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40 Episodes with Jesus: The Forgiver of Sins (E6)
18 Plays1 month ago
Would you break open someone's roof if Jesus was inside and you needed to get to Him? That's exactly what four friends in the Bible did. Chris and Brandon unpack this story in today's episode, and talk about roof-smashing faith that does everything required to bring lost people to Jesus.
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Transcript
Introduction and Setting the Scene
00:00:23
brandon g b
A packed house, people from shoulder to shoulder, eyes all on one man, a carpenter turned rabbi. The room's buzzing with attention and dirt starts falling through the roof.
00:00:41
brandon g b
Well, this is ah story about a sermon being interrupted. And it's not a story of any of our sermons being interrupted. That has happened.
00:00:51
brandon g b
to both of us as pastors before.
The Story of Jesus and the Paralytic
00:00:54
brandon g b
But there was one time when Jesus was preaching in the gospel according to St. Mark, and his sermon was interrupted, interrupted by ah group of friends who had a friend with a big need, the paralytic that we all know about in the gospels.
00:01:11
brandon g b
And that's what we're going to talk about today, this man that Jesus healed and whose sins he forgave. And we're going to kind of unpack a lot of the significance of this for you today.
00:01:23
brandon g b
And we do welcome you to the Faith 168 podcast. And we just have two stooges ah during this episode. The name of me is Brandon.
00:01:35
brandon g b
That's great English.
00:01:36
Christian McKenzie
and the name of I is Chris
00:01:36
brandon g b
and we're And the name of eyes chris yes ah is Chris. is Chris?
00:01:44
Christian McKenzie
Chris is doing well that and sassy out well I get we get canceled using that word I guess but uh you know I'm I'm doing pretty good how are you doing brother Brandon
00:01:54
brandon g b
I'm doing good. I'm doing good. and if we get canceled, it's all right. You know, John Piper wrote a book called Risk is Right. So whatever whatever the risk is.
00:02:02
Christian McKenzie
Right.
00:02:06
brandon g b
All right.
Faith of the Friends
00:02:07
brandon g b
So all of our listeners are probably familiar with this famous story in the scripture where once again, there's a desperate man, a paralytic who's carried by four of his friends.
00:02:13
Christian McKenzie
he
00:02:19
brandon g b
And to set the scene up for you, again, Jesus is preaching. But the crowd is so incredible in size that they just can't get to him. They can't get to him up close.
00:02:31
brandon g b
And so they do this crazy thing of breaking through the ceiling.
00:02:31
Christian McKenzie
right
00:02:36
brandon g b
And there's some really interesting stuff that happens in this story. You know, the man that is paralyzed, Jesus kind of overlooks his paralysis for a moment, forgives his sins.
00:02:47
brandon g b
And then the religious leaders jump in and offer their two cents, which is not worth much.
00:02:48
Christian McKenzie
Thank you.
00:02:53
brandon g b
and In trying to blaspheme the Lord Jesus, they actually ascribe deity to him unknowingly. And then Jesus does something even more unthinkable in their eyes, especially he ah not only forgives the man's sins, but raises him to be able to walk.
00:03:14
brandon g b
And so we're going to just look at this ah verse by verse as we usually do, because what we're doing in this episode is 40 episodes with Jesus. based on the book by a very terrible person, 40 Days with Jesus.
00:03:32
brandon g b
And I see you've got a copy there, and I've got one by my shoulder here. That, of course, is my devotional book available on Amazon.
00:03:40
Christian McKenzie
Written by a heretic.
00:03:41
brandon g b
So, yes, absolutely.
00:03:44
Christian McKenzie
No.
00:03:45
brandon g b
so That is correct. Yeah, um so check it out on Amazon. It's in paperback and hardcover. So let's dive in. So, Chris,
00:03:57
brandon g b
um why why are so many people here in this story? I mean, we read that Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days. was reported he was at home.
00:04:09
brandon g b
Many people were gathered together, so there was no more room, not even at the door.
00:04:16
Christian McKenzie
Well, i mean, people wanted to hear him. So he was he was a definitely different than what they were used to listening to.
00:04:29
Christian McKenzie
As you said about the religious leaders of the day, they were complaining and griping. And the
Message of Grace and Repentance
00:04:36
Christian McKenzie
reason they were complaining and griping is because he was preaching a message of of grace um and And that message of grace really starts with repentance and turning away from sin, but grace in that. and And so, you know, these people had grown up and they had heard all about sin, but they heard about, you know, sorrow, complete guilt, and just being drug down by their sin and and didn't really necessarily find a way within the law.
