First Baptist Church
September 27, 2026

      • Romans 8.31-33ESV

      • Romans 8.34-35ESV

      • Romans 8.36-38ESV

      • Romans 8.39ESV

  • A Mighty Fortress is Our God
  • How Long, O Lord, How Long? [Psalm13]
  • He Will Keep You (Psalm 121)

      • Mark 8:27–29ESV

  • How Great (Psalm 145)
    • Most people enjoy a good surprise. Wonder, awe, bewilderment..… these are high selling marks in the world of entertainment. If you can leave the people with their minds blown, you are likely to find good success for your product or for your piece of entertainments. Consider movies for example. Movies that have plot twists are typically movies that people gravitate to.
      Think with me for a moment. Name a movie that you remember being blown away by when they revealed the big plot twist. There are several hundreds of movies out there that have some great reveals, but perhaps there is none more known, more appreciated, more quoted, more mind boggling then when this 1980’s film disrupted the typical divide between villain and hero. When light and dark were always so far separated. Where there could be no chance for the people on the good side to have any relation with the people on the evil side. In fact, when this particular scene happened, it shocked the entire cast when they were finally given the script. When people saw the film for the first time in theatres, many still didn’t believe the revelation was true up until the final movie of the trilogy cemented into their the movies history. This revelation came at a climatic battle between good and evil. The two most prominent characters of both sides colliding in a duel. It was an intense battle, and when the hero looks to have lost, and it looked like it was the end for him, the bad guy surprised everyone by not killing the hero, but instead by inviting the hero to join him because.… “I am your father.” Of course, by now, you may know that we are talking about the second original star wars film. It has forever left it’s mark as one of the most surprising and iconic plot twist in movie history. Just about every survey you look up will include this movie in its top 5 greatest plot twists of all time, often citing it as the first major plot twist of all movies, paving the way for others to bring shock and awe value to their own films.
      But as big as that scene in that movie or any movie may be, none could be bigger to a crowded audience than what Jesus revealed to them as we will see in our text today. This moment, this miracle, proved to be a monumental one for several reasons. Things occurred here and were said here that had never been seen or heard before. Firsts of many. Today, we are going to look at this momentous unveiling from Mark chapter 2, as we have been studying the book of Mark and building our understanding of Jesus Gospel Ministry, and we are going to see this text and momentous unveiling thru 6 acts, like acts from a show. Each one building the stakes of the next until that climatic moment where Jesus unveils a starting and bewildering and completely mind boggling revelation that leave all in wonder, confusion, anger, and great excitement.
      Let’s begin with Act 1:

      Act 1: “Stage is Set (v.1-2)

      Follow along as I read, Mark 2:1-2.
      Mark 2:1–2 ESV
      And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 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.
      Quick recap, Jesus had been on preaching circuit throughout Galilee, and as He taught He also took the opportunity to not just heal a leper, but thoroughly cleanse this leper. A very significant miracle as we talked about last week. So significant and so incredible was this miracle.… to cure the uncurable that it garnered all kinds of attention of Jesus. We left off in the end of Mark 1 with the gospel writer telling us that word of Him spread so aggressively because of this miracle, that Jesus was no longer even able to enter a town, but instead He had to retreat to desolate places. So what did Jesus do next. Chapter 2 sets the stage for Jesus’ next incredibly big miracle by giving us a few insightful details.
      First thing it tell us is that....

      -Jesus Returns Home

      As you might recall, Capernaum has become a prominent place for Jesus. A base of operations if you will. It is really here that Jesus began His earthly ministry, officially… teaching in the synagogue, calling disciples, casting out demons, healing all sorts of sick. This city was an excellent choice of base for it’s strategic value. Being located on the Sea of Galilee and well as on the Roman road Via Maris, made this place an excellent place for word to spread. It was the home of Peter and Andrew and perhaps that of James and John who were fishermen there. Jesus wouldn’t just make this a base of operation for purely strategic reasons, but this place also became His home as our text says.
      It’s not abundantly clear why He returned home. But it would seem in our immediately context, that Jesus came back home for possible rest and regrouping. Jesus, as we just read, went into desolate places.… why? It would appear to avoid the mob of people looking merely to get healed. He actually did the same thing at Capernaum when the mob there was trying to find him after the night where he healed so many people. It says that He got up the next morning to pray and then to leave to preach in the other cities, for that is why He came. Mark 1:38-39
      So it would make sense that he probably tried to come home discreetly, since our text says that he was reported at home, not that Jesus made His presence known in public ministry. He wasn’t out in the synagogue preaching or on the corner of the market healing. He was just at home, and people found out.
      It also says that He came home after some days had passed. How long He was out in desolate places while people were trying to find Him is explicitly told to us. Could have been a literally few days.… or the words few days in the original language can imply alot longer… like weeks, months even. Regardless, Jesus is home, and people find out where He is and very quickly assemble to see him.

