Okay, let's begin our worship this morning by singing to God's praise. We're singing in Psalm 47,
the Sing Psalms version, Psalm 47, page 62. We can sing the whole of this psalm together,
verse 1 to 9. On nations clap your hands and shout. Let joyful cries to God ring out. How
awesome is the Lord most high, great King who rules the earth throughout. We'll stand to sing
the whole of this psalm to God's praise.
Let joyful cries to God ring out. How awesome is the Lord most high, great King who rules the earth throughout.
He has sung to believe and read. The nations who have been a foe.
The nations who have been a foe. In blessing, Jacob, whom he loved, our heritage.
of the nations who have been a foe. In blessing, Jacob, whom he loved, our heritage.
in blessing, Jacob.
of the nations who have been a foe. In blessing, Jacob, whom he loved, our heritage.
A heritage for us, he chose.
One dance on earth with shouts of joy,
the Lord now in the trampled sight.
Sing praise, sing praise to God most high,
to God our King let praise abide.
For God is King of all the earth,
sing sounds of praise to Him alone.
For crucifixions from on high,
He sets upon His holy throne.
The victor's call, the nations come,
To yield themselves to England's court.
To Him belong the shields of air,
Exalted with me is the Lord.
Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer.
Now let us pray.
Our gracious Father in heaven,
we come before you with much thanksgiving today
for your goodness to us and you,
for every blessing that is ours in Christ,
for the blessing of your word as we open it up
and as we sing your praise,
and the blessing that there is in learning from your word
and even learning your word,
as we have already mentioned about the memory verse
that the young ones are learning.
We thank you that together we can learn these words
and seek to understand them,
the wonder of the Lord who is our shepherd
and the way He shows us His goodness
in bringing our wandering steps back to His way
and leading us in the straight paths of righteousness
and all that is to reveal and to display His great name.
We thank you that there is so much to encourage us in these words,
that we have in Jesus one who is over us
and one who is with us.
He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords,
and yet He is also one who the Bible describes as a friend
who stays closer than any brother.
And we thank you for all of these truths
that we find in your word,
and we pray to know it together,
that as the young ones go through to the Twinnies,
the Sunday school, the Bible class,
that together as they learn around your word there,
that they will be built up by it.
Encourage us through it.
Encourage those who are teaching,
Lord, be with them and help them.
And help us all together to be a prayerful people
for all of us as a family together,
from the youngest to the oldest,
that you would remember us in all our different needs.
And we do thank you that you know us by name,
and we pray that we will know you by name,
that we will come and praise the name of Jesus and you today,
and give all praise and glory to you,
as we thank you for all you do for us.
And we ask all the forgiveness of our sins,
in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Just a word to the young ones,
before you go out through next door to the hall.
What a beautiful day it is today,
and has been the last few days.
It's so good to see the sun shining.
I'm just thinking today about our names.
We all have a name.
I'm sure, hands up if you have a name.
Everybody's here.
All your hands should go up.
Everyone here has a name.
And we've all got a name,
and the amazing thing is that Jesus knows us all by name.
He knows our names as well.
I often forget people's names.
I've mentioned it before.
I'm hopeless at trying to remember people's names.
But Jesus, he doesn't forget anybody's name.
He remembers every one of us,
and he knows us all by name.
And our names are very important.
They're our identity.
They mark us out as to who we are.
And we need our names for different things.
For example, this week I was phoning a company about a bill,
and they had to ask me questions
so that my identity would be confirmed by them.
So they asked, what's your name?
And I had to give them my name.
And then they asked, what's your account number?
I had to give them my account number.
What's the first line of your address and your postcode?
You had to go through all this process
of them finding out and confirming who I am.
And very often we have to do that.
And there's other places we might have to do it as well.
For example, you might need one of these.
A passport.
If you're flying away, maybe even going abroad,
you need a passport.
There are people at the desk.
They need to know who you are.
So you have to give them your passport,
and you present it.
And your passport has a picture of you.
Thankfully, you can't see my picture.
It's too far away.
But they'll look at it,
and they'll confirm that it's you.
And they often say to me, that can't be you.
You look far too young to be that person in the picture.
But we have to identify ourselves.
Or maybe if the police pull you over,
and they stop you,
they ask for your driver's license
so they can identify who you are.
So there's all kinds of different ways
we have to be identified,
to tell people who we are.
But when we come to Jesus,
he already knows who we are.
So what do you think is more important?
It's more important that we know who he is.
