A Love That Will Not Be Denied
By Pastor John
Mark 2:1-12
1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Love
3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.
Several men, more than four, brought their friend to Jesus. He was paralyzed, probably in an accident of some kind. Four men were needed to carry him.
Unity of purpose
Without their help, the man might have never walked again. What they may not have realized is that without their help, and Jesus' grace, the man might have been lost for all of eternity because of his sin.
Perseverance
4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
They were not going to let the crowd stop them. How many people would have come up with this solution - Dig a hole in someone else's roof. Their Love would not be denied.
Faith
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
They knew that Jesus was the only person who could help their friend. They knew if they just got their friend to Jesus, He would heal him.
He not only healed him, but he saved him. "Son, your sins are forgiven."
9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Today, we can't take people to Jesus on a stretcher. We can take people to Jesus by prayer.
But we need the same hearts that these men had.
Love
We need the same love that these men had. A love for others that won't be denied. We all have the opportunity to take people to Jesus. The sick. The Lost. Our friends. Our family. Our children.
Unity of Purpose
We need to be pulling together in taking people to Jesus. To reach the lost around us. To reach the next generation.
Perseverance
We need to pray without ceasing. We should never quit our praying. In spiritual warfare, there are setbacks. There are obstacles. But we continue to persevere in our prayers to bring people to Jesus.
Faith
We need to have an unwavering faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ. We need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He answers our prayers. He still heals bodies. He still saves souls.
When we put Jesus first in our lives; when we walk close with Him, when we spend time with the Lord, then these attributes begin to grow in our hearts. Love for the hurting and the lost grows in our hearts, until we are so burdened that we must cry out to God in prayer. We persevere no matter what because we realize how important it is. Our faith is strong.
When we get lax in our walk with the Lord, when we begin to run after the things of the world, Our love grows cold. Our faith gets weak.
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