Four Friends | Proverbs 8:17, Acts 10:38, Mark 2:1-12

We’ve been talking about the kings and how they saw that star in the east, that first Christmas long ago. They knew that if they followed that star, it would lead them to the Son of God, the king of kings, the Lord of Lords. If you are hungry and thirsty to know God, to know that he has a purpose for your life and that you were made on purpose, He will satisfy your hunger. He will give you the Water, the Living Water that Jesus talks about in a dry and weary land. If you search for Jesus, you are going to find him. That is a promise from God, and it’s for you.

Special thanks to Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission, for bringing us the Bible For Busy People this Christmas season!

Show Notes:

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Transcription:

Get a load of this promise from God.

I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.

Hi. It’s the Bible for Busy People. I’m Erica your host, and that promise from the Lord can be found in the book of Proverbs right there in the middle of your Bible, chapter eight, in verse 17, and it’s exactly what you and I are talking about this week, how wise men still seek Jesus. We’ve been talking about the kings and how they saw that star in the east. They knew that if they followed that star, it would lead them to the Son of God, the king of kings, the Lord of Lords. And I just know with all my heart that if you are hungry and thirsty to know God, to know that he has a purpose for your life, that you were made on purpose, for a purpose that you will find him. He will satisfy your hunger. He will give you the water, the living water that Jesus talks about in a dry and weary land. He is able to fill you with him himself. If you search for Jesus, you are going to find him. That is a promise from God, and it’s for you. I want you to know that.

So last time you and I read about three kings who went looking for Jesus. Today we’re going to read about four friends who went seeking Jesus for a beautiful reason. We’re going to be diving into the gospel of Mark chapter two, beginning in verse three. But beforehand, I want you to know what Jesus was up to before this story unfolds in the Bible. He actually had just healed a leper. The lepers of this time period were the dregs of society. People were terrified of lepers, because if you got leprosy, if you caught it from someone, you had to leave your family and never see them again. You had to go and live in a colony of lepers. It was a death sentence. Nobody ever wanted to be around a leper. You can imagine how lonely and devastating that disease was. So, Jesus healed a leper before this story, we’re going to read, happens. Keep that in the back of your mind and remember that Jesus was always going about healing people. Matter of fact, I didn’t plan this, but let’s read Acts 10:38 really quick together. Let me pull it up here really fast. Sorry. This is such a good verse.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Such a powerful verse. Now we’re going to head back to Mark with all of that in mind because word was spreading that Jesus was doing good and healing people and that God was with him. Mark chapter two, now beginning in verse three [actually beginning with verse 1]. Again, this was right after he healed the leper.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door.

Imagine that.

While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

What an incredible story and what wonderful friends this man, who was paralyzed, was blessed with. They knew they would never make it through the crowd, and they had so much faith, so they picked up their friend and cut a hole in somebody’s roof because they were so convinced of what they were hearing around town, that we read in Acts 10:38 that I didn’t even plan for this episode, we’re going to read it again,

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

This is a promise in the Bible, not just for the man who is paralyzed, but for you and for me as well. God can come in and heal your broken heart, your shattered heart, your disillusioned heart, your jaded heart. Whatever heart you’re bringing to this podcast today, God can heal it. You just place it in his nail scarred hands. They were scarred for you. If you are seeking peace with God, it is readily available to you. Here’s my challenge to you; just as these four friends picked up their friend and placed him in front of the Lord, believing that Jesus could heal him, I invite you to pick yourself up, pick up your heart with all of its bruises, and place it before the Lord and ask him to heal it and see if he won’t.

It doesn’t mean you’re going to have a perfect life, but it’s going to mean you’re going to know peace that you can’t explain, and that you’re going to get to go to heaven forever, because you’ve accepted the love and forgiveness of Jesus. Oh, so much happens when we seek Jesus and the number one, the first thing is that we find Him. Can’t wait until next time. Until then, you are really loved.

Thank you for making space to study the Bible with me today. If you feel something stirring in your soul, that’s the God who made you, saying, I love you and I want to know you. It’s what Christmas is all about. Jesus came for you so that your soul would know its worth. He came to bring joy to the world, and to your world. It’s the most beautiful love story ever written, and it’s true. It’s the greatest rescue mission in history, and it was for you. If you want to respond to that stirring in your soul, to know Jesus a little better, please take a moment and check out our show notes, where you’ll find lots of hope and encouragement for your journey.

The Bible for Busy people is brought to you this Christmas season by Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission. Every day and every night, their team is on a mission to share the good news with our neighbors who are homeless. Like the angels who came on the night, Jesus was born. They make sure that every person who walks through the doors of the Mission knows that there is hope because Jesus came, and how much He loves them. Every person they meet on the street encounters the love of Christ through a friendly smile, a warm blanket, a cup of cocoa, and an invitation to take that next step toward healing from addiction or mental illness. If you want to be part of making sure every soul knows its worth in Seattle this Christmas, volunteer or donate at ugm.org. Thank you and Merry Christmas.

This podcast is one branch of a Christmas tree called Purposely, a network designed to connect you with life-giving conversations, and to inspire you to find and live out God’s purpose for your life. If you’ve got a pulse, you’ve got a purpose.