And this morning,
as we're looking in the Gospel of Mark together in the service,
we're going to be thinking about the identity of Jesus,
who he is,
and why that's important to us.
He knows us by name,
every one of us.
But when the day comes,
a day will come when he will come back to this world,
and we all have to come before him.
And he'll call us by name.
But he'll ask us,
well, who am I to you?
There's a passage in Mark chapter 8.
It mentions a question that Jesus asks of the disciples.
He says,
all these people are talking about who I am.
They're saying,
I could be Elijah,
I could be one of the prophets.
But he turns to the disciples and says,
but what about you?
Who do you say that I am?
And it's Peter who replied,
you are the Christ.
You are the Christ.
You are Jesus Christ.
He recognized who he was.
He identified with him.
And that's the key for ourselves today as well.
Jesus knows us.
And as we have to come to him,
we have to know who he is.
And he speaks to us through his word.
And we learn about who he is.
And not just a name.
He is Jesus Christ,
the Son of God.
He is the one who came to save us from our sins.
He is the one who came because God loves us so much
that he sent Jesus into this world to be our Savior.
That's who Jesus is.
And may he be that to us all,
that we would see that he is the Christ,
that he is Jesus,
the Son of God.
And that by putting our trust in him,
we are identifying with him.
And he loves us in that special way.
And that we would love him with all our hearts.
So let's find our identity
and know who Jesus is
and be part of his great family.
Well, we're going to say the Lord's Prayer together now.
Let's pray.
Our Father, which 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 debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Well, we're going to sing again.
Our second singing is in Psalm 130
in the Scottish Psalter.
Find this on page 421.
And we're going to sing the whole of this psalm.
Psalm 130, page 421.
A great psalm of crying out to God
and finding that assurance
of his presence with us
and his great redemption towards us
as it's describing.
Lord, from the depths to thee I cried.
My voice, Lord, do thou hear.
And to my supplications' voice
give an attentive ear.
So we'll stand to sing the whole of this psalm
to God's praise.
Lord, from the depths to thee I cried.
My voice, Lord, do thou hear.
And to my soul,
the nations' voice
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We can turn together now to read God's word in the Gospel of Mark.
Mark chapter 1, taking up our reading at verse 40.
And we're reading into chapter 2.
Mark chapter 1, taking up our reading at verse 40.
You'll find this around page 1009 of the church Bibles.
Like I say, we're reading into chapter 2.
And chapter 2 in particular is where our focus is going to be as we see these friends bringing a paralytic friend to Jesus that he might make him well.
And the wonderful blessing was that not just was he healed physically, but he was reminded of the greatest gift of all, the forgiveness of sin.
We take our reading in chapter 1 at verse 40.
And a leper came to him, imploring him and kneeling, said to him,
If you will, you can make me clean.
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him,
I will be clean.
And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once and said to him,
See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded for a proof to them.
But he went out and began to talk freely about it and to spread the news,
so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but he was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.
And many were gathered together so that there was no more room, not even at the door.
And he was preaching the word to them.
And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
And 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.
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
My son, your sins are forgiven.
Now some of the scribes were sitting there questioning in their hearts,
Why does this man speak like that?
He is blaspheming.
Who can forgive sins but God alone?
And immediately Jesus perceived in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves,
said to them,
Why do you question these things in your hearts?
Which is easier to say to the paralytic,
Your sins are forgiven,
or to say,
Rise, take up your bed, and walk?
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,
he said to the paralytic,
I say to you,
Rise, pick up your bed, and go home.
And he rose and immediately picked up his bed,
and went out before them all.
So they were all amazed,
and glorified God,
saying,
We never saw anything like this.
And so on.
And may God bless that reading from his word.
Well, we'll again engage in a word of prayer.
Let us pray.
Lord, our gracious God,
as we come reading your word together,
we thank you for the very power that there is in your word.
We thank you that as we read there,
we see Jesus gathered together with a large crowd,
and he was preaching the word to them,
a reminder to us of the importance
of being gathered around the word of truth,
and to hear what you as Lord and God are saying to us,
to recognize that this is no ordinary word,
no ordinary book,
but this is a book that gives life,
that reminds us of where life is found,
and the hope that there is in Jesus Christ,
hope that is there for all who will call upon him.
And we thank you for the great example that we have read of,
of the longing that there was to be with Jesus,
of the longing that there was there to be near him.
And yet, as we will see as we read into this passage,
that there are those who are so loving towards him,
and yet there are others who question him and doubt him,
and seek to condemn him.
