s5e8 Mark 2:1-12

Jesus, the Paralytic and His Friends

SOMA

Scripture - Read and Re-read Mark 1:40-45 (read a section or 2 after this reading as well to understand context a little bit)

Observations/Questions - Here are some of our observations and questions we had concerning this text:

• 1st of 5 stories in a row of Jesus and conflict with the religious leaders
• previous section said he couldn't enter a town because of the crowds but here he is in Capernaum
• flat roof back in that day, Luke mentions tile in Luke 5
• why did Jesus state that the man's sins were forgiven before he healed him? didn't seem like other healings
• what is tougher to forgive or to heal - is this about invisible vs visible? how do we measure what is tougher?
• seems like a different message of authority here with Jesus even having authority over our sins, guilt
• interesting that the scribes were sitting, maybe close to Jesus, watching his every move?
• the scribes debated within their hearts, were some of leaning toward belief at all?
• was Jesus supernaturally reading the minds of the scribes or what does it mean "perceiving in his spirit"?
• Mark seems to link healing with forgiveness quite a bit actually
• Why the use of "the Son of Man"? Significance?

Meaning - major takeaways we have gained from this text (not exclusive - just our notes)

• Mark seems to focus on Jesus being a challenge to the status quo and seeks to bring forgiveness to those who are rejected
• Jesus came to save us from our sin, not our ailments
• The compassion of Jesus - we takeaway Jesus' great compassion for the desparate
• Amazement - we takeaway our own amazement and Mark wants us to have that same amazement as Jesus' direct audience

Application - what does this text mean FOR me not necessarily TO me

• "Their faith" - the faith of the 4 guys leads us to ask, do we intercede for others? Prayer or telling the gospel.
• Do we have the compassion of Christ? Do we model him?
• Authority over sin - Jesus just forgave out of grace. Are we forgivers? Are we wanting everyone to follow our rules?
• Are we amazed at Jesus?
• Don’t be like the scribes always judging others but in secret you do things just as bad if not worse. Try as hard as can to not judge others. Remember judgement is reserved for God alone. God’s opinon is the only one that matters. Your judgement of someone could stand in their way of being with Jesus. We need to point others toward Jesus not stand in there way. A lot of people will tell you a pastor or a “christian” and their behavior or being a hypocrite is the reason they stopped seeking a relationship with God. Lets us watch our words and actions at all times to make sure we are pointing them to Jesus and not standing in thier way of Jesus.
• We need to become desperate for the salvation of others. So much so that I would be willing to do anything to make it happen. Let's stop being the type of box checking christians that the world tells us to be and start being the type of christians scripture tells us to be.

Group Questions:

1. The paralytic had 4 friends take him to Jesus...who brought you to Jesus?
2. Describe what compassion is...dig deep on this one.
3. What is it about Jesus in this story that makes you want to follow him?
4. How might we become more forgiving people as we model Christ? Be as specific as you can.
5. In this one story, name everything at which you think the crowd stood amazed concerning Jesus?

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