Title: The Labor of Four People
Contents
four people's hard work
Mark 2:1-5
In terms of faith, there are three kinds of people. First, he is a non-believer. Eternal life is a condition in which we cannot receive God's gift to those who believe. Second, those who have received Jesus and have faith have become children of God. Third, he is the one who leads other souls to the Lord by faith. In the text, the holders of such faith appear. When Jesus was staying in Capernaum, many people came to hear the news. Then there were people who brought a paralytic. Because people couldn't meet Jesus up close, the sick man was lowered through the roof. Jesus saw their faith (v. 5). And he forgave sins and healed the sick.
1. The four of you had confidence in Jesus.
Jesus believed that there was no disease that could not be cured. Even if he was paralyzed, he was sure that if he came to Jesus, he would receive grace, be saved, and be healed. This conviction brought the sick man out. Faith that saves others begins with confidence in Jesus.
2. The four of you had compassion for the sick.
Confidence and compassion for Jesus are two sides of the same coin. Without either one, you would not be able to bring them to Jesus. Paralysis is a disease that makes it difficult to move. The patient who appears in the text is not sick enough to be supported to be brought. He was sick and had to come in bed. It's very difficult. Without love for this sick person, it is impossible. We too must have this mindset. We must bring to the Lord many people around us who cannot move on their own, such as paralytics.
3. The four of you had the tenacity to not give up.
We brought him to Jesus, but there were so many people that we could not see Jesus. I came here because it was hard, but I ran into difficulties. When you do good things, you encounter difficult things. At this time, the four of you did not give up. Find a way and put it into action. Eventually, he climbed up on the roof, made a hole in it, and put the bed on which he was lying. Jesus saw this and praised it. You have seen their faith. Should we hesitate to bring in the sick because those around us criticize us? Should I give up on saving souls because the road is blocked? It's not even curing my illness, so why do I have to suffer? This is something you cannot do. Leading the soul requires perseverance and not giving up.
4. The four of you had a beautiful collaboration.
Moving a paralyzed person to bed is not possible alone. Several people need to work together. They must agree with each other. The moving action must be correct. The big ones should be lowered, the smaller ones should be raised, the fast ones should be slow, and the slow ones should be moving fast. It's difficult if you ask me to fit in just because I'm good. The cooperation of the saints is absolutely necessary in saving souls. There should be no disputes or pride until the work of tying the bed, the process of bringing the bed, and breaking the roof to meet Jesus. We must work together in a servant-oriented attitude.
We also have life now because someone carried us and led us to the Lord just like the four men who brought this paralyzed man. So we are in debt. I also need your help. I hope that you will become a saint who saves lives by obediently obeying the Lord through beauty cooperation without giving up until the end with a heart of pity for the Lord in whom I am confident.