What We All Need to Know is to Know What We Need

Notes: What we all need to know is to know what we need. 
Guest Pastor Alistair Begg
Harvest OC
November 23, 2014
Mark 1:32-45 to Mark 2:1-

Mark 1:32-45 NKJV
[32] At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. [33] And the whole city was gathered together at the door. [34] Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. [35] Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. [36] And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. [37] When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." [38] But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth." [39] And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. [40] Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." [41] Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." [42] As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. [43] And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, [44] and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." [45] However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.
Mark 2:1-12 NKJV
[1] And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. [2] Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. [3] Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. [4] And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. [5] When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." [6] And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, [7] "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" [8] But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? [9] Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'? [10] But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"-He said to the paralytic, [11] "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." [12] Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

Jesus Christ surprised His disciples by telling His disciples to move on. They thought He should stay, but He explains that He should move on to preach there also. 

There are two stories about men being healed.

1. Is the leper, the leper came to Jesus.

We don't know how bad his condition is, but we know he would of been an untouchable. The man knew his condition and approached Jesus Christ to be healed. 

The condition of the man is revealed in the compassion of Jesus. The mans approach was strong and Jesus' compassion was just as strong.

This compassion is also the same as described when the father ran to the prodigal son. 

For Jesus to touch this man would of made Him ceremonial unclean.  But He touched him, an untouchable was touched by Jesus Christ. This man would not of been touched by anyone in a long time other than other untouchables. 

The picture given to us here is a picture showing that Jesus Christ reaches us through our uncleanness and does for us what we can not do for ourselves.

1 Corinthians 2:5 NKJV
[5] that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

The man was told not to talk about what Jesus had done for him. Yet the man went out and told people freely.

Pastor Alistair pointed out that Jesus Christ silenced the demons in this passage but did not silence this man even though He commanded him not to speak.

This is an illustration of when we as believers need to keep our mouths shut. We as believers sometimes should not be speaking, the Gospel speaks for itself and we don't always need to speak for it.

Mark 1:14 NKJV
[14] Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Jesus Christ needs us to turn from our sin and turn to Him. That is our commandment.

Jesus Christ is a preacher, preaching the Words His Father gave Him.

We are commanded to do the same thing, to be preaching the Word of God, not our own words.

The Word of God restores us who are paralyzed by our sin.

2. This is the second man Jesus heals.

Mark 2:4 NKJV
[4] And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

This story is generally preached as a guilt trip to us asking how much do you care for your friend that you need to go and above for your friends.

Pastor Alistair says that is not the point of the story. He jokingly says the point of the story is the point of the story.

It was what came from the lips of Jesus Christ that is the point.

Mark 2:5 NKJV
[5] When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."

The people were shocked that Jesus said such an unrelated statement.

The Book of Job is a whole book placed on the emphasis that people can not distinguish what their real needs are.

Many don't have good things to say, like the scribes in this story. He is being opposed by men you would think would be on His side. These men have a correct theology.

Mark 2:7 NKJV
[7] "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

These men dismiss that Jesus could be God, that He therefore must be blasphemous.

That is the true question for all of, do we believe Jesus is only a good man healing people or is He God incarnate.

Who can forgive sins but God alone. That is the statement the was relevant than and is relevant today.

God is beyond the realm of your intuitive radar. God alone is the only One that can reveal Himself to you. If you don't truly seek Him than you will not find Him.

Mark 2:8-12 NKJV
[8] But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? [9] Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'? [10] But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"-He said to the paralytic, [11] "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." [12] Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

These men would of known that Jesus Christ calling Himself the Son of Man would of been stating that He is God. It is a reference to Daniel 7.

Daniel 7:13 NKJV
[13] "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.

The hard part for man is to understand that it is sin that is our downfall. That is why Jesus did the easy part for Him first. The hard part then was actually getting the man to get out of his bed to walk knowing what his real problems actually were. Jesus Christ not only healed this man but He opened his eyes to what he really needed.

What we all need to know is to know what we need. Forgiveness of our sins is what we all need.

We could have a wonderful life and be lost for all of eternity facing judgement and having no defense.

Jesus Christ has died in our place, we only need to understand that.

Our lives filled with sin alienate us from God. Once we are aware of that, we can then go to God and ask for Him to save us.