Your Friends Need Jesus

Oct 14

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Mark 2:1-12, ESV

INTRODUCTION: Selfie

We’re back with the 2nd week of our series, You Need Jesus. So here’s what I need you all to do as we get started. Take out your phones, open the camera, click the reverse icon button, and point at your camera and say to yourself, “You need Jesus.” OK ready? Get them out, here we go… Don’t be bashful. Now look yourself in the eye and say YOU NEED JESUS. Good! Now snap a quick pic and share it with your friends and caption it with “You Need Jesus.” Why? Bc not only do you and I need Jesus, but our friends need Jesus too. Turn with me in your Bibles to Mark 2. As you turn there I want to tell you about an adventure I went on.

STORY: Camping/Locked Out

Usually breaking and entering leads to imprisonment and throwing your future away. But for me, instead of it throwing my life away, it actually led me, Christian, and our closest friends to life and freedom. Let me explain.

Several years ago, Christian and I decided to go camping with another couple, David and Alicia.
Now, this wasn’t glamping in RVs. This was roughing it / tent camping in the north Georgia mountains, the Cohutta Wilderness, spanning nearly 37,000 acres of nature, wildlife, and terrain.
We packed all our essentials inside of David’s & Alicia’s Nissan Xterra: food, water, tents, bedding, jackets… all of it expertly organized inside for the overnight trip, with an abundance of firewood on top to burn through the cold night ahead.
We left after work Friday, waited out the rush hour traffic, and followed each other in both of our vehicles up through the winding mountain trails.
Driving slowly on the way up, we stopped periodically to peruse a good, flat piece of land to camp on. But mile after mile, minute by precious minute as the sun was setting, we can’t seem to find a good, level plot.
The temperature was steadily dropping as we traveled higher and deeper into the wild. We’re starting to worry that we won’t find a good space before dark.
At last, we pull over to scope out what appears to be the ideal camp site. Our friends get out of their SUV and Christian and I exit my truck so that we can all survey the area. And it was worth the wait! The glorious, spacious, scenic, and level ground was ours to enjoy!
David and I started celebrating, like, “Man, this is PERFECT!” We got grown man giddy about it. Then went back to open the door and get the gear out to start setting up, and that’s when we realized a huge setback: the doors were closed and locked; the keys were still in the ignition and the engine was running. All of our phones were in there.
Everything we needed to survive was enclosed inside of that vehicle. We were so close, yet so far from it all.
The 4 of us understood that our only hope to make it through the night was to break in to get that which we desperately needed.
So with their permission, I grabbed a piece of firewood and busted out a window. And then we had direct access to the things that we needed most to outlast the elements.

This morning, we’ll explore another desperate group of friends’ who committed a break-in, but for reasons far more urgent than mine. Their goal is to get their paralyzed friend to the only source of true healing and eternal hope, Jesus Christ, despite being locked out and facing obstacles along the way.

If you’re able, please stand with me for the reading of God’s holy Word. Read Mark 2:1-12

6 Reasons your friends need Jesus…

The 1st reason our friends need Jesus is because of

THE EXPECTED RETURN OF JESUS (VV 1-2A)

1And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door.

Explanation: Many heard reports and expectedly gathered in large crowds to see Jesus…

Jesus returned to His ministry headquarters, Capernaum “village of Nahum [comfort]”. However, it was anything but a comfortable situation for those gathered…
The report about His return spread. The room around Him filled up fast, and so did the whole house and vicinity.
Jesus is the most polarizing figure in human history, and for good reason. He’s not just a trending celebrity that tops the charts and consumes the headlines for a time, then is forgotten about. He’s the #1 most famous figure in the world.

Love Him or hate Him, people showed up in droves to watch and hear Him back then, and they’re still doing it today, as evidenced by you all here this morning. (I mean I’m not Jesus but we’re here talking about Him).

And you know what? The motives for those who came to hear from Him were mixed:

Many wanted to be entertained by the miracle-worker.
Others genuinely believed that He was the long-awaited Messiah – the One Who prophets foretold would save His people and many others who followed Him from their sin.
But either way they came. The viral hype around Jesus is real

Can you imagine the scene around Jesus that day?