      -House is Packed

      How the word traveled so quickly is understood, but it certainly did. Jewish customs required one to open up their homes to complete strangers. So having random people in your home wasn’t all the unique. But having so many people like this was certainly unique. Scripture tells us that when people found out that Jesus was at home, people crowded in to see him, such as that there wasn’t even standing room available inside. But the house was completely full and overflowing even outside the doorway. This was a sold out event even thought the event wasn’t even advertised. People were willing to stand outside the house and perhaps miss seeing or hearing something, they just wanted to be there so that they might even catch a little glimpse of something spectacular.
      But what does Jesus do with the crowds. Does He push them away? Nope. They are likely bringing sick to him, so this crowd is likely some of the same crowd that was with him last time he was here in Capernaum. Does Jesus spend all his time healing like He did the last time he was here in Capernaum. Nope… instead.

      -Christ Capitalizes on the Opportunity

      And He did so by preaching. Nothing was more important to Christ than for people to hear the Words of Truth, of Hope, of Life. Where people gather to see the spectacle of Jesus, Jesus attention always remained on something far more important than His miraculous deeds,.… His miraculous truths. Just wanted them to love and hear truth. There’s a basic application here for all of us.… when we come to Jesus asking for so many different things… what does Jesus most want us to have. Truth. To love preaching and the Word of God and the wonderous truths found there. That’s the priority of Jesus, and should be our priority as well. We will look more at this superficial crowd in a moment, but as we progress through the narrative, act 1 closes it’s focus on the onlookers for a moment and introduces us to another set of characters.

      Act 2: Supporting Cast Enters (v.3-5)

      Let’s continue our reading in verses 3-5.
      Mark 2:3–5 ESV
      And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 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. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
      There are 3 things the text reveals about this supporting cast of characters. The first, they were...

      -They were Desperate

      This is obvious from the prognosis of the man. He was a paralytic, a man unable to do much for himself but was completely at the mercy of others. It doesn’t say how paralyzed he was whether it was just his legs or his entire body. Either way, there was no available cure for his predicament.
      Second thing we note, is that they were...

      -They were Motivated

      In the parallel account found in Luke 5, it is recorded that the 4 men who carried their friend, tried every way to bring him in before Jesus but could find no way because of the crowds. That tells us something of the crowds. Nobody seemed to have any compassion of these men. The crowd didn’t appear to be phased or be moved by the same kind of compassion that Jesus displayed when he healed the leper. They didn’t make room for the paralytic man. They continued to crowd the house.
      Another thing it might also show about the crowd is how big it was. If Luke’s account seems to imply that they tried every possible option, then one of those options that seems conceivable would be to call out to Jesus and have him come to them. That happened on other occasions, but perhaps because the crowd was so large, that it seemed impossible to even try that. But does that stop this determined group.
      I think several of us would have walked up, maybe waited a bit and said, this crowd’s too big, let’s try to come back tomorrow or another time. Nope, they were determined to see Jesus today. Doesn’t that also go to show us the love they had for their friend. It was extremely sacrificial of them to go these great lengths, but they showed a compassion and love like Christ Himself.
      And so they moved find a route that led them to the roof of the house, and where they then dug their way in. Most homes in that day were made of heavy beams covered with sticks, mud, thatch, ect… and these guys just started to break thru it all with a hole large enough for the man to be lowered thru it. Can you imagine the disruption this would have been. Everyone sitting and listening to Jesus and suddenly parts of the dust and debris of the ceiling start falling on your head. It would have been a possibly awkward moment. To make a hole large enough for the stretcher to fit thru had to take some amount of time. I imagine it was fairly silent, with whispers and the like going thru the crowd.
      You something else strikes me about this account. Not one time is there mentioned in any of the gospel accounts of this episode, any protests from anyone. Hey youre interrupting Jesus. Or no protests from the disciples, whose house was being torn apart. Perhaps there wasn’t enough time for that. No matter what, no protest was given because all eyes were first in bewilderment of what was happening.
      But none of this phased these men. They were motivated but not blindly. No were driven and motivated by their faith.