00:05:10
Christian McKenzie
ah to to find room to stand because we've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And even though they didn't have that verse at that time, that was a true statement that they all understood. And not one person could say that I've not sinned.
00:05:28
Christian McKenzie
And so here's Jesus preaching repentance, but also grace. and And he's he's a guy that, you know, is is just different,
00:05:39
Christian McKenzie
from what they've heard and he's done some pretty cool things too. So.
00:05:44
brandon g b
Yeah, even this early on in the gospel story, Jesus' popularity is at an all-time high. And as you said, he preached a message that they weren't used to hearing, one that was refreshing to their souls and to their ears. you know For instance, ah when he cast out an unclean spirit in the synagogue, they they say, what is this? This is something new.
00:06:07
brandon g b
And what's interesting interesting is,
00:06:08
Christian McKenzie
Mm-hmm.
00:06:09
brandon g b
they not only comment on the fact that he was performing exorcisms, they say, ah new teaching with authority. We've never heard this before.
00:06:17
Christian McKenzie
yeah Well,
00:06:18
brandon g b
And so Jesus is popular. He's the buzzword around town. And evidently, these four men who are unnamed heard that Jesus was in town and decided to bring their paralytic friend with them.
00:06:37
brandon g b
Now, why are they doing that? You think they just want to, you know, see what Jesus is all about or did they have a mission?
00:06:44
Christian McKenzie
they they definitely had a mission I don't know. i can't name off everything that Jesus has done by this point without having to go through a ah list by list and in search back and forth between the gospels.
00:07:00
Christian McKenzie
But, but ah Jesus, he preached with authority and that authority was shown. And the fact that when he called a demon out, the demon had to listen. When he told someone to walk again, they got up and walked again.
00:07:11
brandon g b
Mm-hmm.
00:07:14
Christian McKenzie
And, and so, you you have these people that had no hope there. And really it was a lot different than our time because even the people with no hope of, of walking still have a greater quality of life now than they've ever had. We have wheelchairs that, that do all the moving.
00:07:35
Christian McKenzie
We even have computer chip implants that you can control a computer with. Now there's a guy that's paralyzed. I got that Neuralink and, and he uses that Neuralink to play video games.
00:07:47
brandon g b
Yeah, I know.
00:07:47
Christian McKenzie
He can play video games with that Neuralink thing, and I think that's crazy.
00:07:50
brandon g b
crazy.
00:07:51
Christian McKenzie
I'm never getting it because it's the mark of the beast, of course. But no, i just I'm just kidding.
00:07:55
brandon g b
Evidently, yeah.
00:07:57
Christian McKenzie
I don't actually believe that for clarification there. But, you know, when you had a sickness or an illness back then, that was pretty much it. you were You had no standing in society. You had no quality of life.
00:08:15
Christian McKenzie
You were at the mercy of others. And so you better hope that you have some friends or family that were really gracious and loving and able to to help you in your trials as they were going through many trials in their life at that time as well.
00:08:31
Christian McKenzie
And so if there was someone that could help
00:08:36
Christian McKenzie
if there were someone that could make this guy whole again, the friends, they knew it. they They just knew it, that if anyone could do it, if anyone could make him whole, it would be Jesus.
00:08:50
brandon g b
Yeah, absolutely. So, yeah, they had evidently heard about what Jesus could do, and they had a friend in need. And what's interesting about their paralytic friend is they knew he couldn't get to Jesus on his own.
00:09:04
Christian McKenzie
Mm-hmm.
00:09:04
brandon g b
So they provided him with the assistance required to get him to Christ, the healer. But there's a little problem, isn't it?
Parallels of Physical and Spiritual Healing
00:09:12
brandon g b
You know, Mark 2, 4 says they could not get near him because of the crowd.
00:09:12
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:09:17
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:09:17
brandon g b
But... They don't let that block their mission, though, do they? They don't say, well, you know, it's time for us to go home.
00:09:22
Christian McKenzie
No.
00:09:25
brandon g b
Jesus is obviously too busy for you, man. um They break through the roof. And ah what i always find funny about this passage is, you know, Jesus never really owned anything, and he certainly didn't own a home.
00:09:32
Christian McKenzie
Mm-hmm.
00:09:41
brandon g b
And it is believed that based on some parallel passages, this is actually Peter's house. And so they just break through Peter's roof.
00:09:52
brandon g b
They don't care about the cost. And that would have taken a lot of work and money and time to replace, you know. And so the mud and the thatch and tiles is just falling down ah where Jesus is.
