Jesus Heals a Paralytic
Mark 2:1-12
Call to Worship – Psalm 29:1–2
Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. (ESV)
Old Testament Reading: Proverbs 1:1-7
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (ESV) (we will be reading through the book of Proverbs)
Prayer of Praise: Refer to the Call to Worship and the OT Reading above and the hymn below.
v1. Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.
v2. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
v3. Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all praise we would render; O help us to see
’tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!
Reading of the Law: Exodus 20:1–17
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” (ESV)
Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin: Holy Father, forgive us. Though you should guide us, we inform ourselves. Though you should rule us, we control ourselves. Though you should fulfill us, we console ourselves. For we think your truth too high, your will too hard, your power too remote, your love too free. But they are not! And without them, we are of all people most miserable. Heal our confused mind with your word, heal our divided will with your law, heal our troubled conscience with your love, heal our anxious hearts with your presence, all for the sake of your Son, who loved us and gave himself for us. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Exodus 34:6–7a
The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, (ESV)
Response: The Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen, amen.
Confession of Faith: Westminster Larger Catechism - Questions 86-90
Let’s continue to study the WLC by thinking about our resurrection on the last day.
Question #86
Q. What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible Church enjoy immediately after death?
A. The communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible Church enjoy immediately after death, is, in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness, and received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory; waiting for the full redemption of their bodies, which even in death continue united to Christ, and rest in their graves, as in their beds, till at the last day they be again united with their souls. Whereas the souls of the wicked are at their death cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness; and their bodies kept in their graves, as in their prisons, until the resurrection and judgment of the great day.
Heb. 12:23; 2 Cor. 5:1, 6, 8; Phil. 1:23; Acts 3:21; Eph. 4:10; 1 John 3:2; 1 Cor. 13:12; Rom. 8:23; Ps. 16:9; 1 Thess. 4:14; Isa. 57:2; Job 19:26-27; Luke 16:23-24; Acts 1:25; Jude 1:6-7.
Question #87
Q. What are we to believe concerning the resurrection?
A. We are to believe, that, at the last day, there shall be a general resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust: when they that are then found alive shall in a moment be changed; and the selfsame bodies of the dead which are laid in the grave, being then again united to their souls for ever, shall be raised up by the power of Christ. The bodies of the just, by the Spirit of Christ, and by virtue of his resurrection as their head, shall be raised in power, spiritual, incorruptible, and made like to his glorious body; and the bodies of the wicked shall be raised up in dishonor by him, as an offended judge.
Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; John 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:21-23, 42-44; Phil. 3:21; John 5:27-29; Matt. 25:33.
Question #88
Q. What shall immediately follow after the resurrection?
A. Immediately after the resurrection shall follow the general and final judgment of angels and men; the day and hour whereof no man knoweth, that all may watch and pray, and be ever ready for the coming of the Lord.
2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6-7, 14-15; Matt. 25:46; Matt. 24:36, 42, 44; Luke 21:35-36.
Question #89
Q. What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment?
A. On the day of judgment, the wicked shall be set on Christ’s left hand, and, upon clear evidence and full conviction of their own consciences, shall have the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them; and thereupon shall be cast out from the favorable presence of God, and the glorious fellowship with Christ, his saints, and all his holy angels, into hell, to be punished with unspeakable torments both of body and soul, with the devil and his angels for ever.
Matt. 25:33; Rom. 2:15-16; Matt. 25:41-43; Luke 16:26; 2 Thess. 1:8-9.
Question #90
Q. What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment?
A. On the day of judgment, the righteous, being caught up to Christ in the clouds, shall be set on his right hand, and there openly acknowledged and acquitted, shall join with him in the judging of reprobate angels and men, and shall be received into heaven, where they shall be fully and for ever freed from all sin and misery; filled with inconceivable joys, made perfectly holy and happy both in body and soul, in the company of innumerable saints and holy angels, but especially in the immediate vision and fruition of God the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, to all eternity. And this is the perfect and full communion, which the members of the invisible Church shall enjoy with Christ in glory, at the resurrection and day of judgment.
