Matthew 9:1-8 The Healing of
the Paralytic
If
you were with us this morning you remember that Jesus left Capernaum – headed
across the sea of Galilee – area of Gadera
A)Two
reason for the voyage: The first was to reveal something of His power
and authority over nature to His Disciples
B)The storm was a part of
that day’s curriculum.
1)The
storm provided the moment in which Jesus would show them that He possessed
ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY over even the forces of nature….
And thus He can
be trusted in the storms of life!
C) the SECOND reason for
that perilous journey across the Sea of Galilee
1)Jesus
had an appointment with two very needy men on the other side of the lake.
D)Focus next Sunday am – Hope for the oppressed
Jesus
has a major encounter with Demonic forces
Legion
6,000 begging Jesus for mercy
A)2 Men who society couldn’t
help – no hope
B)Suddenly clothed and in
right minds
C)Pigs – People of the town
ask Jesus to leave because they liked pigs more than pp
1)Jesus returns to Capernaum
Matthew 9:1-2
V.1So
He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. {Recall Capernaum Head quarters
2 Then behold, they brought
to Him a paralytic lying on a bed.
Now Mark gives us
some insight into this Story that Matthew leaves out
A)Jesus is in a house
teaching: Crowded
B)4 Friends – trying to get
their Paraylzed friend to Jesus – Can’t get in the
doors
1)but that didn’t stop these guys - not
discouraged
C)They had determination
1)Picture this scene - we have got to get him in
there - how ?
2)One guys looks up - thats how - should we? -
Lets GO FOR IT
D) Homes in those days had
these rooftop patios - stair way or a ladder that led to the roof ! –
1) Go to the roof .
E)It might have been difficult -/ didn’t matter! / totally unorthodox - they didn’t care!
1) costly -someone was going to have to pay for or repair the roof - & it would probably be them.
2) But it didn’t
matter: their friend needed to see Jesus
So they broke
thru the roof – this is where Matthew picks up the story
When Jesus saw their faith, He said to
the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven
you."
Note Jesus saw their faith! - Jesus loves break thru faith
A)David thirsty: Water from
well of Bethlehem
Problem guarded by the
Philistines
B)3 of his closets men – go
for it – broke thru the enemies – camp got the water brought to David
1)David was so touched by
their faith and Sacrifice he poured it out has an offering to the Lord
C)Which was a far greater
honor than if he had drank it.
1)Saying this is too special
for me to partake of – it should be offered to the Lord
D)They Broke thru and God
took notice – recorded it in his word.
Later
here in Ch.9 We will see a woman with an issue of Blood – Outcast – Broke thru touch
the hem of his Garmet {Jesus healed – validated
Mark 10 Blind Bartimaes – Be
quiet – Broke thru with his voice – Prayer – Jesus ….. Have mercy
The Lord saw
their break through faith and responded He said to the paralytic,
"Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."
A) Now his friends might have been disappointed by this – Didn’t thru all
that for this
B) But I bet
these were the best words - this man had ever heard { His
Greatest Need
C)Early tradition says that this man was paralyzed because of a veneral
disease -
1)Jesus’ word to this man
seems to confirm that his physical condition was connected to some sin that had
taken place in his life ….. sins are
forgiven you.
Statistic
from the American Social Health Association
One
in five people in the United States has an STD.
That is over 60 million
Two-thirds of all
STDs occur in people 25 years of age
or younger.
19
million new infections occur each year, almost half of them among young people
ages 15 to 24. 10 million teens will be infected this year .
You
know what is even worse than an STD though is the guilt and pain that pp live
with because of sexual sin
A)Seen Pp stay in
relationships they had no business being in or wanted in feel compelled to stay
in because of the guilt they felt from sleeping with someone
B)Seen
young pp – feel obligated to get married to someone because they slept
together.
C)This young man was
crippled physically because of His sin –
1)But I have seen and known
many pp who of have been crippled
spiritually –
D)A certain sin or a series of sins that took place in their lives { has
left them crippled by guilt & Shame
E)This was the best thing this young man could hear and it is the best
thing you can hear tonight
1)Your sins are forgiven.