00:10:06
brandon g b
But yeah there's a little bit of desperation here, a little bit of faith that breaks barriers, isn't it?
00:10:14
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:10:15
brandon g b
They're doing everything they can to get their friend to Jesus. And you think there's maybe some lessons in that for us?
00:10:19
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:10:22
Christian McKenzie
Oh, there's a Oh, countless lessons. Well, ah first, you know, you see that he has good friends and and that's important to surround yourself with people that are going to drag you to Jesus ah by whatever means necessary.
00:10:40
Christian McKenzie
But I think in this physical encounter that we see, we see a great spiritual thing for us to to consider as well.
00:10:53
Christian McKenzie
is that we are spiritually outside of Christ, spiritually paralytic.
00:10:59
brandon g b
Mm-hmm.
00:11:00
Christian McKenzie
And I think Paul gives us a good verse that kind of helps out with that. Romans 10, 17, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
00:11:13
Christian McKenzie
And that's talking, you know, in ah in a passage about people going out and preaching the gospel and how beautiful are the feet of those that go and preach the gospel and bring those good tidings to people.
00:11:26
Christian McKenzie
And you see this, this great call as people that have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and
00:11:40
Christian McKenzie
want If we are true friends, we're going to go out to those that are spiritually paralytics and preach the gospel and bring them to Jesus.
00:11:53
Christian McKenzie
And we're going to do it by whatever means we have to, ah whether we have to tear ah apart the rooftops that are in between us and getting them to Jesus or drag them through the crowns or carry them on our backs, we as Christians are are called to do what we must to reach out to those that are paralytic spiritually.
00:12:20
brandon g b
Amen.
00:12:20
Christian McKenzie
So I think that's one big good lesson to it.
00:12:21
brandon g b
Yeah.
00:12:23
brandon g b
Yeah, that's probably the primary takeaway from this part of the story where we see this idea that our job as believers is to bring people to Jesus.
00:12:35
brandon g b
Now, we can't ah lead them to Jesus in the sense that we cannot put faith and repentance in their hearts.
00:12:35
Christian McKenzie
Right. Right.
00:12:44
Christian McKenzie
Right.
00:12:44
brandon g b
one of a good friend of mine said that we just make the introductions to Jesus and let him take care of the rest.
00:12:49
Christian McKenzie
Right.
00:12:50
brandon g b
But the point is, you know, we have to make the introductions.
00:12:51
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:12:54
brandon g b
People are not going to come to Jesus on their own.
00:12:55
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:12:58
brandon g b
We have to go to them with the gospel, bringing Christ with us. But oftentimes there are roofs standing in the way.
00:13:02
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:13:07
brandon g b
There are hindrances and hesitations that keep us from proclaiming the gospel to the lost.
00:13:07
Christian McKenzie
yeah
00:13:13
brandon g b
And it may not be a physical roof for us made of mud and tile. It may be a roof of comfort and security.
00:13:21
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:13:23
brandon g b
You know, we we kind of want to hunker down and keep to ourselves. And it's sad that that sort of COVID mentality has stuck with a lot of us where we just want to cut ourselves off from people and, you know, not bother anybody with the gospel.
00:13:36
Christian McKenzie
Right.
00:13:39
Christian McKenzie
Mm-hmm.
00:13:39
brandon g b
But that's a roof we need to break through.
00:13:42
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:13:42
brandon g b
another Another roof to break through is busyness and overload. A lot of times we're so preoccupied with our own ambitions, careers, and the mundaneness of everyday life that we burn up all of our time for preaching the gospel to the lost.
00:13:46
Christian McKenzie
Mm-hmm.
00:13:58
Christian McKenzie
Right.
00:13:58
brandon g b
And that's a roof we need to break through. What other roofs might be in the way? Some things that keep us from bringing people to Jesus and bringing Jesus to people.
00:14:12
Christian McKenzie
Well, I think when you mentioned COVID, that that's something to to think about what, what changed there in this, this was an existence before COVID, but I think it was intensified with COVID, uh, was being antisocial, uh,
00:14:27
brandon g b
Yeah.
00:14:28
Christian McKenzie
you know, and I'm not talking about the antisocial, I want to stay inside. But when you go out, you stop communicating with people that are around you. You stop participating in society and in your community.
00:14:42
Christian McKenzie
And, you know, I used to go to the supermarket and when I was younger, I'd walk through to get whatever I was buying and I would talk to people and complete strangers. I'd talk to them in line and You know, I'd ask them about their faith and things like that.