Illustration: Pope Benedict XVI

It was April 20th, 2008. I was evangelizing to people in New York City telling ppl about the good news of Jesus and how they could be saved through Him.
Now, there are a lot of people traveling the streets of NYC, but this day was different. Something was in the air. I could easily tell that a way higher buzz than usual was circulating.
There were reports that a really important visitor was coming through the very streets I was witnessing on. A holy man, as one person called him. Others referred to him as “some religious leader”.
Several minutes later, officers of NYPD and other higher security started clearing a wide perimeter for this person to be escorted through.
With cameras and news crews all over the place, the polarizing figure that would soon emerge in a slow procession was Pope Benedict XVI (the 16th).
It was the first ever papal visit to the United States. It was a population and media frenzy.
People from multiple ethnicities running full speed in droves and screaming/chanting/singing, and fully caught up into the hype that was occurring with this one man who was gonna pray a blessing over the people.

But here’s the deal: The pope is a sinner just like me. Just like you. And everyone else.

There’s only one Person in human history that’s a perfect holy man, and that’s Jesus Christ. He alone is worthy of all our praise, worship, and adoration. Share Him with the crowds you hang around.

Revelation 19:11-16

11Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. 12He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,c and His name is The Word of God.

14The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses. 15And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter.d He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Application #1: Jesus will return any moment as Conquering King Whom many will gather before, but not everyone will be let in. So make sure to tell your friends and those you care about the good news about Him.

Our expectation for Jesus’ imminent return should urge us to reach our friends with the gospel.

Not only do our friends need Jesus because He’s coming back, but they need #2

2. THE EXPLAINING OF HIS WORD (V 2B)

And he was preaching the word to them.

Explanation: Jesus took the opportunity to share the truth of the Word (Himself) with the masses as they gathered.

His message: What was Jesus preaching? “The Word” (v 2b). But also, according to Mark 1…

Mark 1:4-5 – John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Mark 1:14-15 - 14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

His motive: Why He was preaching…

Mark 1:38-39 – 38And He said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

He spoke truth
He subdued evil
He called people to repent of their sin and believe in Him

Illustration #2: Neighbor Antonio + couple counseled

Some will hear the Word. Some will smear the Word. But our responsibility is to share the Word of God.

Application #2: Jesus purposefully and eagerly shared His Word with others, and as His followers, we should take full advantage of the opportunities God gives us to share His Word!

3. AN EXAMPLE OF FAITHFUL FRIENDS (VV 3-5a)

3And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4And 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. 5And when Jesus saw their faith,

Explanation:

The burden was heavy. The task was hard. The stakes were high. The path was hindered. But none of that buckled them. They stayed the course and overcame every single obstacle to strategically place this man in the presence of Jesus.

The visible faith of the paralytic's friends (Mark 2:5) is notable. In Jewish thought, faith is deeply intertwined with action (James 2:17, a Jewish understanding of faith being evidenced by deeds). Their active faith—breaking through the roof—mirrors the perseverance of Israel through trials. This act symbolizes the persistence required to receive divine intervention, a theme that would resonate with Jewish listeners familiar with the stories of their ancestors, such as Jacob wrestling with God all night, believing His Word and desiring His blessing.

These friends sacrificed so much for the sake of this paralyzed man to encounter Jesus…

They sacrificed their time (they came)
They sacrificed their comfort (bringing a paralytic carried by 4 men)
They sacrificed their public image / reputations (they could not get near Him b/c of the crowd)
They jeopardized their own assets and future (they removed the roof above Him).

Retribution to replace the roof / could face jail time, other repercussions.

They sacrificed their safety (and when they had made an opening)

Btw this may be one of the hardest for us to sacrifice b/c we love to stay where it’s safe among our friends, low risk, keep things superficial, and [what we believe is] protected. But sometimes when we dig down and make an opening, it’s just the type of faith that leads to the forgiving and healing we so desperately need.

