March 25th, 2021
By Jack Broomell
As we draw closer and closer to Easter this year, the theme that is at the front of my mind is how Jesus conquered all. I want to jump right into Mark 2:1-12 as we unwrap how nothing was able to hold back Jesus’ teachings.
“A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
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? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 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!”
Throughout all of Mark we see that many people are opposed to the ministry of Jesus, beginning here with the spiritual and political leaders of Israel. Jesus’ own natural family will also resist him (3:20-21, 31-35). Judas will oppose him because of satanic influence and because of his political disappointment over Jesus (14:3-11; Luke 22 and John 6). Peter will deny Jesus in order to preserve his own life (Mark 14:30, 66-72). In each of these scenarios, the constant theme is self-preservation at the expense of Christ.
I am so thankful that Jesus is more powerful than any of our rebellions. He continues to display his authority in the spiritual and physical world by forgiving and healing the paralytic man. We know the value of God’s forgiveness and how it is much more than anything else. The gospel is key to our personal life, and invites us to have a relationship with Christ.
So the question I want to focus on for myself as Holy Week approaches is, “What am I trying to self-preserve?” What am I trying to hold onto in this world that I am placing it above the gospel, above Jesus. We must let go of our own ambitions and focus on what God has called us to, and I pray that this Holy Week we are all able to focus on the glorious news of the gospel. Just as Jesus healed this man in Mark, so too is he trying to heal our spiritual and physical faults.
“A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
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? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 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!”
Throughout all of Mark we see that many people are opposed to the ministry of Jesus, beginning here with the spiritual and political leaders of Israel. Jesus’ own natural family will also resist him (3:20-21, 31-35). Judas will oppose him because of satanic influence and because of his political disappointment over Jesus (14:3-11; Luke 22 and John 6). Peter will deny Jesus in order to preserve his own life (Mark 14:30, 66-72). In each of these scenarios, the constant theme is self-preservation at the expense of Christ.
I am so thankful that Jesus is more powerful than any of our rebellions. He continues to display his authority in the spiritual and physical world by forgiving and healing the paralytic man. We know the value of God’s forgiveness and how it is much more than anything else. The gospel is key to our personal life, and invites us to have a relationship with Christ.
So the question I want to focus on for myself as Holy Week approaches is, “What am I trying to self-preserve?” What am I trying to hold onto in this world that I am placing it above the gospel, above Jesus. We must let go of our own ambitions and focus on what God has called us to, and I pray that this Holy Week we are all able to focus on the glorious news of the gospel. Just as Jesus healed this man in Mark, so too is he trying to heal our spiritual and physical faults.
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