Message

We had another guest preacher this week, a different guy completely. Yet, his message perfectly followed on from last weeks!! It really hit me deeply and I wanted to share it because I think it's so relevant! I hope I do it justice, but forgive me if it is a little basic!!

Mark 2:1-12

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

¹A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ²So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. ⁴Since 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. ⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

⁶Now 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?"

⁸Immediately 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? ⁹Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? ¹⁰But 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." ¹²He 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!"

I was pretty familiar with this story about Jesus, I think many people are. But today I was given a new perspective on something it teaches us - about the kind of people around us. There are 3 types of people in our lives:

People who stand in our way, and won't move to help us. The house where Jesus was, was full of people, so many that the paralytic man could not get in to see the Lord.

We often have to be determined to get the help we need and others may stand in our way intentionally or perhaps just because they are seeking things for themselves. Rather than giving up we should seek a new way, around them.

People who will go above and beyond to help us. The paralytic received help from friends who not only agreed to help get him to the house, but when they couldn't get through the door, they carried him up to the roof and lowered him down to see Jesus.

The scripture says "When Jesus saw their faith," - not their actions or the issue the paralytic was facing! Jesus saw the faith of all the men, faith that was demonstrated in their incredible actions.

We need to surround ourselves with people who support us, help us and show us the way to Jesus. Too often we do not ask others for help, maybe because we don't think they will, or because we are too proud to acknowledge that we need it. But God gave us each other because we often need help, whether it's physical, emotional, spiritual or financial.

And then there are those like the Pharisees, who sat on the sidelines making judgement and seeking to condemn for their own self-justification. Those are the people that often get under our skin the most, but are the ones that matter the least! In fact I heard someone say recently that people don't think about us nearly as much as we think they do!! So why worry what they may be thinking!!

Another key lesson in this story is that Jesus did not just heal the man, as he had wanted. Instead he focused on the mans spiritual health, and forgave his sins before healing him. Why is this significant? So often our issues seem straight forward, but there is often a deeper issue that we don't acknowledge or realize.

If our heart is focused on our relationship with God (which brings joy and peace to surpass all else) the worldly problems we face can be solved though looking with an eternal perspective - things that are temporary or do not impact our eternal future may pale into insignificance. Or we are changed through God's heart - if we can admit our selfishness and put others first we see things differently.

Scott quoted this scripture today:
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6: 33-34)

Words to live by.

And finally, it is not about me, or you or us. It's about God and through our struggles and triumphs may His glory be displayed!