And that is the world in which we live today as well.
We thank you that your word is still powerful,
and it is active,
it is mighty to save.
And we thank you for every way that is bearing fruit
to all ends of the earth.
We thank you that that is a promise in your word,
that as it goes out,
it never returns empty or void,
but accomplishes every purpose for which you send it forth.
And so we ask that blessing on your word here today,
that it would go out with that same power,
and that today it would return to you,
accomplishing much,
accompanying your word.
May your spirit be with us.
May your spirit,
Holy Spirit,
open our hearts to receive your word,
and to rejoice in it.
And that even today,
there would be rejoicing in heaven,
over one sinner who repents.
And we ask,
Lord,
that that would be true for us here,
as it might be true for many,
who gather around your word this day,
throughout our town,
throughout our communities,
our islands,
our nation,
and the world.
We thank you that your word goes out to all ends of the earth.
And we pray,
Lord,
that your kingdom will come in power.
And so hear our prayers,
O Lord,
as we offer them up through the name of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ,
that one who is the Son of God.
We thank you for what we read of our Lord Jesus in this passage,
and throughout your gospel of Mark,
and also throughout your whole word of truth.
We thank you that it points us constantly towards our greatest need of all,
that forgiveness of sin.
And so we confess our sin anew to you today,
asking forgiveness for them all,
for our sins that we,
in our thoughts,
in our words,
and in our actions,
and even in our inaction,
the things that we omit and do not do.
Lord,
pardon us,
we pray.
And hear us,
Lord,
as we cry out to you.
May we come,
even as the beggar at the side of the road,
who cried out to Jesus,
Jesus,
Son of David,
have mercy on me.
May that be our cry today,
that you would have mercy upon us.
Have mercy upon us as a people.
Remember us,
Lord,
in all our different needs.
We especially remember those who are mourning today,
as we hear of bereavement in our own midst,
as a congregation,
and in our communities around us as well.
Lord,
we do pray for your comfort,
thankful for the Holy Spirit,
who is the comforter.
And may that spirit surround those who are mourning today,
Lord,
that they would know in their grief and in their sorrow,
they would know the love of Jesus,
the one who is there for them,
the one who is with them.
Lord,
we do pray for those who are unwell in hospital,
or confined to their homes,
those who are going through different trials at this time,
as we hear and see so many things going on around us.
We think of work circumstances around us,
and we see people struggling financially because of lack of employment,
or uncertainty of employment.
We do pray,
Lord,
for a blessing upon us as a community here,
to see you provide for us,
Lord,
to provide work,
to provide for our homes and our families,
to provide us with wisdom and instruction from you,
to provide for those who are leaders over us,
Lord,
to give them wisdom,
to give them help,
to give them your spirit,
to lead and to guide,
to rule wisely,
to rule our people as a nation,
O Lord,
with the wisdom of your word and your truth.
We do pray,
Lord,
that there will be a turning to you in the midst of the avenues of power in
Westminster and Holyrood,
and a royal family as well,
Lord,
we pray and commit them to you as well,
asking for your blessing over our king and the queen and the family as well,
Lord,
that they would know your blessing upon them,
and that they would know what it is to rule wisely as well.
We pray that for our world too,
when we see the turmoil around us,
the uncertainty that surrounds us day by day,
the tragedies that are so often before our eyes,
there are so many things going on,
when we think of the Middle East and the Ukraine and the Far East,
and so much that we see in our screens,
but there's so much that's hidden from us as well.
The persecution of your people,
the suffering of people far and wide,
and yet nothing is hidden from you.
You know us by name,
you know each one,
and Lord,
we pray,
have mercy upon us,
draw us close to yourself,
have pity on us,
and make your face to shine upon us,
that we would see your blessing on us as nations of this world.
Hear our prayers,
Lord,
continue with us,
be with us in the week ahead,
and all that it entails,
as we seek to honour you,
and serve you,
in our homes,
in our families,
in our workplaces,
and as a congregation of your people,
and as a wider church as well.
May you lead us,
and guide us,
in these days,
we remember our young people,
as they will meet this coming Saturday,
and in Renes,
for the big free rally.
We thank you for all the work of the camps,
over the summer,
and we pray for your blessing,
to continue to come upon the young ones,
who attended,
and for a blessing on their day together,
God willing,
this week ahead.
Watch over us,
and we pray,
guide us by your spirit,
and hear us in all our prayers,
as we ask all,
in the name of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ,
and for his glory.
