First Baptist Church Ottawa
Our Online Church School Lesson - February 4, 2024
Faith from the Roof Tops - Mark 2:1-12
Today’s Scripture: Mark 2:1-12
Today’s Theme: Faith from the Roof Tops
Opening Prayer: Dear God, thank you for allowing us to gather here today to learn more about Jesus. Please help our ears to listen, our minds to learn, and our hearts to love as we hear the stories of His work. Amen.
Today’s Lesson: Last week, we talked about the authority of Jesus - to forgive sins, to heal, to judge. When Jesus encountered a man who was possessed by an evil spirit, the spirit was afraid of Jesus and his divine authority. And so, at the command of Jesus, it left the man that it was tormenting. This week, we will again look at the authority of Jesus as he performs another miracle in Capernaum. Prior to his visit to Capernaum, Jesus had spent weeks or even months going “throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons”. Now, he is back in Capernaum where he had originally started with his small band of disciples. He settles into a house, perhaps that of Simon Peter, where he had previously healed Peter’s mother-in-law.
Let’s read today’s passage and then discuss:
Mark 2:1-12:
1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Jesus has been at home now for a few days before the crowds even realize he’s there. When the people come, they come as a crowd “so that there was no more room, not even at the door.” There are people there who want to hear him preach, people who want him to heal them or their loved ones, as well as some Scribes. The crowds outside the house are immense and thick, and people jam the inside of the house, as well. The house is packed, and there is standing room only. Of course, though, the Scribes were sitting!
While Jesus preached the Word to crowds of friends and foes, four men carried their friend to the house on a stretcher, hoping to see Jesus. Alas, they could not get in. The people–including the Scribes—would not make way for them! All of these people knew Jesus’ healing power. They recognized the needs of this poor man. Yet no one stepped aside to make room.
The four faithful friends were desperate. Jesus had been in this house before, but then he had left for months. Who knew when they’d ever get this chance again? So they made their own way. They climbed to the flattened roof, removed the tiles in order to make a hole big enough for the stretcher, and they started lowering their friend down to where Jesus was teaching.
Can you see it? Jesus was speaking in this darkened, crowded, stuffy house. Then suddenly dirt starts dropping from above, and with the first ray of sunshine, clouds of dust can be seen in the air. Jesus knows they’re coming, but still, he waves the dust clouds from before his face and goes silent as he watches the men feverishly remove a portion of the roof, tile by tile. They lower their friend’s stretcher down with sheets or ropes to where Jesus stood. And the people finally move. Those in the front row, those who crowded in first and never made way for anyone behind them, have to step back. The Scribes remain seated.
The room goes still except for the panting of the friends above who stare down into the room and a few coughs from those still breathing in the dust. And then Jesus speaks. The passage tells us that “when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”. What an amazing recognition: “their faith”, plural, and yet it’s the man on the bed whose sins are forgiven! All five men apparently knew that Jesus was capable of healing this guy, for they all went that extra mile to get his attention. But this man on the stretcher had something special.
This man’s faith in Jesus was strong enough, not to move a mountain, but to get his friends to carry him across town and up a ladder and down through a hole in the roof! He knew that Jesus was his only hope, for healing and for any joy that could be had in this life. He knew that nothing else on the planet could save his body, and Jesus showed him that nothing else on this planet could save his soul.
The Scribes can’t believe it, and Jesus reads their minds. Mark records their thoughts: “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”. Jesus calls them out publicly, these men who haven’t moved for this faith-filled paralytic. “Why do you question these things in your hearts?” he asks them. “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk?”. He doesn’t even give these arrogant men the chance to answer, for he already knows their thoughts. “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” and he now speaks to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home”.
The paralyzed man stands up, picks up his bed, and leaves the house. Finally, the people make room for him! The crowd separates, astonished and amazed, glorifying God and saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!”. His friends shout for joy and bound down the ladder to meet their healed and walking friend. Together they dance their way home. While the crowd around them cheers, praising God, the Scribes remain seated and feel nothing but hatred for Jesus, who they consider still to be a blasphemer.
Despite the Scribes’ hatred and doubt, the authority of Jesus is obvious in this passage. Jesus tells them, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” and He heals the man. We live in a world where nothing is certain. We can hope for things - good health, good grades, good weather, a good gift at our birthday. But just hoping for eternity with God in Heaven is not good enough. Only Jesus can change our “I hope so” to an “I know so”.
For Reflection: Jesus is the Truth. He has the power and authority to forgive our sins. He has given us eternal life through his great sacrifice. Because Jesus is our friend, we’re never alone. We can do all kinds of things like love others and tell others about Jesus. Jesus is always with us, ready to help us. Think about the following questions as you reflect on today’s lesson:
Because Jesus is my friend, at home I can… (For example, maybe you can be kind to your younger brother or maybe you can help your parents clean the house without them asking you to.)
Because Jesus is my friend, at school I can…
Because Jesus is my friend, in my neighborhood I can…
Because Jesus is my friend, at my church I can…
Closing Prayer: Dear God, thank you for giving us Jesus to be our friend. Help us show Jesus’ love at home, at school, in our neighborhood, at church, and everywhere. Please hear us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Today’s Craft: Symbols of Faith - One of our discussion questions for today is “Because Jesus is my friend, at my church I can…”. To help answer this question, we are going to make faith bracelets for our congregation. It is easy to do this - all you need is elastic string, beads and patience! You can also use the attached colour chart to string beads that reflect your faith. Have fun and see you next time!
Crafts, colouring, puzzles and fun!
Choose from the resources posted below to add a little creativity to this week’s lesson.