They sacrificed their friendship (they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay)

But you know what they refused to sacrifice? Another soul lost in the everlasting flames of hell, where, according to Jesus in Mark 9:48, flesh-eating maggots never die and the fire never burns out.
The friends understood the cost of anything and everything they could sacrifice was worth every bit of it considering the other horrendous alternative.
Our friends desperately need us to take them to Jesus. Their blood is on our hands when we don’t.

Every lost person will be without excuse when they stand before Almighty God and account for why they rejected Him (Romans 1:20).
And every saved person will be without excuse when they stand before Him and account for why they refused to bring others to Him (Proverbs 24:10-12).

Illustration #3:V 5b - Jesus saw their faith

Proverbs 24.10-12

10If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. 11Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. 12If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?

(It’s not works that save you!) The paralytic did nothing. He couldn’t. But after He was forgiven and healed he carried out his own task
Faith without works is dead.
We love the “Jesus paid it all!” Part. And He did secure our forgiveness and eternity. But we conveniently neglect the “All to Him I owe” part.

Application #3: Jesus notices our faithful sacrifices for others, and rewards those who faithfully seek to rescue the lost.

4. THE EXONERATION FROM HIS SIN (V 5B)

…he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven”

Plot twist – they did not see this response from Jesus coming. The man's friends and the crowd were expecting a miracle, something spectacular—a physical healing. But Jesus does something unexpected. He addresses the man's deepest need first: his sin

to the paralytic,

Personal focus

We all must personally place our faith in Jesus. Our friends or parents cannot do it for us.

Paralysis – What a perfect instance we have here in this passage to show us a truth about ourselves.

We have more parallels with the paralytic than you might think.
We all have a part of us that is disabled too. It may not be our legs, but every single one of us here today or listening online has a defective part of us.
A part of us that’s there but not functional for its intended purpose. A part of us we cannot control and have no power in and of ourselves to activate and properly utilize: it’s deep inside of us. The disability we all start out with is within our very souls.

And just as a paralyzed person is utterly dependent on another’s selfless sacrifice to help him move and get around, & must have that in order to survive, so we are spiritually dependent on the forgiveness of Jesus Christ’s atoning death on the cross and the hope of His resurrection. Without it, we die in our sins.

Jesus wasn’t disgruntled about them interrupting His preaching. He wasn’t distracted by the external paralyzation of the man.
You know what He was drawn toward and responded to? He was connected to his faith. And faith is the only thing that connects us with Jesus.

Jesus bypasses the obvious externals and addresses the root of this man’s greatest need: to be forgiven and exonerated.

Exonerate – to absolve (someone) from blame for a fault or wrongdoing, especially after due consideration of the case. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Personal faith in Jesus exonerates us from sin and makes us part of God's eternal family (v. 5) "Son, your sins are forgiven."

He was addressed as a son
He received the paralytic into His family (indicating the others already belonged to Him).

Verse 5: "Son, your sins are forgiven" – The use of the word (teknon), meaning "child" or "son," is tender and relational. In Jewish thought, this could evoke images of God’s fatherly care for Israel (e.g., Hosea 11:1, "Out of Egypt I called my son").
You friends need Jesus because their longing to belong ends with Jesus.
Your friends’ longing to belong ends when they humble themselves before Jesus (v5)

Illustration #4: “Nubs”

When I was 19, I was at a Bible college in Hudson, FL. Every summer they hosted a student camp. I was a camp counselor there and got to meet and minister to scores of students.
One of the weeks of camp, there was a group of about 5 or 6 friends that were assigned to my cabin. I helped them all unload their luggage inside our digs for the week. One of these boys in particular caught my attention. He was significantly shorter than the rest of them. He was skateboarding - and pretty well actually – but he didn’t have any arms and when he hopped of his skateboard, he had a very distinct walk about him - sort of a wide-swinging hobble.
Well we got all of their belongings unloaded and we had some time to kill before dinner.
As I was in the cabin with this group, I told them my name and then one of the guys spoke up and was like, “Hey I’m Tyler. He’s Justin. That’s Doug, and this is Dylan, but he goes by “Nubs”
I looked down on the bottom bunk, and it was the kid I saw skateboarding that had a hobbly walk and no arms. Come to find out, he was un-velcroing not just one prosthetic leg from around his hip and, well, leg nub, but two.

