Who Are You Bringing To Jesus? Series

Please turn back to Mark 1 (p.836)

What Jesus spoke about was the word, which was the word of God concerning the nearness of the kingdom and the necessity for repentance and faith (Lane, W. L. (1974). The Gospel of Mark. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (93). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co..).

Mark 1:14-15 [14]Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, [15]and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (ESV)

Christ preached the Word of God. That is what we are suppose to preach. “Preach the word” (II Timothy 4:2) is the commission for God’s preachers, …. However, people need to hear the Word of God more than they need miracles or many other things (Butler, J. G. (2008). Analytical Bible Expositor: Mark (32). Clinton, IA: LBC Publications.)

The good news of the gospel, is that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, for the forgiveness of sins (The MacArthur Study Bible. 1997 (J. MacArthur, Jr., Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Mk 2:2). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.).

• Instead of people being left to try to peace various bits of information about Jesus together, every believer must be able to concisely explain what the Gospel is. As questions develop, this leads to tying various bits of information together to give a bigger picture, but without a concise summary, that learning will eclipse a broad understanding of God and His purpose.

Illustration: Several years ago in Peru, during the insurgence of the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), a Wycliffe couple was traveling to show the Jesus film in a village. Their vehicle was intercepted by the Senderos, and they feared for their lives (with just cause). Instead of killing them, however, the terrorists decided to seize their equipment, including the film projector. The husband boldly suggested that they might as well take the film reels too.

Some time later, a man contacted them to say that he had been among the Senderos who had robbed them. He told them they watched the film seven times (out of sheer boredom), and some had been converted through it. He came to apologize and to tell of his ministry in preaching and evangelism. Not even a cold-blooded terrorist can withstand the white-hot power of the gospel (Larson, C. B. (2002). 750 engaging illustrations for preachers, teachers & writers (208–209). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.).

In Bringing someone to Jesus, we must:

3) Be Co-operative (Mark 2:3)

Mark 2:3 [3]And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. (ESV)

What we often cannot do ourselves, God provides others to not only bear the load, but only if we work together in bringing people to Jesus.

A small group of people in verse 3, also heard that Jesus had returned (2:1). Excited that the man who had healed so many people was back in town (1:34), they determined not to miss him, for they had a friend who needed Jesus’ help. Four of these people were bringing (that is, carrying) a paralytic: one who is paralyzed. The disease that plagued him is characterized by extreme loss of power of motion, and is generally caused by inability of the muscles to function, due to injury in the motor areas of the brain and/or of the spinal cord (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 10: Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark. New Testament Commentary (87). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.).