Mark - God's Servant: What Does He Offer You?

July 13, 2014

Mark: God's Servant

What Does He Offer You?

Mark 2-3:12

(Advance Slide #1)

Introduction

(Advance Slide #2)

• Without social media, Twitter, FB, Instagram the news spread.

• A miracles working Teacher had come from Capernaum!

• Wherever He went there were large crowds.

They wanted to SEE Him, but they were BLIND to the message:

• They desired to see Him HEAL people and to CAST OUT demons!

• He knew that most of them were shallow in their thinking and blind to their own needs.

• This could explain His need to go into the wilderness and talk with the Father.

• He had to have thought, “I’m here for much more than that!”

(Advance Slide #3)

God’s Servant had come for to demonstrate to the people what His ministry was all about.

• He had come to do much more than relieve the afflictions of the sick and the demonized.

• What did these things really mean?

• They needed to understand the spiritual lessons that lay behind the miracles.

TRUST -

(Advance Slide #4)

• He came to bring to all who would trust Him three wonderful gifts

FORGIVENESS - 2:1-12

FULFILLMENT - 2:13-22

FREEDOM - 2:23-3:12

(Advance Slide #5)

Text

1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were

gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.

3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of

the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which

the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:1-5

This is another one of my favorite of Jesus’s miracles.

• I can just picture the crowd and Jesus looking up at the friends, marveling at their faith and perseverance.

• I can also picture the look on His face as He looks down at the man.

This scene is an AWESOME start to this chapter full of wonderful gifts that He brings!

Lesson

Let’s look at these wonderful gifts that we get when we trust and hope in Him:

(Advance Slide #6)

FORGIVENESS

The people of Capernaum did not wait for an invitation but simply came to the house in droves.

• This meant that some of the truly needy people could not get close enough to Jesus to receive His help.

• It didn’t stop the four friends who brought their lame friend.

• They decide that the only way to get in was to go through the roof!

• They TRUSTED that Jesus would heal him, and Jesus did.

• This miracle of healing gave our Lord the opportunity to teach an important lesson about forgiveness.

Consider the characteristics of these friends:

1. They were deeply concerned for their friend.

2. They had faith.

3. They “put feet” to their prayers.

When Jesus looked down at the man He went right to the heart of the man’s problem...SIN!

• Before He healed the man’s body...Jesus spoke peace to the man’s heart and announced that his sins were

forgiven!

• Forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs.

• It meets the greatest need; it costs the greatest price; and it brings the greatest blessing and the most lasting

results.

Jesus knew the critical spirit of those that were watching and criticizing Him.

• Since they wanted to “reason” about things, He gave them something to ponder:

• “Which is easier? To heal or to forgive sins?”

• “So that you will know that I have the authority to forgive sins...I say to you get up and go home.”

(Advance Slide #7)

FULFILLMENT

It soon became evident that Jesus was deliberately associating Himself with the outcasts.

• We find Jesus with tax collectors Levi.

• We don’t know that he is dishonest, but the profession was know for that sort of behavior.

• He became a Christ follower and burned all bridges and even received a new name, Matthew.

• Ultimately, He passionately invited other sinner friends to meet God’s Servant!

Why would God’s Servant associate with people like that?

• They were the kind of people Jesus wanted to reach!

He explained His mission using three interesting comparisons:

The Physician - vs. 16-17

• Jesus did not consider these people “rejects”

• Matthew’s friends were patients who needed a physician...Jesus was that Physician.

• He comes to us in our need;

• He makes a perfect diagnosis;

• He provides a final and complete cure;

• He pays the bill!

The Bridegroom - vs. 18-20

• Jesus had already made it clear that He came to convert the sinners, not to compliment the self-righteous.

• God doesn’t desire for life to be a funeral but rather a wedding feast!

• In the OT the picture of marriage was used to explain Israel’s r’ship to the Lord.

• Salvation comes when the sinner commits himself or herself to Jesus Christ and says, “I do!”

• In order to be married to Christ one must be baptized and committed to Him.! !

• When you are “married to Christ,” life becomes a wedding feast, in spite of trials and difficulties.

The Garment and the Wineskin - vs. 21-22

• In this example Jesus explains: ! !

1. I have come to save sinner and not call the righteous!

2. He came to bring gladness not sadness!

3. He came to introduce the new not patch up the old!

(Advance Slide #8)

FREEDOM

Jewish tradition stated that there were thirty-nine acts that were strictly forbidden on the Sabbath.

• One couldn’t cook, gather fuel, carry something, or transact business.

• They could only travel a certain distance on the Sabbath.

• The Sabbath day had become a crushing burden.

On the Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue to worship, and while He was there, He deliberately healed a man.

• Death is always at work, but that should not hinder us from seeking to save life.

• Jesus could see that this angered them...”the hardening of their hearts”

• They would rather protect their traditions than see a man healed!

• The man, of course, knew little about this spiritual conflict.

• He simply obeyed our Lord’s command, stretched out his hand, and was healed.

Conclusion

(Advance Slide #9)

Our Lord had now reached a crisis in His ministry.

• Great crowds were following Him, but their interest was not in things spiritual.

• The religious leaders wanted to destroy Him, and even some of Herod’s friends were getting involved.

• His next steps would be:

1. To spend a night in prayer.

2. To call twelve men to assist Him as His apostles.

3. To preach a sermon—the Sermon on the Mount—explaining the spiritual basis of His kingdom.

(Advance Slide #10)

He offered them forgiveness, fulfillment, and freedom, but they refused His offer.

• Forgiveness, fulfillment and freedom ONLY in Him.

• Have you accepted His offer?