00:15:01
Christian McKenzie
And then, you know, as time progressed, you know, that became a little more difficult. You know, you're talking about burning up time, too much time and and the things like that.
00:15:13
Christian McKenzie
But after COVID, we we kind of got this distance like we had to keep our distance from everybody. and And not only that, also in society, we have this big fear of rejection and and almost like we had to feel guilty, too, about our faith because of how the world has rejected our faith ah so strongly lately.
00:15:27
brandon g b
Right.
00:15:38
Christian McKenzie
And I know that Christianity is the number one religion in the world still. You know, we can talk about statistics and you can say all day, Chris, that that ain't true.
00:15:49
Christian McKenzie
you know, nothing, people aren't pushing against your faith. Well, ah it is true. I promise you it's true. I listen to a radio station every day when I'm driving around and and I, well, I pretty well,
00:16:07
Christian McKenzie
Strongly dislike this radio station. I don't know why I listen to it, but I do. But it's a it's a public radio station.
00:16:15
brandon g b
Hmm.
00:16:16
Christian McKenzie
It's funded by public dollars. And all it does, like 75 percent of the time is bash Christianity.
00:16:26
Christian McKenzie
and then rewrite it into something else. So don't tell me that that society doesn't bash on Christianity, but it's that that bashing, and it's just like little little nudges and little chips and and sucker punches of putting us into the ground to this point where we're like, we're supposed to keep our distance and shut up.
00:16:29
brandon g b
me
00:16:48
brandon g b
yeah
00:16:49
Christian McKenzie
We're not supposed to talk about this stuff. That's that's a big thing. big roof, I think, that we're facing right now. Well, we just need to go to church and just talk to people in church about it. Well, what's the point in giving medicine to someone that's well?
00:17:06
brandon g b
yeah
00:17:06
Christian McKenzie
You know, ah why why are we forcing people? like The people I go to church with, I know some of them may be lost, but for the most part, the church is for believers.
00:17:18
Christian McKenzie
And the most part, The ones sitting down and the ones that are active and the ones that you commune with the most are believers that have been made whole, that have been purchased by the blood of Christ.
00:17:33
Christian McKenzie
they They need to to still have community with you, but but ah what what good is it if we have the cure for something and we don't go and give it out to those that are sick and dying?
00:17:47
Christian McKenzie
And so I think that's ah a big thing in our society today.
00:17:52
brandon g b
Yeah, for sure. That's a big roof that stands in our way, a hindrance to bringing people to Jesus and bringing Jesus to them is we fear how people will respond.
Faith and Evangelism
00:18:04
brandon g b
We fear rejection.
00:18:05
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:18:06
brandon g b
We fear being ostracized. But the only person we need to fear is the Lord, obviously. And there's something we can be certain of.
00:18:14
Christian McKenzie
Right.
00:18:16
brandon g b
Number one, If we do not preach the gospel to people, they will not be able to be saved because Romans 10 tells us that there's a process. you know How can they believe in whom they've never heard of? They have to hear.
00:18:30
brandon g b
And the other thing we know is is that God is very good at what he does. And when we preach the gospel faithfully, he will work on the heart.
00:18:36
Christian McKenzie
Right.
00:18:39
brandon g b
Somebody out there is going to believe. So anyway, yeah, that's that's a big lesson we see from this is these four friends, They see a hindrance. They see a block in their way to getting their friend to Jesus.
00:18:55
brandon g b
They make a way, don't they?
00:18:57
Christian McKenzie
Right.
00:18:57
brandon g b
ah their Their faith breaks barriers.
00:18:57
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:19:00
brandon g b
And when they get to Jesus, yeah, it wouldn't be bad.
00:19:02
Christian McKenzie
That's a good title.
00:19:05
brandon g b
what um Thank God for ChatGPT generating that for me.
00:19:12
brandon g b
So they break through the roof and now there's this encounter right between Jesus these four friends and this paralytic. And here's what going to talk about next. So just verse five, I'll read this for us and we'll chat about it.
00:19:27
brandon g b
It says, and when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic son, your sins are forgiven. That's a curve ball, man. That's a total curve ball. This man came seeking physical healing from Jesus and left with spiritual healing. Now,
00:19:46
brandon g b
He actually got the full package. He got physical healing as well, as we see later on.
00:19:50
Christian McKenzie
Right.
00:19:51
brandon g b
But we have to ask the question, why? I mean, don't you think that's the question Mark wants us to ask? He had a physical problem, but Jesus took care of a spiritual problem he had.
00:19:57
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:20:02
brandon g b
Why is that?
