Healing a Paralyzed Man, v.1-12. Jesus is back in Capernaum and most likely back at the house where he healed Simon’s mother-in-law. (1) It doesn’t take long for word to spread and soon the crowd is larger than the place and people are jammed up at the door. (2) Four friends, hoping Jesus could help, bring their paralyzed friend. Though, they cannot get to Him for the crowd. (3-4) Can you imagine such a scene?!? There is a brief application to made there — do we ever go to such lengths to help others? They believed THIS MUCH that Jesus could help. Do you believe THAT MUCH that Jesus can help those you love? v.5a — when Jesus saw their faith…What does this text tell us about their faith? (4 things) It was loving. It was persistent. It was creative. It was sacrificial. “There was no way they would have gone to such outrageous extremes of action if they did not implicitly believe that Christ could and would heal their friend.” (Hughes) Ills: Likely you are familiar with Francis Schaeffer. He and his wife Edith impacted the church in their day with a faith like this, but it was with a cost. Schaeffer wrote in his book “The Church at the End of the 20th Century”: In about the first three years of L’Abri [Francis Schaeffer’s Christian fellowship group] all our wedding presents were wiped out. Our sheets were torn. Holes were burned in our rugs. Drugs came into our place. People vomitted on our rugs.… How many times have you had a drug-taker come into your home? Sure it is a danger to your family, and you must be careful. But have you ever risked it?” The Schaeffers risked it because they believed Christ was the only answer. Uniquely, Jesus doesn’t immediately heal the man. (5) Instead He forgives his sin, which draws question from the religious authorities present. (6-7) Jesus, realizing this, takes them to task. (8-11) His logic is sound, which is easier, to say something or to do it?? To prove He could do as He said, he also heals the man! And in v.10 — is Mark’s message for us in these verses… “…that ye may know that He has power to forgive sins…” Mark is revealing, as Jesus revealed, the Christ’s Authority over Sin. Yes, He has Authority: With the Scriptures, Devils, Disease, and Religion. But this is the ultimate proof that Jesus is the Christ — He has the authority to forgive sins on the Earth. And, yes, there is His love — this is not just making a point — He also makes a difference in this paralyzed man’s life! (12) Note 3 things: The man was healed — his entire life was different from that day forward. God was glorified — all that Jesus does brings God glory. The people marveled — when God is truly glorified on Earth — the world is left in wonder and amazement. Can you see the application for us now in those 3 things? Through Justification and Sanctification Jesus is making our lives completely different than they were before! God will be glorified for this. People will be amazed and filled with wonder. If you are practicing religion and this is not the process you see happening in your own life, I encourage you to give up the religion you are practicing and meet Jesus the Christ! Put your faith only in Him, not your work, nor your beliefs about those works. As you get to “know” Him (justification), you will begin to be like Him (sanctification). Eating with Sinners, v.13-17. Mark now moves quickly to Jesus teaching by the seaside. He comes across Levi the tax collector (Matthew) and calls him to become His disciple. (13-14) Levi has Jesus over for dinner and there is a great crowd of other tax collectors and people with a generally sinful reputation. (15) Again, the religious authorities question Jesus’ actions. (16) Now, we will give these guys a hard time, but be clear about something…As the religious authorities, they had a responsibility before God to “vet” this new Rabbi and protect the people from false teaching. Jesus’ answer to them again makes Mark’s point that the Christ is Jesus and He has authority over sin. (17) Jesus words are so matter of fact and logical. It is not the healthy who need the doctor! The sick are who need a house call from the physician. Of course He is spending time with sinners, this is who He came to call to repentance. In Jesus’ statement of the gospel, be sure you are clear. We have so many false gospels floating around in the world today. He came to call sinners to repent! To confess is to admit, but to repent is to turn away from. Yes, Jesus went where they were…but He did not leave them as He found them. “The repentant person—the one who recognizes he is a sinner and who turns from his sin—is the object of Jesus’ call. The person who is sinful but thinks he is righteous refuses to acknowledge his need to repent of his sin.” (MacArthur) So often in today’s church the gospel is preached simply as fire insurance against a devil’s hell. In reality, that is not the gospel at all. The gospel is the good news for those who desire a change, Jesus has accomplished the work in your place to empower that change! There is an additional point to be made here. (17b) It could be surmised that Jesus is implying the pharisees are righteous. Think of it from their hearing — is He saying He is not here for us? Instead, realize that Jesus is implying that they thought themselves healthy, but were just as sin-sick. Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:10, “There is none righteous, no not one.” Mark 7:5-8, “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.” Conclusion: This is Christ’s Authority over Sin. For the Religious of the day, this was a shocking requirement to change. For the sinner of the day, this was a loving acceptance of change they had never known. For the sick of the day, Jesus brought healing — a sign for the healing He would bring the world on the cross. Jesus is the Christ! He has authority to forgive sin. Well, you may say, I believe the gospel and I’ve been forgiven — what’s for me in this text: Ills: History records that when Oliver Cromwell ruled England, the nation experienced a crisis: They ran out of silver and could not mint any coins. Cromwell sent his soldiers to the Cathedral to see if any silver was available. They reported back that the only silver was the statues of the saints, to which Cromwell replied, “Melt down the saints and get them back into circulation.” Sometimes God must do that with us. We must be melted down so that we will get into circulation in the world for Him.Let this passage examine your love for sinners, your energy spent getting others to Jesus, your self-righteousness….