BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS FAITH

The Gospel of Mark #7

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

(Mark 2:1–12, NLT) “When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Never were people so favored as the people of Capernaum, and never did people appear to become so hard. Let us beware of walking in their steps. We ought often to use the prayer of the Litany: “From hardness of heart, good Lord, deliver us.”- J. C. Ryle

• Jesus preached God’s Word, the Gospel.

• The Good News is the Messiah has come to break the power of sin and begin God’s personal reign upon the earth.

• The miracles of Jesus pointed to His identity, revealed his compassion and love for the people he had come to save.

1. A GOOD FRIEND QUICKLYTAKES YOU TO CHRIST.

(Mark 2:2–3, NLT) “Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.”

2. A GOOD FRIEND BUILDS BIG FAITH.

(Mark 2:4, NLT) “They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.”

(Acts 20:32, LB) “And now I entrust you to God and his care and to his wonderful words that are able to build your faith and give you all the inheritance of those who are set apart for himself.”

3. A GOOD FRIEND’S FAITH MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

(Mark 2:5, Message) “Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic…”

• Persistent faith

• Creative faith

•  Sacrificial faith

JESUS ALWAYS DEALS WITH THE SOURCE.

(Mark 2:5, NLT) “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

1. JESUS IS THE INCARNATION OF GOD’S WILL TO FORGIVE AND HEAL.

(Exodus 15:26, NLT) “ I am the Lord who heals you.”

2. CRITICS LOVE TO SIT AND FIND FAULT.

(Mark 2:6–7, NLT) “But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

3. JESUS CAME TO BRING FORGIVENESS TO A BROKEN WORLD.

(Mark 2:8–12, NLT) “Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, … They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

4. I NEED A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS FATHER MORE THAN HEALING.

“Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers.

(Leviticus 21:22, NLT) “However, he may eat from the food offered to God, including the holy offerings and the most holy offerings.”