Amen.
Before we turn back,
to look at our passage in Mark,
we'll sing again,
this time in Psalm 103,
the Scottish Psalter version,
page 370,
Psalm 103,
verse 13.
We'll sing down to verse 18.
Such pity as our father hath,
and to his children dear,
like pity shows,
the Lord to such,
as worship him in fear,
for he remembers we are dust,
and he our frame well knows,
frail man,
his days are like the grass,
as flower in field,
he grows.
We'll sing from verse 13,
down to verse 18,
and we stand to sing,
and we stand to sing to God's praise.
Amen.
Thank you.
Amen.
Amen, O praise.
Well, we can turn back to our reading in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 2.
We're looking at this section from verse 1 down to verse 12,
where Jesus heals this man who was brought to him on a stretcher,
a paralytic man brought to him by his friends.
But when we see what Jesus says to them in verse 5,
it kind of leaves the people astonished, I think, in many different ways.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
My son, your sins are forgiven.
Who is Jesus?
That's the question that we start with today.
Who is Jesus?
How do you answer that question?
Do you answer it from a personal point of view
when you're able to say who he is to you?
Do you answer it in a general kind of way when maybe you've heard about Jesus
and you try to explain who he is from history or from what you've heard over the years?
Well, we're thankful that God has given us his word
because it is his word that answers that question for us.
And in the Gospel of Mark,
who is Jesus is the kind of question that you see being answered from the very beginning to the very end.
And Mark's Gospel in the first verse gives us a great answer of who Jesus is.
It says there in verse 1,
There is an answer of who Jesus is.
He is the Son of God.
Is that how we know him?
Is that how the people in Mark's day knew him?
Some did.
But as we see, others didn't.
And others wouldn't accept Jesus for who he is.
But who is Jesus to you today?
Well, as you go through the Gospel of Mark,
you find, as Mark is writing,
he's revealing to us the identity of Jesus in amazing ways.
As from the very outset in chapter 1,
you see Jesus starting to perform miracles.
You see him teaching in ways that leave people astonished,
astounded as to the kind of teaching that they're hearing,
teaching like they've never heard before.
So there's this sense of astonishment,
this sense of bewilderment about who Jesus is.
You see at the end of chapter 1 that Jesus had to go out into the open places
because even towns couldn't receive him
because such numbers were coming.
It says they were coming from every quarter.
They were hearing about the things that Jesus was doing
and the miracles that he was performing
and the teaching that he was giving.
And they were astonished.
And they wanted to know who is this Jesus.
But it was more than just his miracles,
more than just his teaching.
As you go through the Gospel of Mark,
you see Jesus begin to say he came to suffer.
He came to give his life as a ransom for many.
The Son of God came to give his life on the cross.
And as you come to the end of the Gospel,
that's what you see, the death of Jesus.
But then on the third day, he rose again.
So this is the Jesus that Mark is showing us in his Gospel.
But who is Jesus to us today?
Do you see his identity?
Do you see who he is?
And do you identify with him?
Do you identify with him?
So Mark's Gospel moves so quickly.
There's a sense of just moving from one place to another so quickly.
There's a lot going on.
And in chapter 2, as we come to this section,
you see that after being out and about,
large crowds following him,
he's returned to Capernaum,
the place that's called home.
And as he's gathered here in a home,
there's a large crowd that's already started to gather.
And they're coming probably to see
the kind of things that Jesus has already been doing.
See more miracles.
Hear more teaching.
He's there teaching the Word to them.
But now he's going to reveal his identity
and who he is in terms of another reason
that he came into this world.
For the forgiveness of sin.
He came because he has so much more to offer
than just miracles and healing.
He has salvation.
He has the offer of eternal life.
He is the Son of God.
So what does Christianity have to offer to us today?
What does Christ have to offer to us today?
It's more than just coming to hear words.
It's more than just gathering in a fellowship together,
enjoying the friendship of one another.
What would you offer to someone
who you're inviting to come to church?
Would you say,
come and find a friendly group of people?
Come and find a nice fellowship where we can have a cup of tea
or a cup of coffee together.
Come and find a break for yourself in the day,
a place to come.
Is that all that we would have to offer?
Well, you see,
what Jesus shows here is the priority of his ministry.
And he shows his priority as these group of men
bring a friend who is a paralytic.
He's unable to walk.
He'd have been shunned by society in this day,
but he had friends around him.
