The Paralysed Man and the ????
Series: Simple. Quiet. Present. | Bible text: Mark 2:1–12
At the heart of this is the forgiveness of sins as the greatest miracle, because it restores the relationship between humankind and God. The story of the paralysed man makes it clear that Jesus has the authority to forgive sins and to lead people from death to life. The four men serve as an example of a faith that overcomes obstacles so that others may encounter Jesus. We are invited to be people who pray for others, bring them to Jesus and trust that he will transform their lives.
Like many of you here, I receive lots of messages. But overall, only a handful of them stand out – this one is from autumn 2024: «My fiancée decided to follow Jesus five months ago and we’re now actively involved in a church.» I long for more messages like this! Dear friends, this is what it’s all about! That people come to know Jesus Christ and have their lives turned upside down! Today’s sermon is meant to bring this home to us once again.
The Controversy over the Forgiveness of Sins
Then these four men arrived, carrying the man on a mat. The paralysed man was completely helpless and unable to move. They took him in their care and brought him to Jesus; they removed the roof above him and lowered the paralysed man down.
How does Jesus react to this interruption? He had no choice but to let himself be interrupted! But what do you think the people were expecting when they brought the paralysed man to him? They were expecting a healing! Yet Jesus focuses here on the most important and controversial point: the forgiveness of sins. Sin means missing the mark. Man’s purpose is to live in fellowship with God and to honour him. Sin is placing more trust in, and attributing more honour to, something other than God. Forgiveness means that this behaviour no longer counts, because Jesus has paid the price for it. Forgiveness means that the relationship has been restored, and this changes everything! «When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralysed man, ‘My son, your sins are forgiven’» (Mark 2:5 NLB).
Three things become clear here: Firstly, a restored relationship with God is more important than restored health. Secondly, the forgiveness of sins is something that God does. We can only allow it to happen to us! God is active in this process; man is passive. Thirdly: the restored relationship has consequences – the paralysed man becomes a child! «My son». What a powerful statement! Here, Jesus overcomes humanity’s greatest problem: our estrangement from God!
I would like to illustrate this once again using this story! It also involves drawing conclusions from the complex to the simple, which was a common rabbinical teaching method. «Is it easier to say to the paralysed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’, or ‘Get up, pick up your mat and walk’?» (Mark 2:9 NLB). So if anyone can say: «Get up, take your mat and go», then he also has the power to do the other thing! «’I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.’ And he turned to the paralysed man and said to him, ‘Get up, take your mat and go home, for you are healed!’ The man jumped up, took his mat and made his way through the astonished crowd. […]» (Mark 2:10–12 NLB). The paralysed man is completely helpless, unable to move. He is very close to death! This is the spiritual reality of a person whose sins have not been forgiven!
In Jesus’ words, the beauty of the Gospel now shines forth in all its splendour. Jesus says: «Get up.».Behind this lies a Greek word which also means «to stand up», but it also means: to raise up, to rise, to wake up. Jesus, as the Risen One, is described using this word! When Jesus says to the man: «Get up, take your mat and go home, for you are healed!» (Mark 2:11 NLB), then this proves, from the greater to the lesser: Jesus has the power to forgive sins! This means, then, that the forgiveness of sins leads us humans from death to life! To this day, the question hinges on this: Has Jesus conquered death, the power of sin, or not? This leads on to the question: Is knowing Jesus the best thing I have?
