Q1, S07 The Paralytic

Quarter 1, Session 7: The Paralytic

HOW MUCH DO YOU DESIRE HEALING?

Passage

Mark 2:1–12

Concept

This session falls under Jesus’ second question: Do you desire me? A paralyzed man was carried by his friends to Jesus for healing. Jesus did heal this man physically, but he first healed him spiritually by forgiving his sin. It takes a strong desire for Jesus to overcome whatever obstacles keep us from him. Just as this man’s friends exerted significant effort to bring him to Jesus, we must have a strong enough desire for Jesus to work through the obstacles that would hold us back so we can come to Jesus for the healing he offers.

Key Question

What hurdles must you overcome to find healing in Jesus? How might his healing differ from your expectations?

The Vector Tool

Do you see our vector tool being played out in Mark 2:1–12? With whom? How so?

The Paralytic

Have you ever experienced symptoms so bad that you finally went to a doctor, only to find that your problem was different than you thought? Maybe it’s a cold lasting longer than it should, an ache or pain that won’t go away, or some other symptom that’s not necessarily terrifying in itself, but that persists long enough to bring you to the doctor. For many people, these are the very situations that reveal something more serious that they could never have diagnosed in themselves.

The symptoms did not create the problem, nor did the visit to the doctor. The real problem was there all along, but the tangible need that drove you to get a checkup revealed that something deeper was wrong.

It Starts with Desire

Jesus’ encounter with the paralyzed man in Mark 2:1–12 was like this. This man’s friends brought him to Jesus because being paralyzed at that time was a matter of life and death (it’s no picnic in any age). These friends were desperate to get their friend healed. Their desire was to see his physically body be healed, and their desire was strong enough to push them to overcome the serious obstacles required to bring him to Jesus so this could happen. These men were convinced that this Rabbi could do something for their friend.

In pursuing physical healing, they found that Jesus wanted to heal their friend spiritually as well. They were right to desire the healing Jesus could offer, but as always happens, they discovered that Jesus had so much more to offer.

Desire is a wonderful, powerful, and potentially destructive thing that resides deep within our souls. It’s a sacrifice to do something you don’t care about. It’s no sacrifice if the desire is already present. We all act on our desires; we don’t have to try to do it, that’s just what happens.

We all have these deep wounds, and every one of our wounds should be a reason to come to Jesus. But Jesus is often more concerned about our internal wounds—the sin that eats us from the inside out—and he often starts there. Jesus sees our spiritual wounds even when we don’t. It’s not just that this man had spiritual wounds, it’s that he created them. How do we know? Because Jesus forgave him. Forgiveness is only necessary when we have sinned. We don’t often see our own hand in destroying our relationship with God.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that this man wasn’t perfect—no one is. But it highlights an important point: it’s easy to get so caught up in the driving needs we experience that we fail to see our need for forgiveness and spiritual healing. Our greatest needs are often unseen.

An example of this comes in this passage when the Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy. They were outraged because Jesus was claiming to forgive sins, and that is something only God can do. They weren’t wrong: only God can forgive sins. But in their theological outrage, they were missing their deeper need: their hearts were unbelieving. They were rejecting God, even though he was standing right there in front of them forgiving a man’s sins and healing his body.

As you read this story, try to feel how vivid the scene must have been, how passionate everyone was, and how much Jesus’ words and actions must have meant.

1.     Read Mark 2:1–12. Right off the bat, what strikes you about this passage? What do you find interesting or challenging or confusing?

2.     What are the tangible things you’re experiencing right now that drive you to prayer? In other words, if Jesus were standing across the street, what things in your life would push you to cross the street and ask him for help?

3.     Looking deeper than your externally visible needs, what deeper healing do you believe you need from Jesus at this moment?

What Would You Do for a Friend?

This man was healed—physically and spiritually—because his friends carried him to the feet of Jesus. To be a friend, to love someone, is to bring them to Jesus. Love is pointing wounded people to Jesus, and carrying them to him when necessary. The more we bring others to Jesus, the more often we’ll find ourselves in his presence. True friendship means we’re constantly bringing each other back to Jesus.

4.     Is there anyone you feel drawn to “bring to Jesus” in any sense? (This may mean introducing them to him for the first time or simply finding a way to bring someone closer to him in a specific season or moment.)

Taking Stock of Your Desire

Do you actually desire Jesus? You know you desire him when you’re willing to lay something down in order to be with him. When it costs you something and you’re willing to pay the price in order to be with him, that’s when you can be sure that you desire him. This isn’t necessarily a one time decision that will give you every ounce of desire you’ll need for the rest of your life. It’s more of a trajectory. It’s the direction your heart is aimed. Take some time to consider where your desires are focused. If you don’t desire Jesus, take some time to consider how you might increase your desire for him.  

5.     Right now, how would you describe your desire for Jesus? Why do you say that? (This is not about judgment over not having the “right” answer, it’s about honestly taking stock of your heart.)

6.     Spend some time in prayer. Ask God to increase your desire for him. Bring any needs or desires you’re experiencing to him, and offer your heart to him, asking him to heal anything that’s not necessarily at the forefront of your mind. Also pray that God would make you the kind of friend who brings others into the presence of Jesus.

Key Question

What hurdles must you overcome to find healing in Jesus? How might his healing differ from your expectations?