MOTIVATE

• “You can’t always get what you want.” – Mick Jagger
• Little kid wants a bike or bb gun but gets socks & underwear
• Getting married and what you want is $ but people give you pots & pans
• New parent baby showers get tons of diapers (man thinks: we’ll never use all these?)
• Prayer – ask God for patience but God gives you more challenges that make you pray more

This happens all the time in life. We ask for items we want but God has a way of giving us what we actually need. You see, most of our presenting problems – one’s that we voice and those in public might observe – are not our greatest trouble. Our greatest need is not removing our struggles but rescuing us from sin. Today’s passage reveals Jesus as God’s rescue for our wants and needs. Jesus mends the brokenness deep inside our heart.

EXAMINE     Mending The Broken (Matthew 9:1-7; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26)

Jesus mends the broken with words of hope.

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.

Jesus’ home was in Nazareth but a good amount of his miracles were done in Capernaum, that it was described as a home base. It’s likely Jesus stayed in this city in the home of Peter and family (cf Mk 1:29, ff). As noted in Mk 1 vv. 21 Jesus was in Capernaum… healing … and v.28  “Jesus’ fame was spreading everywhere throughout the surrounding region” / v.37 “Everyone is looking for you” / v.45 “news spread, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town but was out in desolate places and people were coming to him from every quarter.”

The presence of Jesus was the attraction for the people. It wasn’t the style of music, the paint colors, comfortable seating, cool light show, or the fun vibe. Instead, Jesus was the vibe. I’m not saying the environment doesn’t matter – it does, and we can be grateful. But all those things are meaningless if Jesus isn’t the primary offer.

Further, we see Jesus’ response to the crowd: he preached the word to them. Everywhere Jesus goes, he preaches because biblical preaching changes lives. Now, I’m not self-promoting.
I enjoy singing  / Tenor (ten or more notes off) / Backup Singer (people backup when they hear me sing) // I look forward to heaven when there will be choir lofts and not pulpits. But until then, we must preach. “For the time is coming [and now here] when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth” (2Ti4:3-4).

• If you’re a Christian, lost people are more amazed at your silence than offended by your speaking. How can people experience the hope of Jesus w/o you sharing faith?
  Ro 10:14 “How are they to believe in God of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? Yet, it’s written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those sent to preach the good news.”
• You can also share the gospel informally.
  • I couldn’t survive without God’s grace and prayer.
  • I’m such a mess, but thankfully Jesus loves the mess out of me.
  • I’ll be praying for you in ____ circumstance.

Statements like these are informal ways to express your faith and invite others to ask you questions.

• Your participation in a church that shares the word is important. But you have to do more than invite – we must BRING people to Jesus. What “mat” do you need to pickup for someone?
• Ultimately, your public influence is built on the foundation of private integrity. Christians will never have the impact they desire if hypocrisy grows over honesty.
• à Get your notes app or paper and write names of 5 people God is burdening you to share gospel hope in the remaining of 2026.

If you’re a Christian, lost people are more amazed at your silence than offended by your speaking.

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Jesus mends the broken with words of help.

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.

As Jesus was preaching in the house, there grew an external distraction.

• It wasn’t the religious leaders whispering criticisms
• It wasn’t the disciples’ asking questions
• It wasn’t the babies crying…
• It wasn’t the children getting up to go to the bathroom…
• It wasn’t the elderly man snoring…
• It wasn’t the elderly woman’s cell phone ringing…

Instead, the distraction was from four men who were carrying their paralytic friend. Scripture never names these four friends, but their action was unforgettable. They knew their paralyzed friend was in great need and his opportunity for help was shrinking. These friends decided not to be spectators but to step up and serve. They couldn’t maneuver their way through the crowd, so they quickly found rope and attached it to the man’s mat, then climbed up to the roof of the house. Then they dug an opening, and lowered the paralyzed man down where Jesus was standing. The typical Syrian roof was made of timber, branches, and about 1’ of thickened mud to resist water.^[1] The house would have had a flat roof with accessible staircase and not flimsy construction for the roof to be used for working, walking, or even sleeping some nights.^[2]

Can you imagine these 4-friends and 1 of them suggesting this solution to the problem!?!

[ Precursor to Mission Impossible breaking into Langley CIA Headquarters ]

This took effort and risk.