Two actors
In this story, alongside Jesus and the paralysed man, we encounter two other characters or groups. These are the four men and the crowd who have been there for some time. These four men are prepared to tear open the roof. Nowhere does it say that these four were friends. Although they act as such, their connection to the paralysed man is not clear. They have also been given names: Compassion, Cooperation, Ingenuity and Perseverance. These four are crucially important for the paralysed man’s forgiveness of sins and his entry into a relationship with God. «When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralysed man […]» (Mark 2:5 NLB). The focus of the four men was on their faith as the unifying factor, not on their relationship. This therefore raises the question for us too: as we journey together as a church, do we focus on differences in personality or on Jesus? «Your love for one another will show the world that you are my disciples» (John 13:35 NLB). We do not know what connection the people had with the paralysed man or with one another. What united them was the hope that only Jesus Christ can transform lives. It was this hope that enabled them to overcome obstacles. If we want to bring people to Jesus, there will always be hurdles! The question is not whether obstacles will arise, but whether we’ll let them get the better of us!
The second group consists of people who have been around for a while. Among them are those who know what’s going on – represented here by the scribes. The crazy thing is that they were actually right! «How can he say such a thing? That’s blasphemy! Only God alone can forgive sins!» (Mark 2:7 NLB). How right they were! Only God can forgive sins! But their interpretation was wrong! Personally, I sometimes fear that I am right, but that love is lacking! The other group amongst those who have been part of this for some time is the silent, awestruck crowd. They are there and, ultimately, are thrilled by what God is doing! But they can also be an obstacle to people encountering God. There are movements in France and England where people are setting out once more to seek God and come to church. Many are convinced that this will also spill over into the German-speaking world. But are we ready for it? What if these are people who aren’t to my liking? Am I prepared to make way, to give them space, to support them and to join in praising God for what he is doing? A major conference entitled «Church for Others» will take place on 19–20 March 2027. This conference centres precisely on this question – how can we become a church that is open to people who do not yet know Jesus? True to the quote: «The Church is only the Church if it is there for others.» (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).
Wanted: People who’ve lost the plot!
What can we do? We need more people who’ve lost their minds! People who trust Jesus to change lives. People who’ve stopped worrying about «what others think» and are driven by the desire to «take a chance».
The linchpin: prayer. But how do I pray? A few months ago, I introduced the ‘five-by-five’ finger method. I didn’t develop this myself. On one hand, the fingers represent people; on the other, they represent concerns. I have now generally replaced the middle finger. I no longer pray so often for influencers or people who stand out, but for people for whom I long to see an encounter with Jesus! It’s not about activism in reaching out to people, but about a transformed heart! It’s about taking action in prayer. Ask God to give you a specific person to pray for and to take away your fears. Pray together as a small group for a specific person, that they may have an encounter with Jesus. Pray as a family for a specific person to have an encounter with Jesus. Pray as neighbours for a specific person or family in your neighbourhood, that they might have an encounter with Jesus. Pray that you may find the right words to invite this person to Alpha Live. Perhaps it would also be a good opportunity to accompany this person.
I hope that, within seetal chile, we will see more people coming to know Jesus, and that this will lead us to praise God! As part of the «Church for Others» conference, a hymn was written with this intention in mind: «Mir erhebed Gott.» I’ll conclude with these lyrics and invite you to close your eyes.
Possible questions for the small group
Read the Bible passage: Mark 2:1–12
- What was it about the story of the paralysed man or the sermon that struck you most or surprised you the most?
- Jesus first forgives the paralysed man’s sins and only then heals him. Why does Jesus put the forgiveness of sins first? What does this tell us about humanity’s greatest problem and greatest hope?
- The four men did not let obstacles stand in their way. What «roofs» or obstacles do we face today when we want to bring people to Jesus? How can we deal with them?
- Jesus saw the faith of the four men. How can we bring people to Jesus today – in a practical way and without putting any pressure on them? What role does prayer play in this?
- Throughout history, there have also been people who, although close to Jesus, tend to hinder rather than help others. As followers of Jesus and as a church, how can we ensure that we make the path to Jesus easier, rather than more difficult, for those who are seeking him?
- Is there someone in your circle of friends and family whom you’d like to introduce to Jesus? What could be your next practical step for this person?
- As you look ahead to the coming week: what, specifically, will you take away from this sermon, and for what would you like to ask for God’s help in prayer?
