Our pastor preached yesterday from Mar 2:2-12 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. (3) And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. (4) And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. (5) And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (6) Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, (7) "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (8) And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts? (9) Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed 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 say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." (12) And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
This is an amazing passage in a lot of ways. One of the points stood out to me was the thought that the most needy man among all the people gathered that day was unable to approach Jesus without his friends taking extraordinary effort to lower him through a roof they had demolished. Why could he not get close? The answer is that there was a crowd of people around every entrance eager to hear from Jesus. They were so eager, in fact, that they chose their right to hear Jesus over the need of the paralytic. It is an incredible thought to me. Do I worship God in such a selfish way. Do I come to receive...of course I do. Do I receive in such a way as to be oblivious to the needs of others trying to come to Jesus? Probably. I am sorry.
I balance this passage with the passage about Mary and Martha. Remember Luke 10:38-42 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. (39) And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. (40) But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." (41) But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, (42) but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
This is an amazing passage in a lot of ways. One of the points stood out to me was the thought that the most needy man among all the people gathered that day was unable to approach Jesus without his friends taking extraordinary effort to lower him through a roof they had demolished. Why could he not get close? The answer is that there was a crowd of people around every entrance eager to hear from Jesus. They were so eager, in fact, that they chose their right to hear Jesus over the need of the paralytic. It is an incredible thought to me. Do I worship God in such a selfish way. Do I come to receive...of course I do. Do I receive in such a way as to be oblivious to the needs of others trying to come to Jesus? Probably. I am sorry.
I balance this passage with the passage about Mary and Martha. Remember Luke 10:38-42 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. (39) And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. (40) But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." (41) But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, (42) but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Martha missed the good portion because she was focused on meeting peoples needs. Mary drew near to Jesus and chose well. It seems completely opposite that the crowd in Mark two missed it because they refused to meet the need of another, demanding their spot before Jesus. (granted they are never rebuked by Him) I think the key is this: There is a way to sit before Jesus that exalts Jesus and makes him the prize. There is also a way to sit before Jesus that exalts self and prizes my own needs. Likewise, there is a service to others that exalts Jesus and a service to others that merely exalts man. Let us draw near to the Lord today. Let us exalt Him. Let us make way also, for you are not the only needy person approaching the King today.
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