      -They were Filled with Faith

      It was very evident that these men went thru all they did not on a whim or a false hope… but based on a confident belief on who Jesus was. Jesus saw that very clearly. Verse 5 spells it out.… “and when Jesus saw their faith....” whose faith? The faith of all these men. The men who carried the paralytic but also the paralytic man himself. It seems we should believe that this wasn’t the same kind of superficial belief or hope in Jesus that many in the crowds had. But a genuine faith that leads to repentance and salvation. We know that based upon what Jesus will do next. And believe me, it may be one of the most surprising things that this crowd has ever seen. Let’s look at Act 3.

      Act 3: Protagonist Shocks And Awes (v.5)

      As shocking as this man’s dramatic entrance was, Jesus’ statement was far more shocking.
      Mark 2:5 ESV
      And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
      Your sins are forgiven. That’s a surprising statement. Where did that come from? We will see in this text that this statement caused quite the commotion. But why would Jesus offer this instead of what most people thought healing?
      Did this man have grotesque sin in his life? Was that why he was disabled.
      Whether this man’s disability was connected to a specific sin is not known for sure. But what can be said for sure is this.… disease and disability in general were assumed to be the immediate results of sin.
      John 9:2 ESV
      And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
      Either way, whether it was a result of sin or not, this man was labeled and condemned by many people in his own community of terrible sin. He would have felt the emotional weight and shame of that on top of the sorrow associated with his disability. That’s what makes Jesus words so much more endearing. Matthew’s gospel includes extra words of comfort outside of what is recorded for us in Marks.
      Matthew 9:2 ESV
      And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
      Those words “take heart” truly reveal that Jesus saw what was in this man’s inner being. He was troubled and greatly grieved. Grieved not just by his disability, but even more so by his sin.
      Would Jesus ever offer such forgiveness and pardon to someone if they are arrogant and ignorant about their sin. Would He truly pardon someone if they never came to humble themselves and seek out repentance. Has Jesus or even the Bible ever shown where it is possible not to confess your sins and still be released from sins penalty. No, the Bible clearly says “if you confess your sins, then He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.” God doesn’t grant forgiveness without confession.
      This much is an absolute gospel truth. A truth that this faith-filled paralytic man understood. Just that same way as many did… like the sorrowful tax collector.… “God, be merciful to me the sinner”. You see no traces of complaint from this disabled man when instead of getting healed, he gets forgiven. We know the rest of the story so we know he eventually is healed. But understand this, first Jesus forgives then He heals, showing priority and importance. But we also see how the man didn’t reject the forgiveness. “That’s not why I came”, “I don’t need that.” No, he knew He did. It’s what we all need. Forgiveness. Nothing could be better than that.
      “Forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs. It meets the greatest need; it cost the greatest price; and it brings the greatest blessing, and most lasting results.” -Warren Wiersbe
      God does not send people to hell because of sin, but because of unforgiven sin. It’s the one and only difference between those spending eternity in paradise and those suffering judgment of God’s righteous wrath. Forgiveness. And how can we receive such a thing. How can we be forgiven of all the injustices we’ve done against a holy God. How could God ever overlook the many offenses we have done against Him. Every time we decided to follow our own rules instead of God’s. Every time we ignored him and served ourselves alone. Every time we by our actions said we don’t need him but can do it on our own. We don’t pray, we don’t study Him, we don’t worship. What does God do with that. He doesn’t ignore it. But He provided a way to justly deal with it. Sin is never ignored. It always comes at a cost. God provided for the cost of sin when He sent Jesus to take the just punishment of God on our behalf.
      Scripture says it this way.
      Acts 13:38–39 ESV
      Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
      The good news of salvation is that God eagerly forgives our trepasses no matter how great they are so long as the one who comes to God truly confesses and believes in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. That there is the greatest plot twist of all time. Perfectly righteous God offering himself as sacrifice for desperately wicked people and then going the extra mile to literally come and personally share it with them in Jesus coming to earth. How incredible!
      But it is true with everything.… when good begins to shine and thrive… the evil does not remain silent. But the more good shines the more aggressive the evil becomes as seen in our next act.

      Act 4: Opposition Ensues (v.6-7)

