Healing the Paralytic
Tim Rice
August 14, 2022

Mark 2:1-12 (ESV)

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.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Intro: What roadblock have you had that seems to be immovable?

WHAT IS PARALYSIS?
How does the problem of sin go beyond guilt?

THE MERCIFUL SAVIOR
What is revealed about Jesus? Signs are not random dazzling acts but purposeful displays to demonstrate God’s Promises.

THE FORK IN THE ROAD
What does Jesus want from us?

YOU CAN PRAY WITH US …
1 - Worship the LORD our Healer for His mercy and goodness to broken people like us. Praise Him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that He works by His power, not to destroy us as He justly could, but to redeem us.

2 - How have you lived either denying your brokenness or Jesus’ power to make you whole? Confess your pride and unbelief to Him, asking Jesus to both forgive you and heal you — just like this paralytic.

3 - Give thanks to Jesus for His goodness to exercise His authority and power to redeem sinners like us. Thank Him for bearing what it cost to atone for all our sins (by His death) and to make us whole (His obedient life).

4 - Who do you know that lives as if Jesus can’t be trusted? Pray for them, asking the Lord to help them to see their own spiritual paralysis — and that Jesus can be trusted to heal and forgive them.

5 - Ask the Holy Spirit to bear in you His fruit of love, joy and faith. Pray that the Spirit would work in you to only trust Jesus’ power and authority more and more as He works to forgive and heal even you.