Sermon from February 7, 2010
"Forgiveness"
Mark 2:1-12

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some teachers of the law were there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."

The Paralytic
That SRO event was a rock star reception, and into that high octane atmosphere four guys brought a paralytic. They came seeking healing. Here's how desperate they were. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. They took advantage of a unique architectural feature of some Jewish homes. The roof was flat. You could access it by an outside staircase, and that's what they did.

There was no Jews with Disabilities Act that mandated the angle of the stairs. I wonder how they did it. They did it. Then, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.

Have you ever stepped between the rafters in your attic and put your foot through the ceiling into the room below? That's how it started in Peter's living room. Only the hole grew large enough to lower the stretcher with the paralytic on it. I can't believe Peter's wife liked it. "I know Jesus healed my mother, Peter, but who's gonna fix this hole? You're never home any more, and I can't do it. What are we supposed to do?"

The Gospel of Mark is sublimely indifferent to domestic inconveniences. Maybe in the solidarity of village life the hole could be patched, but the immediate focus was on that paralytic, who was desperate to walk again. What would Jesus do?

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

The Unexpected
That's it? Your sins are forgiven? What about his legs? Don't you think people were stunned? I think it made them forget about the hole in Peter's roof. Some people there had already gotten past the hole in the roof and the paralytic's disappointment. Verses 6-7: Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Jesus answered with a question of His own. Let me rephrase it. Suppose you came to me with a tumor on your jaw that was so big it disfigured your face. Now, suppose I said to you, "Your sins are forgiven," and "Your tumor will disappear right now." Which of my statements will you know the truth about pretty fast? Of course! Verse nine is an of course moment. "Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?"

That set the stage for what Jesus was driving at. Verses 10-11: But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." "If I can make you walk right now, maybe you'll believe me when I say your sins are forgiven."

Isn't that slick! He didn't forget the paralytic, lying there not feeling very forgiven but feeling very paralyzed and forgotten. In a breath Jesus healed him. He didn't forget the man, and He didn't forget the priority of forgiveness over the ability to walk. That's the Jesus you need to know.

Priorities
We want all kinds of good things more than we want forgiveness. We want food and drink and fun. We want a good marriage, good kids, and a good job. We want security and a long life. Don't muzzle Christ the tiger. He's not indifferent to our wants. But if getting them is all there is to your life, then you're pouring water into a bucket full of holes. Your spouse doesn't quite measure up. The kids don't turn out so great. Mom and dad let you down. You look at your 401(k) or turn on the news, and you don't feel so secure. Your job is here today, gone tomorrow. All of that matters. "Living life to the end is not a childish task." We need to help each other along the way.

But something better, something deeper matters more. The gospel says we are God's enemies. We need to be reconciled to our Creator. Forgiveness is at the heart of reconciliation with God. God offers to forgive us. Jesus is the way He makes the offer. How do we take God up on His offer?

There are two great heart cries we can make to Jesus Christ. "My Lord and my God!" and "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." If you say them to Christ from your heart, you'll go home today right with God, and you'll go home blessed.

If you pray those prayers to Christ today, I want you to take this little card off the bookrack in front of you and check the box that says, "I would like to know more about trusting Christ as my Savior," and drop it in the box that says "Cards" at the Welcome Center. Put your name, phone number and e-mail address on it, and someone from the church's leadership will contact you this week and pray with you. You will also begin to discover that being right with God gives you strength to face your troubles, even overcome some of your troubles.

Holy Communion is the sign of God's forgiveness. The bread reminds us that nails and spear and crown of thorns broke the body of Jesus. The cup reminds us that He shed His blood on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Bread and wine together remind us that Jesus is the way God offers forgiveness. We can count on Him to forgive us.

If you have prayed to Christ for forgiveness, and if you have confessed your faith in baptism, then we want you to share communion with us, even if you aren't part of BVBC. If you haven't asked for mercy and forgiveness, why not do so today? Start your journey with Christ right now.