00:20:03
Christian McKenzie
Yeah. Well, I had a ah friend one time. I would go and work out with him. And I went to church with this guy, too.
00:20:14
Christian McKenzie
Had many great conversations. But he had all these problems in his life. finance problems, marriage problems. I mean, the list went on and on, and he just seemed so desperate when we would talk and work out and hang out even in times in between that.
00:20:35
Christian McKenzie
And finally, one day it hit me. I've never talked to this guy about faith at all. I never talked to him about salvation. I just assumed he was a born-again believer.
00:20:49
brandon g b
Mm-hmm.
00:20:50
Christian McKenzie
And I said to him one day while we're working out and he's just going on this list again. It just struck me. I said to this fellow, I said, man, have you ever put your faith in Jesus?
00:21:06
Christian McKenzie
Are you following Jesus? And he said, no. Why? Because like, well, there's your problem because the biggest problem in your life is not your finances, not your marital issues, not your aches and pains and all of these physical ailments,
00:21:28
Christian McKenzie
The biggest problem is that when you take your last breath, you're going to stand before a savior who loved you and wanted a relationship with you. And here are the words, depart from me, you worker of iniquity.
00:21:40
Christian McKenzie
I never knew you. And he wants to take care of the worst thing that's going on in your life first. And that is your spiritual problem. And your spiritual problem is going to be top priority because the body, this body may fade.
00:21:58
Christian McKenzie
and Not may. It's going to. I'm going to die. And when I die, ah you can you know go to what the writer of Hebrews says. It's appointed for man to die once. And then what?
00:22:11
Christian McKenzie
The judgment. I'm going to stand before my king.
00:22:17
Christian McKenzie
And I'm going to hear one of those two phrases. Either depart from me, you worker of iniquity, I never knew you. Or welcome home, my good and faithful servant. And I know what I'm going to hear.
00:22:29
Christian McKenzie
Welcome home, my good and faithful servant, because I have repented. I've put my faith in Jesus. am following him. I belong to him. And he took care of the worst problem ever, because to hear those words, depart from me, you worker of iniquity.
00:22:46
Christian McKenzie
That's the sound of eternal consequences to your sin.
00:22:51
Christian McKenzie
You know, the the soul continues. This body dies, but the soul continues.
00:22:55
brandon g b
Right.
00:22:58
Christian McKenzie
and And what's scarier and what's worse? Tell me what's worse. My finances, my marital problems, whatever all these other problems you can talk about here in this world are being separated for eternity from the living God.
00:23:16
Christian McKenzie
And I will tell you 100% of the time the answer to that question is being separated for eternity from the living and loving and gracious God who sent his son into this world to die for you.
00:23:32
Christian McKenzie
So that's that's why that was more important than even being a paralytic.
00:23:36
brandon g b
Yeah.
00:23:39
Christian McKenzie
So...
00:23:40
brandon g b
Amen. Man, that's got me sitting in silence, man. That was good. No, that's the truth. um Yeah, Mark wants us to ask this question because he doesn't come to get his sins forgiven. He comes to get his body healed.
00:23:54
brandon g b
But Christ says, there's something more important I need to take care of for you. Son, your sins are forgiven.
00:24:00
Christian McKenzie
Yes.
00:24:02
brandon g b
That is because, as you articulated, to Jesus, the remission of sins is more important than the removal of suffering.
00:24:11
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:24:12
brandon g b
We have a soul problem.
00:24:12
Christian McKenzie
Another good title.
00:24:15
brandon g b
Chatty, yeah, thanks for that one too.
00:24:16
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:24:18
brandon g b
um Yeah, our our sin problem is more important than our suffering problems. We need forgiveness of sin. We need to be justified in God's sight. that makes us right with God and assures us we're on our way to heaven when we take our final breath.
00:24:34
Christian McKenzie
Mm-hmm.
00:24:35
brandon g b
Even if we have physical problems, if we continue to bear suffering, that's okay if our sins are forgiven because that's the main thing which Christ has already taken care of.
00:24:48
brandon g b
Now, we have to also ask, what does it say about Jesus that he was able to say this because as we see the scribes, they had to chime in, of course.
00:25:02
brandon g b
It says they were questioning in their hearts. They didn't even say this out loud, by the way, another important detail. Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming.
00:25:14
brandon g b
Who can forgive sins but God alone?
00:25:19
brandon g b
Yeah, right. What were they saying? What were they saying about Jesus that they didn't know they were saying.