And what they wanted was to bring their friend to Jesus.
And that's the greatest thing that we have to offer
here today to our people.
As we gather together,
as we invite others to come in,
we have an invitation to come to Jesus.
To Jesus.
And to be friends in the same way
as these ones who carried this paralytic to Jesus were.
Doing anything and everything
to bring our people to see Jesus.
and to hear the message of the great message
of forgiveness of sin that is on offer.
Is that the kind of friends and friendship
that we are showing to those around us today?
Are we friends in that true sense of the word
where our longing is for others to come
and see the friend who is Jesus
and to know him as Lord and Savior?
There was an article a number of years ago
that offered a prize
for the best definition of a friend.
Best definition of what a friend is.
And a number of people,
thousands of people sent in their answers
as to what this would look like,
what this was.
And the winning answer was this,
a friend is the one who comes in
when the whole world has gone out.
A friend is one who comes in
when the whole world has gone out.
It's someone who is there.
And that's the kind of friends
that this man had.
When the rest of society
would so easily abandon anyone
who was a burden,
anyone who was a burden on them
as a family or as a community,
you think of the blind beggar
later on in the Gospel of Mark
who was outside the town
begging at the side of the street.
He was shunned.
And so were many
who had problems,
physical, mental,
all these kinds of problems.
They were shunned.
But here you see
the true beauty of friendship.
Friendship and the longing
to help
and to bring their friend to Jesus.
And so are we these kinds of friends.
And how do we see Jesus today?
How do we identify Jesus today?
And how do we identify with him?
So there's three things
I want us to see in this passage.
The first thing is the faithful friends,
those who bring the paralytic in.
Then we see the faithless crowd.
How many of the crowd
were just lacking faith
and even just rejecting
and shunning Jesus.
But then we see the wonder
of the forgiving Savior.
So the first thing is
the faithful friends.
Jesus has just returned
from the desolate places
that we see at the end
of chapter one
where many were coming
from every quarter
to hear him
and to see him
doing many miracles
and different things.
But now he's returned
to Capernaum.
And as he has returned,
we see in verse two,
many were gathered together
so that there was
no more room in the home.
And he was there
preaching the word to them.
So you can just picture this.
A large crowd
is gathered in this home
and the house is full
so that even at the door
there's no room to get in.
It's impossible to get in.
There's just people everywhere.
And into this setting
come these four men
carrying a paralysed friend.
And they're determined
to get him to Jesus.
And they're looking for any way
to get him to Jesus.
And they're not going to give up.
They're not going to stop
until they can bring him to Jesus.
They have this faith.
They have this faith
that they know that Jesus can help.
Jesus can help their friend.
And so they're determined
to come to Jesus.
And so they look for every opportunity
to find a way in.
And they're bringing him to Jesus
that they might heal him.
Believing that he is able to help.
And is that the belief
that we have today?
You know, when you know
the Lord Jesus in your own heart
and you're talking to someone else,
inviting them to come
and hear about Jesus,
do you believe it?
Do you believe what you're saying?
Do you believe with all your heart
while you're presenting Jesus
as to who he is?
As to the power that he has?
Still today,
he has this power
to forgive sins.
And you notice that
as these men bring their friend,
the paralytic, to Jesus,
and when they manage
to dig down through the roof
and they manage to lower him down,
and Jesus sees their faith,
what does he say
to the paralytic?
He says in verse 5,
My son, your sins
are forgiven.
And you might think to yourself,
well,
surely they're going to be disappointed.
They've brought him
because he's not able to walk.
And yet,
this is the response
that he gives.
My son, your sins
are forgiven.
You get no hint
of disappointment here.
It's like this wonder
of his teaching
is just awestruck.
Your sins
are forgiven.
And this resonates
in the room
in different ways.
There are those
who are friends of Jesus
who hear this
and are amazed
at the offer
of forgiveness of sins.
But there are others,
as we'll see in a moment,
who just see this
as an abomination.
They see this
as just so wrong
in what he's saying.
How dare he say this
that he might forgive
the sins
of someone.
But as we're inviting
people
to Jesus,
surely that's the most
important thing
for us.
That they would know
Jesus saying,
your sins
are forgiven.
Because there is
the greatest peace.
There is the greatest
blessing
that anyone
can receive.
It may not be
that healing comes.
We see here it does.
But even as we're
inviting people
to Jesus,
there may not be
a physical healing.
But the greatest
thing they can receive
is the forgiveness
of sin.
That is what matters.