      Mark 2:6–7 ESV
      Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
      As we look at this particular event and miracle, we must note that this is a significant one. Consider this.… Jesus healed thousands of people. It is recorded that he even healed several other paralytic people, but those accounts never receive the same attention as this one does. Why do the gospel universally agree that this incident should be recorded with so much detail but not the others?
      This miracle is the first time that Jesus had opposition present. Not only were they present, but they played a significant part of the narrative.
      Think about the miracles recorded so far.
      SHOW GRAPH
      Mark and Luke are almost identical in structure. Just a few things are listed in different places, and Luke gives us a few extra events that Mark does not. Matthew gives us even more. But so far, none of the miracles that Jesus did leading up to this point received any major attention from the opposition, up until this healing. Apparently Jesus’ fame, thru the healing of the leper, not only brought the attention of the crowds, but also the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus telling the leper to show himself to the priest must have made big headway in their meetings. On top of that, His teachings were hitting alittle too close to home for them. Though at this point, he hasn’t been recorded to outright condemn them, His teachings in the sermon on the Mount certainly alluded to false religious teachers who love to tout there supposed righteousness before others. He says very clearly in chapter 7 of Matthew, beware of false teachers who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but are actually ravenous wolves. This teaching came before he even cleanses the leper.
      So this is big stuff, and it’s time that the religious leaders in that day finally get first hand information on who this Jesus guy is. Luke 9 actually tells us that they sent scribes and pharisees from all over Judea to “spy out” the situation for it seems that this Jesus guy is disrupting the normal religious way that they understood life. They didn’t want change, they wanted to keep the status quo. And that becomes increasingly more obvious as we go along thru the gospels. But what do we know of these opponents in this text? 3 things can be seen.

      -Their thoughts were internal alone.

      Because this is the first time opposition is present at something Jesus does, they remain quiet during the event. They don’t speak up, they don’t speak out, they don’t even talk amongst themselves. It all starts in their heads and in their hearts. But what it eventually comes to is open warfare, deceitful scheming, and even murder. And doesn’t that ring true about human nature. Everything we eventually do all comes from the head and heart of our being. So guard them.

      -Their thoughts were incorrectly formed.

      They question in themselves, who can forgive sins but God alone. That question is a valid one. They are correct to believe that only God can forgive sins because first of all, all sins are against God first. They are an act of rebellion against His law and His rules. Second, only God can forgive because He alone is the righteous judge who can make the correct verdict. He has all authority, He has all knowledge, He is altogether fair.… there is no one else in history that can justly judge the world and always get it right. God alone can do this. So the scribes were correct in that, this is highly blasphemous. To the greatest degree possible. What they understood Jesus to be saying is that He was equal to God… able to do what only God and God alone can do. And that’s exactly what Jesus wanted them to believe. Yet, all they saw or really wanted to see was a man. They refused to acknowledge that Jesus truly was and is the Son of God.

      -Their thoughts were evil.

      Matthews gospel reveals this to us in chapter 9 verse 4.
      Matthew 9:4 ESV
      But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
      Jesus identified the hatred, the lack of belief, the pride… can you imagine if Jesus said the same thing to the scribes as He did to the paralytic man. Hey, scribes your sins are forgiven you. Can you imagine the look of disgust from them. Not just from his “blasphemous words” but from the audacity of having someone so below you- they thought, call you a sinner.
      Mark 1–8: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Curious Spectators (2:1–2)

      The name “Pharisee,” meaning “separated one,” defined the philosophy behind the movement. Those who joined the sect, which numbered around six thousand, diligently avoided any interaction with Gentiles, tax collectors, or people whom they regarded as “sinners” (cf.

      The scribes sort of functioned under the pharisees. They were experts and theologians of the law… often teaching it to the common people in the synagogue. Both groups carried a pride that was immersed in sin.
      How does Jesus respond to such opposition. Notice that Jesus doesn’t sit by idly, nor does He wait for them to make the first move. Nope in our next act, Act 5… our Hero engages.

      Act 5: Hero Engages (v.8-10)

      Mark 2:8–10 ESV
      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? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—
      How does Jesus engage them?

      -Perceives their Thoughts

      If they weren’t so stuck in their own ignorant, stubborn, wicked mindset and just paused to consider what was happening at this very moment, they might have just realized the incredible power of God to look into their minds and know exactly what they were thinking. Apart from God the Holy Spirit illuminating and opening minds, mankind is hopelessly lost and ignorant, blind to the most obvious truths in life.
      2 Timothy 3:7 describes these individuals well.
      2 Timothy 3:7 ESV
      always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
      These scribes really are the proper models of all mankind. Blind, ignorant, foolish, and wicked.
      Our hero then proceeds to...

      -Challenges their Beliefs with a Question

      Why do you say these things in your hearts?
      Much like God the Father did in the garden of Eden, He questioned mankind. Not because He didn’t know, but because He wanted them to know. He wanted these men to evaluate these things in their heart and be convicted by it.
      But, then after a brief moment to have them consider their own plight, Jesus moves His question into an ultimatum.