00:25:27
Christian McKenzie
they were admitting that he is God in the flesh. And, and that's, you know, and they do that. So many times they question, you know, who are you to do this?
00:25:40
Christian McKenzie
ah Or, you know, remember ah when, when ah the one person that one fellow said, a good teacher who is good, but God, and,
00:25:50
brandon g b
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:25:54
Christian McKenzie
So you you see these instances where where they're like so close to so just figuring something out really there, but yet they're so far away.
00:26:06
Christian McKenzie
Who can forgive sin but God alone? Well, we disagree with what he just said, but that paralytic is now running and jumping.
00:26:21
Christian McKenzie
You know, he must be evil and he can't be God, can he? And that's that's the crazy. Like, how did they get through that in their head?
00:26:28
brandon g b
Yeah.
00:26:30
Christian McKenzie
i I'd be like, OK, so there's only one that can forgive sin. And he just did that. And it's backed up with the fact that that dude.
00:26:45
Christian McKenzie
who I saw day after day over there, curled up, scrunched up, paralytic, not able to move, and now he's moving?
00:26:51
brandon g b
yeah
00:26:57
Christian McKenzie
ah think I know what's going on here.
00:27:00
brandon g b
Yeah.
00:27:01
Christian McKenzie
Or at least I hope I'd be the one to say that, you know.
00:27:02
brandon g b
Yeah. Right. Right. Yeah. Yeah. It's like they say from the mouths of babes, this is from the mouths of devils.
00:27:10
Christian McKenzie
Mm-hmm.
00:27:10
brandon g b
I mean, they, they admit the Lord's lordship and deity without even realizing it, but yeah, it shows their blindness.
00:27:15
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:27:17
brandon g b
Doesn't it? Like you were getting at like, like, wait a minute, let me, let me put all this together in a mental equation.
00:27:18
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:27:24
brandon g b
God forgives sins according to the old Testament, like the book of Micah said, who Who's a God like you pardoning iniquity?
00:27:29
Christian McKenzie
Right.
00:27:31
brandon g b
you know He just forgave a man's sins and he has the divine power to back it up through the miracle that he performed.
00:27:41
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:27:42
brandon g b
No, he can't be God.
00:27:43
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:27:44
brandon g b
that's pretty That's pretty much their reasoning.
00:27:44
Christian McKenzie
Yeah. Logically speaking, no. Yeah.
00:27:49
brandon g b
Yeah.
00:27:50
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:27:50
brandon g b
He checked off all the boxes and they're like, no, he's an imposter. He's a blasphemer. And
00:27:56
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:27:56
brandon g b
That shows us that spiritual blindness, it's pretty serious. it can God can be right in front of you and you can't see it if you're spiritually blind.
00:28:00
Christian McKenzie
yeah
00:28:04
Christian McKenzie
Well, and that's why there was no power in their teaching and no power in their leadership. Jesus himself said they're blind leading the blind. And and what happens when the blind lead the blind, they both fall into a ditch.
00:28:19
brandon g b
Yeah. Yeah.
00:28:20
Christian McKenzie
They both fall into despair and destruction. And, uh, and that's why, again, we go back to the necessity of those that have been redeemed and purchased by the blood of Christ to, to go out there and preach the gospel.
00:28:35
Christian McKenzie
And as you said, you know, uh, all we can do is make the introduction. Uh, we can't put the faith in them. Uh,
00:28:42
brandon g b
Yeah.
00:28:43
Christian McKenzie
But that's what's beautiful about this, too. That's all the friends did. ah The friends themselves had a faith. The friends themselves knew what Jesus could do.
00:28:54
Christian McKenzie
And the friends themselves dragged their friend to Jesus. But it was the interaction between Jesus and that individual that that made all the difference.
00:29:06
brandon g b
Right. Absolutely. Yeah. And we also you know Speaking of the Lordship of Christ, I mentioned earlier that these scribes do not say these things out loud.
00:29:21
brandon g b
They just question in their hearts.
00:29:23
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:29:23
brandon g b
And verse 8 says that Jesus perceived in his spirit that they questioned within themselves. So, I mean, that tells you he's God alone as well.
00:29:30
Christian McKenzie
Mm-hmm.
00:29:32
brandon g b
But here's a really interesting thing. And I ah beat my head against a wall trying to understand this a long time ago. And it's actually easier to understand then I made it.
00:29:43
brandon g b
And it's the questions that he asked these scribes. And I think this is also revelatory about who Jesus is. He said in verses eight and nine, why do you question these things in your hearts?
00:29:56
brandon g b
Which is easier to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven or to say, rise, take up your bed and walk.
