Related sermons:
#41 Walls of Jericho
#23 Remote Control
Fixing a Hole
Text: Mark 2:2-12
Prop: a sleeping bag
Summary: Jesus demonstrates that he is Messiah and has the power to forgive sins.
Look what I brought with me today. Do you know what it is? [ a
sleeping bag ] Yes, and the story I want to tell you about today is about a man that
was paralyzed and couldn't walk. He had to beg for money. He heard about
Jesus and wanted to see him, hoping to be healed. Jesus had gone to a man's house
and it was standing room only. The place was packed. The local reporters were
there too because it says they could not come nigh unto him for the press
<grin>. This man had so much faith that he got his friends to tear off the roof
of the house and let him down on his bed (a small sleeping pallet like this sleeping
bag). Jesus saw their faith. He decided that the hole in this man's heart was
more important to fix than the hole in the roof, so he said to him Son, thy sins be
forgiven thee.
This upset the religious leaders that were gathered there. They considered this blasphemy for a man to pretend to be God, because in their view only God could forgive sins. Jesus was making the point that he was the Son of God. People believed if a person was handicapped that it was because they had sinned, or that their ancestors had sinned and that God was cursing them. So for Jesus to forgive this man was the same as healing him and making him whole again. The scribes were upset so Jesus explained But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way unto thine own house.
Then a miracle occurred. The paralyzed man immediately arose. It didn't take weeks of rehabilitation and therapy. They were so amazed that they gave glory to God for the miracle and said We never saw it on this fashion. They had never seen anything like it!
We all have a hole in our hearts that needs fixing. Jesus is the only one that can fix it. We must ask him to come into our hearts to fix the hole. He alone can forgive our sins and make us his children.
©1997 by Jim Kerlin. All rights reserved.
Everybody Needs Jesus image courtesy of Upon This Rock Graphics.
Now Playing: Rejoice, Ye Pure in
Heart, Music by Arthur H Messiter, 1883
Public Domain. MIDI courtesy of Cyber
Hymnal.
