Message Notes

VIDEO MESSAGE 24 May 2020
BI-LINGUAL BRETHREN

Text: Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26

Title: “Your sins are forgiven”

INTRODUCTION

1. Series of Messages on “Faith”

2. Importance of having Faith is obvious:

a) It results in salvation

b) It enables us to be a blessing to others

c) It helps us cope with the tribulation of life

THE GENERAL PUBLIC MINISTRY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

1. His ministry covered all of Israel

2. Two regions highlighted:

a) Galilee

b) Jerusalem

3. Ministry in Capernaum noted

a) He would sometimes minister in a synagogue (Mark 1:29)

b) He would also minister in homes (Mark 1:33; 2:1)

c) Sometimes even out in the open fields (Mark 1:45)

4. A description of the people who came to see the Lord Jesus Christ

a) Those who were sick (Mark 1:34)

b) Those who were demon-possessed (brought by family/ friends) (Mark 1:34)

c) Jesus healed all who came to Him

d) They came to Him from every direction (Mark 1:45)

e) They came because they wanted the Lord to heal them

f) Not many understood the fact that the Lord had a deeper and more meaningful ministry

A SPECIAL AND DEEPER MINISTRY REVEALED

1. This was revealed by the Lord Jesus Christ

2. This is captured in a story of a paralytic who was brought to the Lord Jesus

A MOVING STORY OF FRIENDS AND FAITH

1. Jesus was in a house

a) The house was packed

b) People were standing outside the door

c) They couldn’t get in (Mark 2:2)

2. Four Friends

a) The paralytic had four friends (Mark 2:3)

b) They had carried him to see Jesus

c) They could not get in

d) They came to a decision

i) They uncovered the roof where He was (Mark 2:4)

ii) They let down their friend who was a paralytic (Mark 2:4)

e) The faith of the four friends

i) The Lord Jesus “saw their faith” (Mark 2:5a)

ii) This faith was evidenced by the effort made by the four friends

iii) They had believed that Jesus could heal their friend

iv) This faith was acknowledged (nobody had thought of that)

A DIFFERENT FOCUS

1. Jesus addressed the paralytic

2. But He did not offer healing

3. He addressed an even greater need

a) The need for sins to be forgiven

b) The need of the heart and soul to be cleansed

4. This was something the Lord Jesus wanted to help all the people to understand

THE HUMAN BEING

1. God created the human being

2. He has two parts

a) The body

b) The soul

3. Common focus

a) The body

i) It can get sick

ii) It needs to be healed

iii) People came to Jesus because they wanted to be well

b) The soul

i) Few understand that they have a soul

ii) This is the invisible part

iii) This is just as important

THE OFFER OF FORGIVENESS OF SINS

1. The declaration by the Lord Jesus

a) Son, your sins are forgiven you (Mark 2:5)

b) To Jesus, this was even more significant

2. The reaction of the people

a) Some of the religious leaders were there (Called “scribes”)

b) These were skilled teachers of the Scriptures

c) They were upset when they heard these words

i) To them, Jesus had blasphemed

ii) Jesus was only a Man to them

iii) To them, only God could forgive sins!

THE EXPLANATION OF THE LORD JESUS

1. Jesus knew what was in their hearts

2. He was not afraid of these religious leaders

3. He countered and said

a) Which is easier?

i) To heal?

ii) To forgive?

b) Both are hard

4. A special revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ

a) He was the Son of Man

i) He was prophesied of as God’s Anointed One (Messiah)

ii) He had come to save people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)
He was the Saviour (and not just Healer)

b) He had power from God (Mark 2:10)

i) To forgive sins

ii) To heal

5. The paralytic

a) He was healed immediately

b) His sins were also forgiven

6. The Faith of the Four Friends

a) The faith of his four friends was acknowledged by the Lord

b) It led to the salvation of their friend

c) It led to his healing too

THE DEEPER MINISTRY OF THE LORD JESUS

1. He seeks to address the needs of the soul

2. He offers forgiveness and salvation

3. He blesses and strengthens our faith