00:30:06
brandon g b
I mean, which is easier, you know, What do you have your thought about the point to that question, though?
00:30:15
Christian McKenzie
Well, I mean, that's, I guess I've never looked at it. real I like, you know, I've read over that time and time again, but, you know, ah i couldn't do either of my own accord, especially, you know, I can't, I can't forgive sins.
00:30:31
brandon g b
Yeah.
00:30:33
Christian McKenzie
And that's something I'll never be able to do. And with, by my own means, by my own power, I can't tell a paralytic to get up.
00:30:45
brandon g b
Yeah.
00:30:45
Christian McKenzie
ah ah that that's the power of God.
00:30:51
brandon g b
Yeah.
00:30:51
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:30:52
brandon g b
That's the point though. That's, that's where I was like, wait a minute, this question is actually easier than, than I was making it to be, uh, which is easier to miraculously cause a paralytic to walk again, to infuse him with spiritual power he never had before, or to clear his entire sin debt.
00:30:53
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:31:13
brandon g b
The point is neither are easy to do. Both are difficult and both are beyond human capability, but not beyond divine capability because Jesus did both.
00:31:16
Christian McKenzie
Right.
00:31:21
Christian McKenzie
the
00:31:25
Christian McKenzie
Right.
00:31:28
brandon g b
He forgave sins and healed. So...
00:31:31
Christian McKenzie
Yeah. and And that was, you know, that's kind of like a smack in the face. ah to them right there because, you know, who, who is this dude to forgive sins?
00:31:42
brandon g b
Yeah. Yeah.
00:31:42
Christian McKenzie
Whoa. Hey guys. And then he starts talking to them like he's like, he's in their head. And ah you you got to think of how freaky that had to have been.
00:31:47
brandon g b
Yeah. Yeah.
00:31:51
Christian McKenzie
And I can't, I'm not going to lie.
00:31:51
brandon g b
Yeah.
00:31:53
Christian McKenzie
Like, you know, I've had times like that where someone starts talking to me. I'm like, Whoa, did I say that out loud? And I wonder if they were like, Whoa, did we just,
00:32:00
brandon g b
yeah
00:32:03
Christian McKenzie
did we make a complaint out loud. I thought we were supposed to just stand here and and be judgmental and silent. ah
00:32:09
brandon g b
yeah yeah
00:32:10
Christian McKenzie
But say, oh, what's easier guys to forgive his sins or to tell them to get up and walk. Hey man, get up, get out of here.
00:32:20
brandon g b
Yeah. Yeah.
00:32:21
Christian McKenzie
ah and So I was like, you know, they're already complaining. And then all of a sudden they're like, we're supposed to keep complaining here, but now this guy's walking. And,
00:32:32
Christian McKenzie
Do we say praise God or do we get the the stones? which Which one do we get right now?
00:32:36
brandon g b
yeah Yeah. It's incredible. Yeah. And as we read here, as you just mentioned, ah he says, he's pretty he's basically like, look,
00:32:49
brandon g b
Y'all about to find out
Jesus' Divine Authority
00:32:51
brandon g b
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.
00:32:51
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:32:53
brandon g b
And it says, he said to the paralytic, rise, take up your bed and walk. And we know how the story goes. He rose immediately, no hesitation, no fight, picked up his bed, went out before them all.
00:33:07
brandon g b
They were all amazed and glorified God saying, we never saw anything like this.
00:33:12
Christian McKenzie
Yes.
00:33:13
brandon g b
And, you know, what a beautiful story. And we have to keep in mind, it couldn't have happened without those four, without those four friends.
00:33:26
brandon g b
Their concern for this man's body led to him being introduced to Jesus, who forgave his sins and gave him pretty much a new physical body, a body he'd never enjoyed before and granted him the ability to walk.
00:33:43
brandon g b
It all started with concerned effort.
00:33:43
Christian McKenzie
Yes.
00:33:47
Christian McKenzie
Right.
00:33:47
brandon g b
And I just wonder, what would Christ Jesus do for our lost friends, those that are spiritual paralytics, if we put our concern into action and did everything we could to bring them to Jesus?
00:33:55
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:34:02
brandon g b
They probably have quite a story.
00:34:02
Christian McKenzie
Yeah.
00:34:04
brandon g b
You know, I was thinking about this quote earlier from the Prince of Preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, about the effort we should put forth to bring our lost friends and family members and such to Jesus. And you know this quote, I'm sure, Chris.
00:34:18
brandon g b
He said, if sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped around their knees, imploring them to stay.
