [3] And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. [4] 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. [5] When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. [6] But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, [7] Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? [8] 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? [9] 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? [10] 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,) [11] I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. [12] 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.

l. INTRODUCTION -- THE BOOK OF MARK

-The book of Mark is significantly shorter than are the three other Gospels. Mark seems to target the Romans as his primary audience of readers and does this by presenting Jesus as a Suffering Servant. He focuses more on the actions of the Lord than of the teaching/preaching of the Lord. Mark probably emphasizes the human aspect of Jesus more than any of the other Gospel writers.

-Mark gives us insight into:

• The emotions of the Lord: 1:41; 3:5; 6:34; 8:12; and 9:36.

• The human limitations of the Lord: 4:38; 11:12; 13:32 (also could be referred to as an example of the dual nature of Jesus Christ).

• The other small details of His humanity: 7:33-34; 8:12; 9:36; 10:13-16.

-The book of Mark is loaded with miracles. In fact, when you begin to read the book of Mark there is very little introduction or background information given about Jesus and who he was. Mark immediately begins to record the great miracles that He performed.

• 1:23 -- Casting out an Unclean spirit.

• 1:30 -- Healing Peter’s mother-in-law.

• 1:32 -- Healing the sick in the evening.

• 1:40 -- Cleansing the Leper.

• 2:3 -- Healing the Paralytic.

• 3:1 -- Straightening the Withered Hand.

• 4:35 -- Calming the Storm.

• 5:1 -- Delivering the man from the demons and casting them into the swine.

• 5:25 -- Healing the woman with the issue of blood.

• 5:35 -- Raising Jairius’ daughter from the dead.

• 6:30 -- Feeding the Five Thousand.

• 6:48 -- Walking on the Water.

• 7:24 -- Healing the Syrophonecian woman’s daughter.

• 7:31 -- Healing a deaf mute.

• 8:1 -- Feeding the Four Thousand.

• 8:22 -- Healing a blind man at Bethsaida.

• 9:17 -- Delivering the boy who was cast into the fire and the water.

• 10:46 -- Healing two blind men.

• 11:12 -- Cursing the fig tree.

ll. THE TEXT -- MARK 2:1-12

A. The Miracle of the Paralytic

-This miracle was one of the earliest miracles in the life of the Lord. After His rejection by the hometown crowd in Nazareth, the Lord would adopt Capernaum as His second home.

-So now the Pharisees and religious leaders were all perched in the neighborhood waiting to spring upon an unsuspecting Christ with their accusations. These men were from every part of the country waiting to destroy the works of God in the earth.

-Mark details the scene much better than both Matthew and Luke. The crowds had gathered and they probably were the more common people of the town. The crowd was made up of fisherman, those who ran the weaver’s loom, the farmers who worked the fields, the housewives who were building the home, the peasants who congregate so much of life.

-The Lord moves into the house and soon the house is filled with capacity and overflows out into the yard. A low buzz of conversation can be heard. There are some who attempt to quieten the voices so that they could hear what the Lord was saying inside the house. The windows are open.