1 Thess. 4:17; Matt. 25:33; Matt. 10:32; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; Matt. 25:34, 46; Eph. 5:27; Rev. 14:13; Ps. 16:11; Heb. 12:22-23; 1 John 3:2; 1 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 4:17-18.
Prayer of Thanksgiving:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the resurrections of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, guaranteeing our future resurrection. We thank you that we will spend eternity with you in the new heavens and the new earth. Lord, we also give thanks for the works we have now to do that you decided that we would do before the foundation of the world that you created. We are grateful for your Word and those who minister to us. You deserve all praise, honor, and glory from your creatures. We thank you for our salvation and peace that we have with you, all merited by your Son and we pray in his name. Amen
Prayer of Supplication:
Our God and our Savior, we pray this day for your blessings upon us. We pray for our Pastors that you would continue to give them time to prepare our Lord’s day services. We ask that you give them time with their families, to love them, to minister to them, and to be the husband and father you have called them to be. We ask Father, that you would watch over our expectant mothers and their babies, granting them good health and peace in their hearts. We ask, O Lord, that you would bring peace to all the conflicts throughout the world, curtail evil in our land, and turn our civic leader’s hearts and minds to You. We pray these things in your Son’s most holy name and for your glory, Amen..
Bible reading and commentary: Mark 2:1-12
Questions to think about for the bible passage
Why do you think Jesus forgave the man’s sins before healing him?
What do the four friends teach us about faith?
What does this story show us about who Jesus is?
How can we bring others to Jesus?
Mark tells us Jesus returns to Capernaum, His ministry base. Word spreads quickly that He is home, and the house fills until there is no room left. This is the first signal that Jesus’ ministry is drawing crowds not merely because of miracles but because He “was preaching the word to them.” The priority of proclamation is central. Jesus’ kingdom advances not first through signs but through the authoritative announcement of God’s reign. This sets the stage for the conflict that follows.
Four men bring a paralytic to Jesus, but the crowd blocks the way. Their response is bold: they remove the roof and lower their friend down. This is not recklessness but faith-driven determination. Mark highlights their faith—plural. Jesus sees their faith, not merely the paralytic’s. Faith is visible in action. It overcomes obstacles. It brings people to Christ. This is a beautiful picture of the kind of love and the communal nature of discipleship.
Jesus’ first words are surprising: “Son, your sins are forgiven.” The man came for healing, but Jesus addresses his deeper need. This is the theological center of the passage. Jesus claims the divine prerogative to forgive sins. He does not pray for God to forgive; He forgives directly. This is not a prophet speaking on God’s behalf. This is God’s authority exercised in the flesh. The kingdom of God is not merely about physical restoration but spiritual reconciliation.
The scribes reason in their hearts that Jesus is blaspheming. Their logic is correct: only God can forgive sins. Their conclusion is wrong: Jesus is God. Mark emphasizes that Jesus “perceived in His spirit” their inner thoughts. This is another divine attribute—omniscience. The conflict is not about misunderstanding but about authority. Jesus is not merely a healer; He is the Holy One who confronts unbelief.
Jesus poses a question: “Which is easier…?” Forgiving sins is invisible; healing is visible. So Jesus performs the visible miracle to authenticate the invisible reality. The healing is not the main point but the proof of the main point. Jesus commands the paralytic to rise, take up his bed, and walk. The authority of His word is again central. The same voice that forgives sins also restores bodies.
The man rises immediately—Mark’s favorite word—showing the completeness and immediacy of Jesus’ power. He walks out in full view of all, and the crowd is “amazed” and glorifies God. Yet their response, while positive, is not necessarily faith. They marvel at the miracle but do not yet grasp the identity of the One who performed it. Mark often distinguishes amazement from discipleship.
Discuss Questions Above.
Closing Thought
Just like the paralytic, we all need Jesus most for forgiveness. And just like the four friends, we can help bring others to Him.
Closing Hymn: The Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
Closing Scripture: Numbers 6:24–26
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. (ESV).
The Lord’s Prayer (together):
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.