Jesus The King: Gospel of Mark Part 3 Our Greatest Need Mark 2:1-12 Sunday December 11, 2016

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1 Jesus The King: Gospel of Mark Part 3 Our Greatest Need Mark 2:1-12 Sunday December 11, Pastor Mike Penninga Follow Up to Opportunities Expo, Good Stories Story from Gayle Blood Donor Clinic Power of the Pebble Invite you to a Christmas of Compassion Not Consumption Prayer: If someone asked you what your greatest need was, what would be your answer? More money? Better health? A stronger marriage & family? More time? Would you be okay if I said it was none of those things? Jesus has his idea on what you and I need most, and it gets played out in this next story in Mark. Bible: Open with me to Mark Chapter 2 verse 1. Message outline in bulletin Welcome those joining us online. I ve called this message, Our Greatest Need because today we come face to face with a man who thinks his greatest need is healing, but discovers his greatest need is something way more important. Look with me, Mark chapter 2 verse 1 Mark 2:1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Context: Geography Just wanted to pause to give some context to geography, which we aren t normally familiar with. Map Jesus was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, and during his ministry years was based out of Capernaum, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Here s what s fascinating. 1

2 2 Jesus did several miracles in Capernaum, the town where he lived, including the one we re looking at today. But it was also the place that rejected him, and later he actually cursed the town. Matthew 11:20 Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn t repented of their sins and turned to God. Inadequacy of Miracles: Here s what I find amazing. Miracles in and of themselves never seemed to be enough to make people to believe. If you re waiting for a miracle to believe, may I suggest that the miracle may not be enough. There comes a point where you must make a decision, where it is a step of faith. Mark 2:2-5 2 Soon the house where he was staying [probably Peter s house] was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 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. Amazing Friends: These are some amazing friends! You and I need friends like this. We need to be friends like this. Here s a question that jumped off the page for me. Who Brings You to Jesus? Who do you have in your life that will bring you to Jesus when you can t get there on your own? This guy was needed a touch from Jesus. And yet on his own, he couldn t get there... there was no way. But how cool is it that he had four guys in his life who refused to let him miss out on Jesus. Who do you have in your life that will bring you to Jesus when you simply can t get there on your own? You Have Them? Do you have men and women like that? When you don t want to pray, they pray for you? When you can t make it to Jesus, they carry you there? You need them. 2

3 3 Don t Just Appear: Practical thought... these people rarely just appear, they need to be developed. On two fronts, you need to pursue those people in your life, and you need to be one of those people in another person s life. Notice what Jesus says next. Mark 2:5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, My child, your sins are forgiven. Who s Faith? Who s faith was Jesus impressed with? It doesn t say seeing the man s faith, it says seeing their faith, the faith of those who were willing to tear a roof apart to get their needy friend to Jesus. It was the faith of these friends that stood out. That s awesome! And then Jesus gets down to the heart of the issue, he puts his finger on this man s greatest need. Mark 2:5 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, My child, your sins are forgiven. Greatest Need? Hold on a second. Is this what the guy thought was his greatest need? I m lying on a mat.... I m paralyzed. I didn t come to be forgiven, I came to be healed. I didn t come for spiritual healing, I came for physical healing. Spiritual vs. Physical Healing But Jesus knew spiritual healing was more important than physical healing. And you might come to him for all kinds of things. You want to live a moral life, or you want to have a spiritual component to your life, or you want to have some values added to your family. But if you come and miss your greatest need and Jesus greatest offer, then you miss the whole purpose. Jeff Bourne testimony Picture: Jeff s Mom Janice, Brother Justin, Sister in law Brianna and 3 month old nephew Charlie 3

4 If I had the option to choose God s forgiveness or the ability to walk again, I'd %100 choose Gods forgiveness and grace...no questions asked. Why would I choose this? because I will be walking again someday. And all I have known my entire life is my disability, I'm comfortable with the life God has given me 4 Big Point: Your greatest need is not healing but forgiveness. Your greatest need is not restored eyesight or renewed mobility or a cancer free body. Your greatest need is to have your sins forgiven. Because all of this will one day be gone. But our soul lives on for eternity. Max Lucado - Our Greatest Need: I read a quote that totally stuck out to me, and it has been attributed to several authors, but I read it from Max Lucado. If our greatest need had been information God would have sent us an educator If our greatest need had been technology God would have sent us a scientist If our greatest need had been money God would have sent us an economist If our greatest need had been pleasure God would have sent us an entertainer But our greatest need was for forgiveness So God sent us a Savior! Max Lucado Back to the text Mark 2:6-7 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 Never Claimed to be God? People sometimes tell me that Jesus never claimed to be God... that we have somehow placed that identity upon him, that he was just a good moral teacher. I don t know how you reconcile that thought with statements like this. I forgive your sins. You don t do that if you re just a good teacher or a good role model or a good example. And the religious teachers knew it. 4

5 5 Mark 2:8-9 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? Which is Easier? Which do you think is easier? It s obviously easier to SAY your sins are forgiven, because there is no physical evidence if anything has happened. Even though forgiving sins will cost Jesus His very life, it seems like an easier thing. It appears to be more difficult to physically heal this man. Mark 2:10-12 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. Jumped Up Verse 12 Here s what I love about verse 12. He didn t just struggle to his feet, it says he jumped up That s awesome! There is this beautiful prophecy in Isaiah 35 about what will happen when the Messiah arrives. Isaiah 35:5-6 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Does that sound like the ministry of Jesus? Mark 2:12 They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, We ve never seen anything like this before! Purpose of Miracle: Here s the thing about miracles. Miracles always prove Jesus power. Miracles are evidence of Jesus true identity. He is the King with all authority. The miracle in and of itself doesn t lead to a saving faith. It leads to a discovery of the one behind the miracle. 5

6 Jesus. 6 Final Question Want to leave you with this question. What is your greatest need? It s not to be made well but to be made whole. Your greatest need and my greatest need is forgiveness. C.H. Spurgeon, known as the Prince of Preachers, once said this; I have a great need for Christ. I have a great Christ for my need. Would you stand with me to pray as the team comes to close. Prayer: Song Healer Closing: Next Steps Benediction: 6

7 Jesus The King: Gospel of Mark Part 3 Our Greatest Need Mark 2:1-12 Sunday December 11, Pastor Mike Penninga Intro: What would you say is your greatest need? What if Jesus thinks otherwise? Mark 2:1 Capernaum Jesus Back Home Evidence that miracles are never enough (Matthew 11:21-24) Mark 2:2-4 Bringing Down The Roof! Who s faith impressed Jesus? Who do you have in your life that will when you can t get there on your own? Mark 2:5-7 Forgiveness or Healing? Jesus knows our greatest need: F Our Greatest Need: If our greatest need had been information God would have sent us an educator If our greatest need had been technology God would have sent us a scientist If our greatest need had been money God would have sent us an economist If our greatest need had been pleasure God would have sent us an entertainer But our greatest need was for forgiveness So God sent us a Savior! Max Lucado Mark 2:8-12 Jesus Backs Up Words with Wonders Miracles are evidence of Jesus true identity. He is the King with all authority. Conclusion: C.H. Spurgeon I have a great need for Christ. I have a great Christ for my need. Have you acknowledged your greatest need and turned to Jesus to provide for it? 7