Whether you are here in person or engaging from home, we are thankful you have chosen to worship with us today. If it is your first time, welcome! we would love to get to know you better. Would you consider filling out our Next Steps card and let us know you stopped by?

At Grace Family we focus our worship on Sunday to impact our lives every other day of the week as well. We also believe no one is perfect but everyone is welcome to worship God with us. So, no matter where you're from, what you've done, or what your week has been like, let's worship God and learn from His word together today.

Mark 2:1-2

"When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them,"

It's possible this was Jesus' house or Peter's house.

These people were probably not gathered to hear preaching, they probably wanted miracles.

Mark 2:3-4

" 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. "

Think about the logistics:

Roofs were made of mud, sticks, reeds, etc.

All this digging is happening while Jesus is teaching.

They made a hold large enough to fit an entire person through on a mat.

Mark 2:5

" 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”"

Jesus saw their faith.

Who would you do this for?

Who would do this for you?

Mark 2:6-7

"6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”"

The scribes understood Jesus' claim to forgive sins as a claim to be God.

Mark 2:8-12

"8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[a] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”"

Jesus shows himself to be God in 3 ways.

1. Jesus heals the paralyzed man.

2. Jesus reads the minds of the scribes.

3. Jesus forgives sin.

Son of Man

This is how Jesus most often refers to himself. (Over 80 times in the gospels)

Daniel 7:9-10

"I watched as thrones were put in place

    and the Ancient One[a] sat down to judge.

His clothing was as white as snow,

    his hair like purest wool.

He sat on a fiery throne

    with wheels of blazing fire,

10 and a river of fire was pouring out,

    flowing from his presence.

Millions of angels ministered to him;

    many millions stood to attend him.

Then the court began its session, and the books were opened.

Daniel 7:13-14

"13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man[d] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed."

Jesus is proclaiming his everlasting rule.

The paralyzed man probably didn't show up that day hoping to be forgiven.

The people didn't show up that day wanting to see a paralyzed man forgiven. 

Jesus gave them what they needed, not what they wanted.

We need the word of God in our lives more than we know and more often than we think.

You need mat carriers in your life.

Benefits never outweigh a changed life.

You should always be changed by a true encounter with Jesus.

Do you show up looking for what you want or what you need?

Use the space below to ask a question and one of our pastors will get back to you!

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