Sermon Central
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When Jesus Led The Service
Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jul 21, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: Certain dynamics take place when Jesus is present---especially in our services.
When Jesus Led the Service
1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
2 So many gathered 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 paralytic, 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 and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "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 the paralytic, ’Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ’Get up, take your mat and walk’?
10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic,
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!"
ACCORDING TO VERSE ONE, Jesus was “in the house” and people from all around that region knew it! It was, as the KJV puts it, “noised.” The word was out. Word of mouth is still the best way to get people to hear Jesus! People will come if they know He is there.
In verse two, we’re told that Jesus “preached the Word.” When the Word is proclaimed, lives will be changed and things will happen. In I Corinthians 2:1-5, Paul put it this way:
1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
When Jesus leads the service, several things take place.
1. Crowds Gather
Verse two says, “So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door.”
Do you know why?
o Because the Savior was there
o Because the Scriptures were declared—in this case we have the Word preaching the Word.
o Because some saw and others heard about the miracle of the healing of the leper
o Because Jesus was the common man’s friend. Verse 37 says, “the common people heard Him gladly.”
o Because He had something important to say. After He finished the Sermon of the Mount, the Bible says that the people were astonished because He taught them as “one having authority.”
o Because people knew He loved them. He did more than just talk. He demonstrated it. How? By healing the sick, by forgiving the sinner, by raising the dead, by showing compassion, and finally by giving His all on the cross.
Illus.: Joseph Scriven was a young man who was deeply in love and engaged to be married. Just days before the wedding, his fiancé drowned accidentally. For months he was bitter and discouraged, but out of this experience he came to know Christ. His life was so changed that he sat down and wrote a hymn all of us have sung: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
In the second place, when Jesus leads the service…
2. Some Folks Will Act Out of
Out of Concern
Look at verses 3 and 4:
Some of the men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
Who were these four? What were their names? Why was this man crippled?
Obstacles they faced:
o Press of the crowd
o Climb the ladder
o Break up the roof
o Interrupt the preacher
o Pay for the repairs
o Embarrassment and shock
o Possible arrest (Peter’s house)
They were willing to do what it took to help a friend get to Jesus.
