It was worth all the effort

Sermon notes from Sunday 22 November 2015

Mark 2 verses 1 - 12

The thought that came to me as read through this passage was "it was worth all the effort".  What you have before you is 4 men who lifted a friend, put him on a stretcher and carried him to Jesus. When they got close to the house where Jesus was they found such a crowd there was no way they could enter in so they went up the outer staircase, made a hole in the roof and lowered their friend down to where Jesus was.  This man as a result came out walking through the front door.  It was worth all the effort.  Maybe there were other things and places you could have been doing and going tonight but all the effort can be worth it if you have come in not saved but leave this meeting knowing the one who is able to save your soul.  That brings a challenge to us as Christians when we look at verse 12, 4 men who did a tremendous work, had a tremendous passion, they thought of their friend first and foremost.  Do you have the same compassion in seeing your friends won for Christ?  In seeing the final change in this man`s life they took notice of his state and took him to Jesus Christ.  Was there someone you looked on in your home today, perhaps who you passed by today - did you realise they were going out into a lost Christless hell?  This man`s terrible plight, being lowered down to the feet of Jesus.

There is a privilege we need to consider.  This man had tremendous friends, they sacrificed time to do everything for him.  What a wonderful thing to have a concern for friends or relatives.  Maybe there is someone you know - do you have a concern for them tonight?  Remember Abraham and Sarah.  Abraham prayed that God would save Sodom and Gomorrah.  Lot his nephew had been taken captive by the enemy and Abraham gathered an army together to go out after Lot.  He brought him and other captives home again.  What a tremendous privilege it is to have a friend who cares for him.  There are many who would say "if that is Christianity I don`t want anything to do with that."  For others they know and love the Lord and you know the change in their life, can see it before you.  In verse 1 we read the words "and again".  What joy those words are, they conjure up for this man lying on a stretcher that Jesus had come again to his village.  Here was another opportunity for him to consider when these 4 men came to him and told him Jesus had come again to Capernaum, that he was in a certain house, and that this man could heal him.  They decided to take him down to where Jesus was.  There must have been a first visit.  Maybe in the first visit this man had no concern for Christ whatsoever.  Maybe in the condition he was in he had no concern for Jesus.  Now he is getting another opportunity to say yes to these men, that he would go to the feet of Christ.  Maybe there is another opportunity for you and you remember sitting here before.  Has God spoken to you about getting saved.  God showed you your need of salvation.  Somehow you shrugged your shoulders, put it off, never envisaged yourself being changed by the grace of God.  There is a privilege to be considered here.  What a privilege for Cornelius in Acts 9 who was praying and pleading with God.  An angel came down to where he was.  He couldn`t help him nor tell him the way of salvation but there is a man in Joppa who knows your situation.  Send for him and he will tell you words whereby you might be saved.  Have you considered the privilege of coming into a meeting just like this?

A presence that confronted him.  Luke tells us something of this meeting in chapter 5.  Jesus was teaching in this house, some people would say it was Peter`s house.  Jesus began to preach and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law present.  Luke tells us "the power of the Lord was present to heal".  Remember Lydia and the presence of God in her meeting.  The power of the Holy Spirit was there.  The Holy Spirit opened Lydia`s heart for her to receive God into the depth of her heart.  Maybe God is speaking to the depths of your heart.  You never realised you needed to be saved until this particular day.  Maybe you have come to that place you never felt like this before but realise you need to be saved.  That is the power of God.  In Luke 13 there was a woman in the synagogue bound over, never straightened up for 18 years.  Satan had her in his grip.  Her privilege was that Jesus was in the meeting and he had the power to set her free.  Jesus is here and he has the power to set you free.  Jesus could have gone to any other house in Capernaum but he didn`t.  The man could have gone to any other house in Capernaum but Jesus would not have been there.  People say to me "there are far too many churches" and I agree but how many churches have you been in where you have felt the presence of the Lord in them?  There is a presence and a power to save your soul.  The man came to the place where the presence of Christ was present to heal.

A priority that is created.  The only way for this man to get to where Jesus was, was to let him down through the roof.  Sometimes it is so difficult to come to Christ, to surrender to him.  These men had to take the stretcher up the staircase and onto the roof, then make a hole to get the stretcher lowered to where Jesus was.  It is going to be difficult for you to get to where Jesus is.  There will be a battle to hold you to where you are at right now.  The devil will not give up without a fight.  This man was lowered down through the roof.  Notice however the priority in verse 5.  "Thy sins be forgiven thee" were the words from Jesus` lips.  That was the priority for the Lord.  The man`s soul came first.  What has brought you here tonight?  Matthew 16 verse 26 "what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his own soul?"  You may gain all the riches worth - popularity, prominence, position - all this world can give to you but what would it be if you lost your soul?  Maybe this is your opportunity, will you reach forward and take Christ as Saviour and Lord?  Will you trust Jesus as Saviour and Lord?  The priority is not whether you enjoy the preacher or the singer or the singing of the hymns.  The priority is to open up the Bible, to see your soul is in the balance and could be lost.  Jesus cautioned about a place called hell.  "if thy right eye offend thee pluck it out, and cast it from thee or it is profitable or thee that one o thy members should perish and not that they whole body should be cast into hell." (Matthew 5 verse 29)  The greatest priority is your soul.  Jesus knew that when the man came the healing of his body was his priority but the priority for Jesus was the forgiveness of his sins.

A pardon confirmed.  When he healed this man the religious leaders looked around and said "it is only God who can forgive sins."  That was true but they didn`t realise standing in their midst was the Son of God himself who can forgive sins.  Has your pardon been confirmed?  The old thief on the cross was told "today thou shalt be with me in paradise".  His pardon was confirmed.  Do you know your sins forgiven?  Do you know you are on your way to heaven and home?  Do you know a confirmation of your salvation?  This man had his salvation confirmed.  Remember the publican who smote his breast and cried "Have mercy on me a sinner."  He went down to his house justified.  You too can have a pardon for your sin and know you are on your way to heaven and home.

There is a praise that is crowned.  On that particular day the people said they had never seen anything like this in this fashion before.  The people glorified God as they saw the man lifting his bed and walking out the door.  People will see the difference in your life if you come to Christ tonight.  Would you lead the way in your home, in your neighbourhood?  That the Lord as your Saviour has worked in your life and changed your life for time and eternity?