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| Mark 2:1-5 - The Word of Christ |
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What we are in need of today is the word of Christ. Many are proclaiming a different gospel and many listeners are confused, lacking faith and developing a misguided concept of the Kingdom of God that Christ is presently ruling over. The word of Christ leads to repentance, faith and the forgiveness of sins resulting in revelations of His Kingdom that He is currently ruling over.
In the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is ministering in Capernaum and He ministers at the synagogue, in Simon and Andrew’s home, and in the streets prior to taking His preaching ministry to the cities of the province of Galilee. The second chapter begins with Jesus returning to Capernaum and beginning where He left off there – preaching.
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. 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."
(Mark 2:1-5 ESV)
As chapter two begins, Jesus is back in Capernaum. The “home” that He is preaching in is more than likely again the house of Simon and Andrew. Much to the dislike of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day and our day, Jesus shows by example that preaching and ministry is to go beyond the walls of a religious institution and the confines of a religious service. He does not ignore the synagogue and its service, but He also is not bound to its functions or its leadership. He was preaching in a house that was packed full of people all the way backing out the door.
Mark is very explicit in pointing out that Jesus was there “preaching the word.” Taking care of people’s needs was important, but preaching the word was priority in Jesus’ life and ministry. The “word” that Jesus preached is defined in Mark 1:14-15 which reads “… Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. (ESV)"
Needs being met attracted the crowds, but Jesus constantly brings attention back to the preaching of the Kingdom which is His priority. Near the conclusion of chapter one Jesus tells His followers "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out. (Mark 1:38 ESV)”
In the kingdom that Jesus is ruling over there is love, grace, peace and freedom with race, gender, health and economic equality for all. That message must take priority over all else in our day. Taking care of the needs of people is vital and is to be the result of preaching Christ and His Kingdom which must be priority. Actions must follow words. The result will be a realization of the Kingdom and participation in it.
Why is preaching so important? God’s word tells us this: How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
(Rom 10:14-17 ESV)
Preaching Christ and His Kingdom builds faith in the listener. The listener believes Christ and wants to participate in His Kingdom so they repent of their sins and Jesus is quick to forgive.
Beloved, what takes precedence in your gatherings whether they take place in a church building, a home, a theater or other locations and technologies? Evaluate your faith. Is it growing? Is your life changing as you live in repentance? If so, I would venture to say that you are listening to the word of Christ and your faith is growing along with your participation in His Kingdom. If not, I would venture to say that something other than the preaching of the word of Christ is taking precedence in the gatherings you attend. Many in are day are falling for a different gospel.
In this paragraph of Scripture, we see four friends of a paralytic believe in health equality for all. Their friend can’t walk and they desire that he can walk like they do. This desire compels them to go out of their way to make sure this friend gets to Jesus because they see through Jesus’ actions health equality. So they believe the message that Christ is preaching – the Kingdom is at hand, repent and believe. In their actions, Jesus see’s faith, but His next words are rather starting as he looks at the man on the mat and says “your sins are forgiven”. Jesus knows that the greatest need in this man’s life is the forgiveness of sins that follows repentance and belief. Jesus takes care of this greatest need and as God Himself, He forgives sins.
Beloved, our greatest need in life is the forgiveness of sin and only God can do that in our life. We can not do it, the church can not do it, denominations can not do it, church leadership can not do it and people can not do it. Only God can forgive sins as we repent and believe in Christ and His message acknowledging that He is ruling over His Kingdom that we desire to be participants in. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)”
Beloved, Jesus loves us. He desires to forgive us of all of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. His Kingdom has been established in Him. Be quick to repent and believe. Repent and believe… Repent and believe. Be a full participant in God’s Kingdom revealing it to others throughout your journey from earth to Glory as you follow Christ.
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