Honestly it was a lot for me to process as I’m tasked with caring for this kid (and many more) 24 hours a day for the next literal 6 and a half days, and my head is reeling on the dynamics of it all.

So when they told me his name was Nubs, I felt awful for him. But neither he nor his friends seemed bothered by it at all. My next thought is it’s a prank. It’s gonna be one of those groups of kids.
So I looked right at this 15-yr old guy with no arms and no legs, who wants me to call him Nubs, and I just honestly say, “Yeah… I'm not gonna call you that [checking roster for real name], Dylan”
So he says to me, “Only my parents call me that. So unless you wanna offend the most severely disabled person here, it’s Nubs, ok?”
And I was like, “..Ok. Nubs.”
And that was it. He was Nubs for the rest of the week.

Changing his legs / odor. Friends did it all the time and looked after him. Constantly
His parents picked him up that week and it was an awesome week. Hand shaking and hugging, and sharing inside jokes.
“Loved having Nu– none other than [checks roster again for real name] Dylan with us this week!”

Here’s the deal. Dylan got used to being called Nubs – called by what he & others thought defines him. But with family, it’s different.
Jesus called the paralytic “son”. Because he's part of a new family – one that sees way deeper than surface or worldly things and sees down to the very core of who we are.
And this same Jesus gives you and I the life-changing status of becoming a son or daughter in God’s family now and forevermore!

Application #4: Your friends need Jesus because Jesus alone can acquit you from all of your weighty sins

5. JESUS’ EXCLUSIVE AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE SIN (VV 6-11)

6Now 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?” 8And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10But 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.”

The Messianic expectation in first-century Judaism anticipated a deliverer who would bring both spiritual and physical healing. Jesus, by performing this miracle in a public setting, was aligning Himself with those expectations. However, the crowd’s shock is not simply over a physical healing but Jesus’ claim to forgive

Scribes… questioning in their hearts [...] 8And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves
Jesus uncovers and corrects every hidden motive of the heart (Proverbs 20:27)

This act is an implicit claim to divinity, which would have stirred deep theological reflection among Jewish listeners.
“But that you may know” – Jesus doesn't want anyone to miss Who He is or what He’s willing and capable of doing… not even the Scribes. He wants all to know with 100% certainty that He alone is both God and Man.
The term "Son of Man" is crucial here. In a Messianic-Jewish reading, this phrase alludes to Daniel 7:13-14, where a divine figure is given authority and dominion.

13“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion,which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

In Jewish theology, physical illness was often seen as a consequence of sin, a belief rooted in passages like Deuteronomy 28.
The authority to forgive sins, however, was reserved for God alone, typically accessed through the temple’s sacrificial system. Jesus’ pronouncement bypasses this system, revealing Him as the central possessor of divine forgiveness and healing.
From a Messianic-Jewish viewpoint, this aligns with the understanding of Yeshua (Jesus) as the ultimate atoning sacrifice (Isaiah 53), fulfilling the role of the temple while redefining access to God.

Illustration #5: [time constraint]

Application #5: When we bring our friends to Jesus, we’re not just pointing them to a wise teacher or moral guide. We’re introducing them to the Son of God, who has sole authority to forgive, heal, and transform their lives completely.

6. EXPOSE YOUR STORY FOR GOD’S GLORY (V 12)

12And 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!”

Explanation:

The proof that you’ve been set free is to get up, lighten up, and start speaking up. This is our mission as Jesus followers. He set an example for us to model. We just need to follow after Him.

Rise– Some of you have been down for a long time. You’ve been despairing or discouraged for so long that you forgot what it’s like to get up and get going again in your walk with Jesus.

Let me encourage you this morning with a word from Jesus: GET UP! Down time is over. Get up! You don’t have to be imprisoned by anxiety or depression or insecurity or a disability. If Christ has indeed set you free then be a living proof of it and rise up! You can be freed from such bondage and delivered by the One Who’s the ultimate healer.