00:34:27
Christian McKenzie
yeah
00:34:33
brandon g b
If hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.
00:34:44
Christian McKenzie
Yeah, man, that's a that's a yeah that's a powerful, powerful thing to say right there, powerful statement.
00:34:45
brandon g b
We got to do whatever it takes.
00:34:54
Christian McKenzie
And I think there's a challenge there.
00:34:58
Christian McKenzie
And if if you're listening to this, thing think about the people that are in your life. Every single one of us has someone that we know, that we work with, that we're friendly with,
00:35:13
Christian McKenzie
in our family that has not put their faith in Jesus. And take that Spurgeon quote right there, what Spurgeon had said, and and apply that apply that to the way that you are going to share the gospel with them.
00:35:39
Christian McKenzie
And not only that, but you know if if you need help, if you want to talk to someone, that's another reason we have this podcast. It's not just so you can hear us talk for however long we're going to talk for the next hour and a half or so.
00:35:55
Christian McKenzie
ah No, I'm just kidding.
00:35:56
brandon g b
Thank you.
00:35:56
Christian McKenzie
But
00:35:59
Christian McKenzie
it this is this is a call to put your faith into action and to...
00:36:10
Christian McKenzie
introduce others to Jesus that don't know him. And so look at those people, make a list, write it out, put it on your phone, type it out, whatever you need to do and make a commitment right here, right now that you are going to preach the gospel to those friends that if they're going to go to hell, then they're going to have to jump over your dead body.
00:36:39
Christian McKenzie
that they're going to have to perish with your their are your arms wrapped around their legs, begging them to reconsider, to turn away from their sin and follow Jesus.
00:36:52
Christian McKenzie
And rejoice when all of that work and all of that effort pays off. And even just one of them, just one of them puts their faith in Jesus, that you know you have a brother or sister,
00:37:08
Christian McKenzie
that you are going to be worshiping with for eternity in heaven. Make that commitment. Do it. That's how the church grows right there. It's not about pastors that are good and eloquent and all this other stuff.
00:37:24
Christian McKenzie
Pastors lead the flock, but the church multiplies by Christians going out and evangelizing and discipling each other.
00:37:28
brandon g b
Right.
00:37:37
Christian McKenzie
So,
00:37:39
brandon g b
Absolutely. Really good concluding
Conclusion and Call to Action
00:37:41
brandon g b
thoughts there. And I guess it's time for us to wrap up this roof raising episode of the Faith 168 podcast.
00:37:50
brandon g b
You know, just to recap, we looked at a story of a man who couldn't walk. but he was blessed to have friends who ran to Jesus with him. We have seen the story of a savior who looked past broken legs to a broken heart.
00:38:08
brandon g b
And, you know, I think we've been challenged in this episode to be the kind of person that carries others to Jesus. You know, there are spiritual paralytics around us, those who are paralyzed by their sin, shame, and doubt.
00:38:24
brandon g b
And, There's only one person that can take care of that, and that's Jesus, who's God in the flesh. It's our job to bring them to him.
00:38:31
Christian McKenzie
Amen.
00:38:33
Christian McKenzie
Yes.
00:38:34
brandon g b
ah We appreciate all you guys joining us here on the Faith 168 podcast, where we strive to live faithfully for Jesus, not just on Sundays, but all 168 hours of the week And we hope this episode blessed you. Hope you'll tune in next time.
00:38:52
brandon g b
ah But until next time, keep walking by faith, all 168 hours a week. And we always like to wrap up our episodes by praying. And Chris, why don't you do that for us as we conclude?
00:39:04
Christian McKenzie
right Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for this time that we've got to spend together and and just seek out your word and your will in our lives. And and we thank you for this time that we can look over this this paralytic that you saved, not just from physical illness, but spiritual illness.
00:39:28
Christian McKenzie
And how you've done that in my life, how you've done that in Brandon's life, and and all of our brothers and sisters in Christ, how you've raised us from the dead, that you took us from spiritual paralytics and gave us the ability to walk and run in your will.
00:39:48
Christian McKenzie
Father, we just praise you for that. And we ask you to put people in our path, not just in our path, just put them right in our way that don't know you and give us the boldness to preach your gospel that calls all mankind to repentance and faith in you.
00:40:07
Christian McKenzie
And Father, we'll give you all the more praise and we'll rejoice greatly as we have more brothers and sisters that come to know you. We love you. We thank you for all that you've done for us and all that you will do for us.
00:40:21
Christian McKenzie
It's in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
00:40:25
brandon g b
Amen.