Divine Encounters with Jesus – “Walking Away Whole”

(Mark 2:1-4) – One of the things we tend to wonder about is “How does a person become a Christian?” What, exactly, does that process entail? We know God wants to give us a full, abundant life in Christ, but how does that start? A very familiar and popular story in chapter two of Mark’s gospel reminds us just how simple it is to become a follower of Jesus and embark on the new life he offers – because God knows what we need, and he’s eager to give it to us.

1. God Knows What We Need Before We Know What We Need  (Mark 2:5)

• There are so many lessons in the story of the paralyzed man and his four friends: the need for friends who will “bring you to Jesus,” the boldness of the friends, the extreme measures they were willing to undertake to get their friend healed. But the main point of the story isn’t about the friends or even the paralyzed man himself – it’s about the words of Jesus.
• It’s no surprise to us that Jesus heals the man. What’s surprising (to us, and certainly to his 1^st-century audience) are the words he spoke before he healed him: “My child, your sins are forgiven.” To the paralyzed man, his friends and the crowd these words had to be confusing. “We came for healing; why are you talking about sin instead?”
• God knows what we need even if we don’t know what we need. We may be seeking many different things when we explore church and faith – friends, a “better” life, even a spouse – but ultimately God draws people to himself because he wants to forgive our sin and give us a new life.
• When we think about forgiveness, some of us struggle to believe that forgiveness of our sin is the biggest thing we need – like the paralyzed man who could only think about getting new legs. We may think of forgiveness as something others need from us, not something we need from God.

2. God is Eager to Forgive (Mark 2:8)

• Although there’s no record that the paralyzed man said anything, Jesus immediately forgave his sins – which can be confusing. Don’t we have to repent and ask or forgiveness in order to be “saved”? Don’t we have to say the right words and pray the right prayer?
• A few verses later, we find the key: Jesus knows our thoughts and he knows our hearts. He doesn’t require any magic words, and he doesn’t require a lifetime of faith – he just needs us to come to a point in our minds and hearts when we realize (decide) that we need him and need his forgiveness. Then he takes it from there, because he’s eager to forgive us and to give us the gift of life.
• God knows that our greatest need is a relationship with him, not just “healed” circumstances. We weren’t meant to live our lives wallowing around in the “yard debris” that our sin has left behind; neither are we meant to clean up our sin on our own, working hard to hide it where no one can see it. Instead, we’re meant to give it all to Jesus, who will “burn it up” and clean our lives for us.
• A simple decision of faith – trusting in our mind and heart that Jesus, and Jesus alone, can deal with our sin and shame – is what we need most. God knows it, and he’s eager to forgive us and give us the gift of life – a life built on relationship with him.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE

These passages may provide additional insights related to the subject of this week’s message. All verses are NLT unless otherwise noted.

Psalms 103:12; Isaiah 1:18, 43:25; Acts 10:42-43; Colossians 2:13-14; 1 Peter 2:21-24; 1 John 1:8-9

Video of the Week: Khata/Sin by Bible Project

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QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

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1. When you hear the word “forgiven,” does your mind go first to what you need to receive or to what you need to give?  Explain your answer.  

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2. Jesus forgave the paralyzed man’s sins without any verbal transaction at all (the man never asked to be forgiven). Does the idea that Jesus forgives the sins of those who don’t verbally repent and ask for his forgiveness comfort you or disturb you?  Explain your answer.

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3. Read Mark 2:5-11 again. The religious leaders were offended by Jesus’ claim that he could forgive sins — they saw it as blasphemy. What does Jesus’ response to them tell us about the purpose (and importance) of his miracles?

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4. The message opened with an observation that we sometimes wonder what, exactly, the process of “becoming a Christian” (i.e., being ‘saved’) entails. By your understanding, and using plain language (no just quoting Scripture….), how would you describe that process to someone who’s considering becoming a follower of Jesus?

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5. The message wrapped up with a preview of the words spoken at baptism: “Buried with him in likeness of his death, raised to walk in newness of life.” For the follower of Jesus, what do you think “walking in newness of life” means? What would that walk look like for you this week?

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6. For the believer, our response to the total forgiveness God has given us is supposed to be that we become naturally forgiving people ourselves. Who is someone you’ve struggled to forgive, and what’s keeping you from offering that forgiveness?