• Effort because relationships are not easy. These friends likely heard their friend’s cries for years. They likely saw their friend struggle to survive on a daily basis. Yet, these friends didn’t give up showing up in his life. And it’s likely they had to convince their friend to gain permission for what they were going to do.
  Likewise, relationships today take energy and effort to go beyond shallow conversations and meet tangible needs. Relationships and ministering to people’s needs is often more complicated and time consuming than we care to endure. Yet, when we befriend people in the name of Jesus, it’s worth the effort.
  
  Jesus said, “Whenever you feed the hungry, or welcome the stranger, or clothe those poor, or help those sick, or visit those in prison, you did it to Me.” (Mt 25:34-40)
  
  
• Risk because it was an unconventional. They took a dangerous risk taking their paralyzed friend on the roof. On top of that, they dug a hole in someone’s roof they didn’t own, and lowered him to Jesus expecting help. All sorts of challenged needed overcome, and complaints were likely issued, but these men risked anyway. They adopted a “whatever it takes” mentality.
  
  “It’s funny how we take risks about things that don’t matter. We will try a new food, workout, or outfit. We love to watch people who take risks on TV or on the Internet. But too many of us would rather be unhappy or uncertain; for the believer the steps of faith we take – though often uncertain in the moment – actually make us grow, which creates a more certain faith and joy. Living for Jesus implies living a life of risk; it’s time to start living.”[3]
  
  – – – Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed from the actions you didn’t take than the one’s you did. So, risk for the glory of God!

⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus observes this dramatic dedication and rewards their faith – all 5 of their faith! And how does Jesus reward them? At first glance, it appears Jesus skips their request for healing the paralysis. Instead, Jesus forgives the man’s sins. But no one was asking for that, nor is it clear why Jesus starts with this since there are no known offenses of the individual. Yet, the reality is every person is a sinner, and thus this is the man’s greatest need.

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?”

Obviously, the next question arises: How can Jesus forgive sin? Only God can do that! There is only one healer; one rescuer; one redeemer; one Savior – the Lord Jesus Christ. And God does not share His glory (Isa 42:8).

There is only one healer; one rescuer; one redeemer; one Savior – the Lord Jesus Christ. And God does not share His glory

You see, all sin is not just horizontal but vertical – it offends God. So, Jesus offering to forgive sin is undoubtedly making claim of deity. Anyone alleging that Jesus never claimed deity isn’t being honest and lacking engagement with the biblical text. Every miracle performed by Jesus has the message that Jesus is divine and our deliverer.

• Nobody’s normal / Everybody is a mess. Therefore, we don’t have to hide; just be honest. Instead of viewing this man based upon his abilities or difficulties, Jesus defined him as accepted by grace, calling him “son,” meant with full affection.

Jesus mends the broken with words of healing.

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!”

Jesus is described as not only forgiving hearts but discerning thoughts. He discerns the religious leader’s questions about Jesus forgiving sin as something unproven. So, he asks a profound question: ⁹ Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? In one sense, forgiving sin is unseen and unproven and easier declared, while healing paralysis is harder and will be revealed immediately. Yet, forgiving sin does not come casually or cheaply; it cost Jesus embarrassing persecution and excruciating pain with his unfair trial and execution on the cross.  

Isa 53:5 “He was pierced for our transgressions; crushed for out iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

• Jesus has the power to forgive a heart and heal a body. But sometimes God’s healing is on pause. We don’t fully understand why there is suffering and evil in this world. Yet, we know sin and evil are results of human choice, and that Jesus chose to become human to suffer with us. The only way this man’s legs become mobile is if Jesus’ legs become immobile and pierced. So, this is one of the early miracles that creates chaos among the religious leaders and centers Jesus’ sights on his mission to be the Savior for our sins – then to rise up from His tomb mat and walk…
• PS: Jesus’ response to criticism is helpful. Instead of responding emotionally or getting self-defensive, Jesus asked questions and then let his actions provide credibility. People still questioned, but then and years later, we know who had greater integrity.

The only way this man’s legs become mobile is if Jesus’ legs become immobile and pierced. So, this is one of the early miracles that creates chaos among the religious leaders and centers Jesus’ sights on his mission to be the Savior for our sins – then to rise up from His tomb mat and walk!

APPLY/TAKEAWAY

• Do you have a mat to take up?
• What kind of friend are you?
  We must run, climb, or crawl – doing whatever it takes to bring people to Jesus.
• Jesus is a friend to sinners, and a faithful brother like no other.

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^[1] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior, vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 62.

^[2] R. T. France, The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 2002), 123.

[3] Alvin Reid, Sharing Jesus Without Freaking Out, p.19.