Notice the Reaction of the religious leaders
3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves,
"This Man blasphemes!"
Now Understand
that the problem that the Pharisees had was one of theology
A)They knew the Scriptures – that only God could forgive someone’s sin.
B)Blasphemy: because by this
statement Jesus was declaring himself to be equal with God.
But you know what I have found this same Pharsadical attitude in the
Church today for a different reason.
A)There are those who don’t like
forgiveness
B)Don’t misunderstand what I am saying: Rephrase
There are those who love when forgiveness is shown to them –
C)But they don’t like it when it is shown to others.
D)Even worse there are those who refuse to forgive pp that God has
forgiven
E)Dangerous – How can you
expect to be forgiven when you don’t forgive.
Unfortunately I
know pp that have been a part of this Church – who have been treated this way.
A)Feel like a 2nd class Christians – because other believers
here – treat them that way
B)The Eye – turn away – ignored –
C)I have talked to a few pp even recently – it just breaks my heart –
1)I know it is not the Lord’s heart at all.
D)Misrepresentation of my heart as a Pastor –
who is trying to model grace –{ More importantly
1)It is a Misrepresentation of God’s heart!
There is usually
two common traits amongst
People who are
not quick to forgive.
#1 They live sheltered lives. That was the Pharisees they moved in a religious world. Religious
community
They were constantly around people who were at least trying to be good.
Studying the scriptures, participating in worship.
Easy to lose touch with how the other side lives.
Love hanging out where High Schoolers hang – restaurants – Lunch at
Palomar or Mira Costa
Stay reminded – of the world – the Language
#1 They live
sheltered lives.
#2 They are not
honest about their own struggles.
A)Easy for them to Judge – they think they have it all together.
Do you have a Pharisee mindset: Test
A)Who do you identify with the most in the Story of Noah being drunk
– NOAH
B)Ham exsposed – Shem and Japeth covered
C)Prodical Son – Covered by the Father / party
Celebration: Illustration of God’s heart
1)Judged by His older Brother – flake / fool underserving of such a
party
D)Here is what a
lot of pp do – don’t rejoice – they take a wait and see approach –
1)I rejoice after I have seen that person really walk with the Lord for
a year.
GOD WOULD SAY: YOUR NOT HELPING !!!!!
How about Abe – Coward with his wife –
pretend you’re my sister – Would Abe still be your friend
David: Adultery Murder – Nathan
confronts
But He doesn’t expose – David could have been under the law killed for
both
Nathan ministered the Lord’s forgiveness
Joab tolerated but didn’t confront – which was the better friend ?
Peter denied the Lord 3 times{ Would you
have welcomed him back – or would your attitude have been that prideful loud
mouth finally went to far
I suggest to you one reason the disciples welcomed Peter was because
they all forsook Jesus that night except for John - At least Peter cut a guys ear off.
Listen: In
everyone of those situations God responded with Grace – what about us.
A)Ministers of Grace – ministers of a new Covenant
Ministers
of forgiveness
C)Well the
Pharisees were objecting because of theology mainly –
1)How can this man forgive sins
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do
you think evil in your hearts? 5 For
which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and
walk'?
Now this was an interesting statement that Jesus made - "Which is
easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'
A) On the surface it was much easier to say - Son your sins are forgiven –
B) But no one
would know if they were or not .
1)But to say - Rise up & walk - Power would need
to be manifested
C) But in the
Spiritual sense - To heal the man Jesus only had to speak the word - Rise up
& walk -
D) But in
order for the mans sins to be forgiven - Jesus had to go to Calvary !
Jesus had to die - a brutal - death
So which was easier ?- It was a lot easier to say
rise & walk
6 But that you
may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" — then He
said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your
house." 7 And he arose and departed to his house.
A)So
to show that He had the power to forgive sins Jesus
Touched
this man – said arise
B)Mark says Immediately he
arose –
Marks of a Real Conversion
8 Now when the
multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to
men.
Forgiveness
Healing and Restoration happens and what is the result – People Marvel and
Glorify God
A)That is what Church is
supposed to be about
B)Place of healing
forgiveness and restoration – God being glorified.
Paco – All is forgiven -