Pick up your bed – Isn’t it curious why Jesus would tell him to pick up his mat? I mean, why not just leave it there and move on? Because it’s proof that he’s been set free.

Before the paralytic was released from his severe condition from the inside-out, he previously was bedridden. Before he was set free, his friends carried his heavy burdens for him. Until eventually they carried his burdens all the way to Christ. But once he was liberated by Jesus, neither the former paralytic nor his friends had to carry his heavy load anymore. Jesus freed them! The Lord tells him to pick up his straw mat as an object lesson to feel how light the mat now is. The very thing that caused straining for years – is now light and burden-free.
Matthew 11:28 – “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Go home – Jesus doesn’t send the paralytic to a foreign mission field right away. You know where he does send him? To the one place where he’s most familiar and the place where he’ll have the greatest impact: His hometown.
[ALTERED FACEBOOK QUOTE] After healing him from the inside-out, Jesus sends the paralytic to the one place where he’ll have the greatest impact: home.

Ppl there are most familiar with him. Which means they knew what he was always like. That is, until Jesus changed him.
Your friends need Jesus.

Start showing others what God has done for you as proof that you’ve been set free.
Go out to them all and let God use your story to bring glory to His great name.
Invite them into your home.

Illustration #2: Larry Conley – April 1, 2024

A team of his brothers in Christ showing up and rallying around him in support to celebrate his changed life through faith in Christ.

These men grabbed a corner of Larry’s mat and carefully lowered him into the water for baptism, then we all praised God for cleansing Larry’s deepest need, knowing that one day he’ll do what Isaiah says — run and not be weary, have strength to walk and not be faint

Illustration #2: Obstructing Justice & tampering with evidence.

If God has saved you, then you are living proof of His mercy and goodness. And that means you have a testimony that needs to be exposed and shared. Regularly!

Do you realize that in the legal system, it’s against the law to hide or conceal evidence during an investigation?

Our justice system – broken as it may be – does not go lightly upon those who are found guilty of tampering with evidence.

Under federal law, the crime of tampering with evidence to obstruct justice (18 U.S.C. § 1512) can result in a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine.

Imagine what the penalty would be in God’s perfect justice system?
So stop concealing His evidence of your life and faith journey and start sharing it.
[ALTERED FACEBOOK QUOTE] If God has saved you, then you are proof of His mercy. Don’t conceal His evidence; start sharing it by exposing your story for His glory!
You may say, “Well Mike I don’t have that amazing of a testimony. It’s simple, basic, and boring.” PERFECT! Why? Because God didn’t save you for your own glory from men; He saved you for His glory. So you say you got a simple testimony? Great! That’s all the more credit that goes to God when people start realizing His strength through your weakness and “basicness”. Don’t you know He’s the God who takes the ordinary and does the extraordinary?
[ALTERED FACEBOOK QUOTE] God takes the ordinary and does the extraordinary for His glory
So share your story and let Him get the glory.

Faith without works is dead. And expecting benefits from God

without faithful sacrifice to Him is entitlement.

It’s a heretical welfare program within the so-called church;

but it’s a far cry from God’s actual kingdom.

Application #6: Your friend’s need to see Jesus’ evidence through your changed life and shared testimony.

CLOSING: Revisit being locked out while camping

At the outset this morning I told you about the camping dilemma we face. What if my friends decided it would be too costly, too inconvenient, or even too messy to bust out a window in their vehicle so we could all get the stuff we needed to survive the dark and dangerous elements ahead? What if they insisted that we could all make it on our own without the necessities in their Xterra? Well, they wouldn’t be compassionate friends who cared about my wife, themselves, or I. It would be extremely foolish to do that, wouldn’t it? So if we see how ridiculous that would be with our basic physical needs, then why do we so often do that with our friendships when it comes to their greatest spiritual needs?

Proverbs 11:30 says, The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends. (NLT).

Let’s be the best kind of friend and persistently lead others to Jesus.