      -Gives them an Ultimatum

      An ultimatum is a final proposition, condition, or demand, especially one whose rejection will end negotiations and cause a resort to force or other action
      This came in the form of another question. Which is easier to say… your sins are forgiven or rise, take up your bed and walk?
      He didn’t ask which is easier to do.… he asked which is easier to say. Of course the obvious answer is that it is much easier to say your sins are forgiven. There’s no way to prove that you were able to do so. They wouldn’t believe Him. So Jesus does the thing that He can prove before their eyes, to prove that He can also do the thing that they can’t see.
      We’ve stated that this is a significant miracle, one worth being told in every gospel. One because of the opposition but two because it is the first time that Jesus links His miracles verbally with the reason He does them. To prove that the “Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Jesus has done miracles before, but up until this time, the reason He did them wasn’t as clear. But here, it couldn’t have been any more clear. Jesus heals so that people may know who He is and why He came. It’s not about making people feel better but about restoring their relationship with God. Physical healing is far less valuable than spiritual healing… being made right with God. No longer on the outside of God’s grace but on the inside, enjoying all the glories of be united with God. No longer enemies but friends.
      So Jesus calls them to evaluate.… this final proposition… if I heal this man, then you must believe that I can forgive sins.
      Well how does it all resolve?

      Act 6: Climatic Revealing Unfolds (v.11-12)

      Mark 2:11–12 ESV
      “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 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!”

      -Victorious Proof of Jesus’ Words

      Just like all of Jesus’ other miracles, this man was thoroughly and wonderfully healed. Changed in an instant. No need for physical therapy, no need for regaining strength and muscle after so many years of inability. He stood and walked as if he had been doing that his entire life.

      -Immediate Obedience & Faith of the Paralytic

      Jesus’ commands him, rise, pick up your bed, and go home. Did this man question Jesus’ command? No, he believed. Heard yesterday that faith is not faith if we have full understanding. We don’t have to understand the full situation… we just have to believe in Who God is… that requires us to have a thorough knowledge of God.… the more we believe and understand about God, the more our faith will be strengthened when asked to do things that make no sense to us. We do so confident in the character of God.
      This man exhibited such faith. Then comes the shock and awe of the crowds.

      -Shock and Awe of the Crowds

      Our gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke.… almost altogether ignore what the scribes were feeling and thinking and turn all attention back to the crowds. What was their reaction?
      The Bible says that they were all amazed… that may be the understatement of the year. The greek word for amazed means astonished, confused, or even to lose one’s mind. It blew their minds up. Like we said at the beginning, this was far more mind boggling than any plot twist in any movie could ever produce.
      The Bible records that there was some level of praise and glory to God offered, but it was superficial.
      Matthew 9:8 ESV
      When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
      You know what that tells us.… They missed it. They missed it. After all that, they still didn’t get it. They still viewed Jesus as just a man. And that is the primary difference between them being a crowd and being a disciple.
      Who do you say that I am?
      If you are a mere man who can do some cool things, than you are just someone who can possibly do me some good. Just there’s no obligation to you.
      If you are the Christ, than I owe you my all, and I am in desperate need as a sinner of your forgiveness. That’s what this whole miracle is all about. Distinguishing between real disciples and a fake counterfeit. A people that are only using Jesus to get what they want. They don’t come as broken and needy sinners, realizing that they have offended a wholly God and are deserving of punishment. They don’t understand their place as being servants of God, rather God should serve them. But if Jesus is God, we all must surrender everything to His Lordship?
      So who do you believe Jesus is?
      You know, why you come to church, how you come to church… might reveal alot about Who You believe Jesus to be. I come to be served, I come to get what I want, I come to be pleased with the kind of teaching that I like, the music I like, the time table I like… I want the sermon to be funny, to make me feel good, to provide conviction to the places I want. Rather than saying, God is king, I must serve, I will worship and chose to make this time about Him, I am a sinner in need of this time in truth to reprioritize and realign my life with it’s teaching. I submit to Him. He is MY LORD.
      Application:
      How strong is your faith in God?
      What kind of care do you show for others? Is it like Jesus or the paralytic’s friends.… or is your concern for others more like that of the crowds. More interested in your own wants and desires, unwilling to give up your spot than to let others thru and there needs met.
      Who do you say Jesus is? Is He God or is He just a man? And if you believe Him to be God, how does your life prove that? Are you a crowd or are you a disciple?

        • Acts 1ESV

        • Acts 1ESV

        • Mark 2:1–2ESV

        • Mark 2:3–5ESV

        • Mark 2:5ESV

        • John 9:2ESV

        • Matthew 9:2ESV

        • Acts 13:38–39ESV

        • Mark 2:6–7ESV

        • Matthew 9:4ESV

        • Mark 2:8–10ESV

        • 2 Timothy 3:7ESV

        • Mark 2:11–12ESV

        • Matthew 9:8ESV

        First Baptist Church
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