Bible Lesson: Miracles of Jesus; The Man With Palsy, Cured.
Location: Capernaum.
Text: Mark 2:1-12 (Matthew 9:1-8/ Luke 5:18-26)
1 And again He entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that He was in the house.
2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and He preached the word unto them.
3 And they come unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
4 And when they could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where He was:
and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
Luke 5:17 KJV
And it came to pass on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
7 Why doth this Man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they so reasoned within themselves,
He said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
10 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,)
11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
Mark 2:1-12 NLT
1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that He was back home.
2 Soon the house where He was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While He was preaching God’s word to them,
3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.
4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above His head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.
5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves,
7 “What is He saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so He asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?
9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?
10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said,
11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”
Mark 2:1,2 KJV
1 And again He entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that He was in the house.
2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and He preached the word unto them.
Wherever the Lord Jesus went, (He had preached around Galilee.) He preached the Word of God, to the people.
As a Christian, do you speak the “Word,” or are you ashamed of the Gospel of Christ?
Mark 8:38 KJV
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
Romans 10:9-11 KJV
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.
Mark 2:3,4 KJV
3 And they come unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
4 And when they could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where He was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
A man, who for some unknown reason had become a paralytic, had four very faithful friends!
Dear Christian reader, at the end of life, how many a dear souls, will call you a “dear faithful Christian friend?”
The person, who has control over such a situation, …........ is of course, you!
This sick man, had a lot going against him, …..
*Couldn't earn a living, nor have, or support a family.
*Couldn't enjoy the simple things like walking into town, for the things he might needed, (dependent.)
*Couldn't feed or cloth himself. (Depending upon the severity of his situation.) Etc. etc. etc.....
But be that all as it was, this man had a tremendous power working for him, that of four “faithful, dedicated, Godly friends!”
Here's an old definition, that can stand to be repeated.
“A friend is someone who comes in, when the whole world, goes out.”
Proverbs 17:17 KJV
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 18:24 KJV (Jesus)
"...there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
John 15:13,14 KJV
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
The paralytic's friends were special, not only because of their faithfulness to their friend, but also because of their unswerving faith in the Lord, they knew, He was their answer!
Proverbs 3:5 KJV
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
James 5:14,15 KJV
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
Let it also be duly noted, that the paralytic's blessings were not only Friends, and those who had Faith, but also, those who were friends of complete “determination.”
And also lest, we forget anything, surely we must not over look their willingness to expend no little energy on their friends behalf!
That their love for their friend showed, labor extended. And that is seen in their willingness to tear up the very roof over the Lord's head.
Could one read this account and not believe that these four friends were of course, “followers of the Lord Jesus,” themselves?
Dear one, just what exactly does your Christian faith cost you?
“Oh, dear pastor, don't you realize, we are not saved by works!”
Yes, of course, but do not fail to realize, that we are not saved, “from,” doing good works as well?”
Matthew 5:14-16 KJV
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Ephesians 2:10 KJV
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
I Timothy 6:18 NLT
"... be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others."
Titus 2:6,7 NLT
6 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely.
7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind.
Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.
Titus 2:13,14 KJV
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself
a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
I Peter 2:12 KJV
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Hebrews 10:24 KJV
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
James 2:14-18 KJV
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works,
and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
James 2:14-18 NLT
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?
15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing,
16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
Mark 2:5 KJV
When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
There is only “one,” person, who can forgive sins!
That person is the Lord Jesus Christ, who paid for the cleansing of man's sins with His own precious blood at Calvary.
No other man, woman, group or religious organization, can say that!
(See the new ebook “SALVATION,” at the top of this page, to cover this subject fully!
Acts 2:21 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 4:12 KJV
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12 NLT
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
Romans 5:8,9 KJV
8 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
I Thessalonians 5:9,10 KJV
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us..."
Hebrews 5:8,9 KJV
8 Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered;
9 And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;
When we confess our sins, He forgives of our sins.
Psalm 25:18 KJV
Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
Psalm 32:5 KJV
I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said,
I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
I John 1:8-10 KJV
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
Mark 2:6-10 KJV
6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
Luke 5:17 KJV
And it came to pass on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
7 Why doth this Man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they so reasoned within themselves,
He said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
10 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,)
Wherever the work of God is, there is spiritual opposition.
Ephesians 6:11,12 KJV
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
I Peter 5:8,9 KJV
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
II Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Revelation 12:11 KJV
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Mark 2:11,12 KJV
11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
Genesis 18:14 KJV
"Is any thing too hard for the LORD?..."
Matthew 17:19,20 KJV
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Matthew 19:26 KJV
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
