Mark 2_1_12 Raise the Roof
Notes
Transcript
Title: Raising the Roof
Text: Mark 2:1-12
Intro: There are lots of ways to gather a crowd. – water park – advertised free wrestling down town- said it was better than the WWE – the problem isn’t drawing crowds but what to do with the crowd. As a boy I loved wrestling – Hulk Hogan – Brutus the Barber Beefcake – etc. If I went to that match it is possible I would have been disappointed.
As Jesus entered into Capernaum the news had spread that the Man who taughtwith authority and who actedwith authority healing the sick and casting out demons had returned. So naturally a large crowd gathered. Jesus was inside the house (possibly Peter’s house) preaching the good news to the crowd which was so large that people were busting out of the doors and there wasn’t room for even one more person, and there came 5 men to him. One on a mat/stretcher the others carrying him. The man on the mat was Paralyzed.
Those who came to Jesus with the right heart – surely did not leave disappointed.
CPS: Jesus is faithful to heal the faithful
There are a few Characters that emerge from this setting.
The Paralyzed Man Vs.3
Seriousness of his sickness
Palsy – Greek word is to be paralyzed- The man at best could not walk for himself at worse could possibly move his head.
Injury or born with it (Spina bifida)
To be paralyzed is to be in a sad state a serious state with many complications, -loss of temperature control, - loss of bladder function, - loss of bowel function *** infections that occur lying in excrement, -- Cardo vascular difficulty, - Respiratory difficulty, - constant pain, - depression
Illustration:Between the great things that we cannot do and the small things we will not do, the danger is that we shall do nothing.
This man could do nothing, in a state of helplessness, always dependent on another person – mind wanders at all times, dreams and aspirations that are to never be.
I don’t believe there could be anything much worse than the ability to do absolutely nothing
Seriousness of his sickness – the inability to do anything about it.
He was in need of compasion
The source of his sickness
What caused his sickness? – Spina Bifida? Spinal Cord Injury? ALS?
We don’t know , but the belief of that time in Galilee was the cause was that of committed sin. Sin of his parents, his own sin?
I don’t believe God punished this man for the sins of his parents nor his sin by striking him with paralysis.
But, the underlying cause of all sickness is in fact….. sin.
Jesus used this,
Vs. 5 “Your sins be forgiven,” for nobody could prove whether or not the man’s sins were indeed forgiven. So, Jesus backed up His word of forgiveness with a word of healing, and the man would go home whole.
The source of his sickness, the sin of mankind
Sin makes us all paralyzed
Illustration: Lake Eufaula fishing with Johnny David and seeing a snake coiled up in the creek, I was stricken with paralysis- I couldn’t do anything, I could do nothing be freeze!
Sin leaves us paralyzed – helpless in our inability to stand before God
Transition: The second character I want you to see is the Persistent Men
The Persistent Men Vs.4
I want you to see the resolve of these men. They brought their friend on a mat to the house where Jesus was but there wasn’t anyway to get inside to Jesus because of the crowd.
House etc
The obstacle of the great crowd did not deter the persistent men
Filled with determination
Determination – purposefulness
Illustration: A young fellow wanted to be a star journalist but lived in a small town (not much possibility). One day the dam upstream broke and the town was flooded. He got in a rowboat and headed out to look for a story. Found a lady sitting on her rooftop. He tied up the boat and told her what he was after. (They both watched as various items floated by). She says, "Now there's a story." "No, that's not a story." Finally a hat floats by and then does a 180 degree turn, goes upstream a ways and does another 180 degree turn, etc. The fellow says, "There's a story." "Oh no, that's not a story. "That's my husband Hayford. He said that he was going to mow the lawn come hell or high water!"
They were going to get into the house at any cost they couldn’t get in through the door so they dug through the roof
Filled with expectation
After they dug the hole they lowered the man down through the hole right in front of Jesus.
Why was they filled with expectation?
Vs. 5 …. Seeing their faith!
Look at the faith!
Faith of the man– he trusted his friends to carry him – trusted his friends would get him to Jesus – Trusted them as they went upstairs – trusted as they lowered him through the roof. Trusted his mat would hold his weight – AS I TRUST THIS CHAIR TO HOLD ME UP!
Faith of the four men– trusted the stairs would hold their weight – the roof would hold allof them as they dug through
Ultimately they trusted Jesus!
Illustration:Rone Regency Jewelers – 11 years – 3 to 4 times a year – persistency pays off
We need some friends like that don’t we? Yes! Persistent friends!
We need to be friends like that!
but persistence pays off in witnessing
2nd Cor. 5:20 – plead you to come to Christ!
Persistence-expectance – don’t stop keep going –
bring them in front of Jesus and you have been faithful to do your job well.
Transition: The 3rd Character – Paralyzed man, the persistent man
The Perfect Man Vs.5-12
The test He proposed
The triumph He proclaimed
Application: Do we trust Jesus!
Trust Him for what? – forgiveness of sins!
Comfort?
Peace?
Provisions?
What about when we come to Him and he doesn’t answer the way we want?
What if he had forgiven this man’s sin but left him in paralyzed state?
What if that was us, would we be ok? Would we still trust Him?
Jesus knows what’s best we can trust him!
There isn’t anything we should hold back from Him?
Do you know why the paralyzed man trusted his friends on the roof top?
Why the Persistent men trusted the roof to hold them up?
What if they had fallen? Freefall - sometimes we need to go sky diving – freefall in Christ
They would have fallen into the arms of Jesus!
Because they trusted the foundation!
Illustration: Lone Jack school – cracked wall – Bro. Wayne commented about it- Dr. Helton said it’s a problem with the foundation.
Things of the world shift – they move – the break
Jesus is the foundation in which our faith is rooted and He is the only foundation that can be fully trusted – there will be no cracks, no weak places, no shifting of ground – only firm rock solid ground
Shouldn’t we then trust Jesus enough to bring to Him our loved ones and friends.
As Jesus shows compassion for this paralyzed man should we show compassion for those around us? Even strangers
Conclusion:
What a testimony! The bed that once carried the sick man now was a sign of his cure. The four men left rejoicing. We can experience the same joy also. Let’s raise the roof and get some people to Jesus.