Christ In Full Swing
Notes
Transcript
Turn to and read Mark 2:1-12. Pray.
Once Christ’s ministry began, He never looked back and He never slowed down. But, no matter how “busy” He was, He was never in a hurry He was never overwhelmed; He never got frustrated; He was always calm and at peace. WOW!
Although there is more that could be learned from Mark chapter 1, we need to hasten on to chapter 2. (The point should be made here that, just because I have moved on to chapter 2 in my preaching doesn’t mean that you can’t go back to chapter 1 and continue to meditate upon that chapter!)
Who’s Going to Clean Up This Mess?
Who’s Going to Clean Up This Mess?
And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
Christ is back in Capernaum which has become His “base of operation.” It seems that Peter’s house had been “surrendered” to the Lord for His use.
Do you own anything that you have not “surrendered” to the Lord for His use?
Even at this early stage, Christ’s ministry had gone viral.
But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
Back in Capernaum, word got out that Christ was back in town. So many gathered together that no one else could possibly get into the house.
Once the people gathered, Christ did what He always did; He preached! (This is a good reminder that Christ’s focus wasn’t on healing people; it was on proclaiming the Word of God!)
And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
These four individuals, after hearing that Christ was in town, and having a friend “sick of the palsy,” attempted to bring him to Christ so that Christ could heal him.
When they found that they could not get him to Christ the “usual” way - through the door - they improvised! They took him up onto the roof, broke the roof apart, and lowered him down to Christ.
And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
Who are you seeking to bring to Christ?
These four individuals were so concerned and filled with compassion for their friend that they stopped what they were doing to help get him to Christ. They put forth effort to bring him to Christ. They were not easily discouraged from bringing him to Christ. They had to think creatively and had to exercise some ingenuity to bring him to Christ but they did it! They were successful in bringing him to Christ!
How much effort do we put forth to bring individuals to Christ? Are we so busy with our own lives that we can’t be bothered with or don’t have the time to bring others to Christ? We, at times, can’t even be bothered to give out a Gospel tract in an attempt to bring others to Christ. It requires time, effort - plain old hard work - to bring others to Christ!
In June, we will be having our annual youth crusade, Neighborhood Bible Time. What are we willing to do to bring young people to Christ? Or, maybe a better question to ask would be, “What are we not willing to do?” Then ask yourself...
Can we give too much time?
Can we put forth too much effort?
Can we give too much of our finances?
Can we work too hard in bringing others to Christ?
I certainly trust that you answered “No” to those questions.
This is a side note: Although Scripture doesn’t record it for us, someone (possibly Peter and Andrew) had to clean up the mess that was made by those four in bringing their friend to Christ. Do you suppose they grumbled and complained about it? Do you suppose they were upset at the expense for repairs? Or do you suppose that they got excited about what they had the opportunity to witness? I like to think that Peter, for years to come, said, “Hey! Let me tell you about the time they tore my roof up so that Christ could heal someone!”
Now, remember, Jesus is preaching when all of this was taking place. I like to believe that this palsied man was let down into the house just at a point in Christ’s message to serve as an illustration.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
Can others see your faith?
These four individuals had faith that Jesus Christ could help their friend. Their faith led them to act. “We know that this Man, called Christ, can heal our friend!”
But suppose these four individuals believed, as some believe today? “It really doesn’t matter what we do. Christ is going to heal some people and he is not going to heal others. He’s already chosen who it is that He is going to heal and He’s already chosen those who He is not going to heal. Nothing that we do or don’t do will make any difference!”
I must caution and warn you that there is such a belief - and it has even crept into some churches that consider themselves to be independent Baptist!
[God] chose to save some and exclude others…[this] choice…was not based upon any foreseen act of response on the part of those selected, but was based solely on His own good pleasure and sovereign will…[It] was not determined by…anything that men would do, but resulted entirely upon God’s self-determined purpose.
https://www.amazon.com/Five-Points-Calvinism-Defended-Documented/dp/B000YZRRM0
This type of belief, however, will keep us from seeking to bring others to Christ. For example…why would Christ say...
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
If salvation was a result based entirely upon God’s self-determined purpose?
Allow me to challenge you - Could it be that you do not more actively witness and seek to bring others to Christ because you have allowed some of this teaching to gain a foot hold in your mind and heart?
While God is sovereign, He has also given mankind a free will to accept or reject the Gospel message. Remember...
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
We must go into all the world and preach the Gospel!
What do people really need?
I really love this passage of Scripture because of how Christ’s deity is so powerfully taught…without it being taught! But that’s not what I want to focus on right now.
Turn to and read Mark 2:5-12.
Why did these four men go to all of this trouble to bring their friend to Christ?
These four men went to such great trouble to bring their friend to Christ so that He could physically heal their friend! However, that’s not what Christ focused on. Notice, again, verse 5:
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
“Um, excuse me!? Jesus. We did not bring our friend to you for you to forgive his sins. We brought him to you so that you would physically heal him!”
So, why did Christ forgive his sins? Because that was this man’s greatest need was! Salvation - eternal life!
Ladies and gentlemen, we could spend our entire lives meeting the physical needs of people - and please understand, I’m not saying that it is wrong or that we shouldn’t seek to help meet the physical needs of others - but we can so focus on meeting those physical needs that we completely neglect mankind’s greatest need - salvation.
Throw out the life line across the dark wave;
There is a brother whom someone should save;
Somebody's brother! O who then will dare
To throw out the life line, his peril to share?
Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!
Someone is drifting away;
Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!
Someone is sinking today.