Because that is what
counts
for eternity.
So we are to be
faithful friends
inviting people
to Jesus,
to invite
all
to Jesus.
These faithful
friends,
Jesus sees them.
And what does he see
in them?
He sees
their faith.
He sees
their faith
in verse 5.
When Jesus saw
their faith,
he saw
their faith,
he saw their
determination
to come
to him.
How does
Jesus
see you?
How does he
see your faith?
Do you have
that faith
today?
How does he
see others
around us
today?
The wonder
of how Jesus,
he doesn't condemn
them for bringing
this paralytic.
He doesn't condemn
them later on
for bringing
children as many
do.
You see,
it's so often
that Jesus,
he doesn't matter
who comes.
It doesn't
matter who
they are.
They all need
to hear
the same
message.
They are all
precious to
him.
A couple of
years ago,
there was a
very moving
series of
adverts put
on the
television about
the NHS.
And they were
trying to
highlight the
stigma of
addiction and
trying to
break the
stigma.
And the
adverts were
powerful.
They were
moving.
And in one
of the
adverts,
there was
a woman
sitting in
her room
at home.
Obviously
she was an
actor,
but you
can just
picture this
in so
many people's
lives.
Broken
by drug
addiction.
And the
woman was
just speaking
about her
issues.
And it
was the
last words
that were
so powerful
when she
was saying
about how
others would
see her.
She was
saying,
like,
you won't
feel I'm
worth the
time of
day because
I have a
drug problem.
That's how
she would
expect to
be seen
by others.
Is that
how Jesus
would see
her?
Or would
Jesus see
her as
someone who
needs
forgiveness
of sin?
The way
Jesus sees
all of us.
We all
have our
problems.
We're all
unworthy.
And yet
Jesus looks
on us and
has that
longing that
we would
know the
forgiveness
of sin.
these
friends,
they don't
come wondering
if Jesus
can do
it.
They come
in faith,
knowing the
power that
Jesus has
and the
power that
leads to
the forgiveness
of sin
because there
is the
identity of
Jesus that
they know.
The identity
that we see
at the
beginning of
the gospel
in chapter
1,
verse 1,
the beginning
of the gospel
of Jesus
Christ,
the Son
of God.
They have
faith and
they are
faithful friends
bringing their
friend to
Jesus who
is able to
forgive.
And so may
we have that
faith too.
And may we
have that
faithfulness in
bringing others
to see the
wonder of
Jesus who
can forgive
sins.
So we are
the faithful
friends.
Secondly,
then we have
the faithless
crowd.
There are
those in
the crowd
who doubt
who Jesus
is.
They don't
see the
identity of
Jesus as
the Son
of God.
It says
there in
verse 6,
some of the
scribes were
sitting there
questioning in
their hearts,
why does this
man speak like
that?
He is
blaspheming.
Who can
forgive sins
but God
alone?
So they're
sitting there,
they're grumbling
as you see it
so often in
the gospel as
people are
seeing Jesus
and especially
those who
were in
position of
authority,
in position
of power.
They saw
Jesus as
a threat
to themselves
and they
were probably
claiming the
Old Testament
scriptures,
scriptures like
Isaiah 43
verse 25
where God
says,
I, even
I, am
he who
blots out
your transgressions
for my own
sake and
remembers your
sins.
No more
that God
alone is
able to
forgive sin.
And so
who is
this?
Who is
this intruder?
Who is
this man
Jesus who
claims to
be able to
forgive sins?
He is
blaspheming,
they say.
Who can
forgive sin
but God
alone?
And they
are right,
only God
can forgive
sin.
But they
miss the
identity of
who Jesus
is.
That he
is Jesus
Christ,
the son
of God.
He is
God
incarnate.
He is
God who
has come
down to
us in
the person
of Jesus
Christ.
And yet
they see
him as
a threat.
They
didn't get
what they
wanted from
him.
They
didn't get
what he
expected
from him.
He was
taking
their
authority,
so he
saw
them
as a
threat.
And there's
a number
of occasions
in the
scriptures
where you
find when
people
didn't get
what they
wanted from
Jesus,
they turned
away.
If they
found things
too difficult,
they turned
away.
A great
example is
in the
Gospel of
John at
the end
of chapter
6,
verse 60
through to
verse 71.
It says
many of the
disciples turned
away because
they found
his teaching
too difficult.
They turned
away.
And that's
the time
when Jesus
turned to
the disciples
and said,
will you
also go
away?
And Peter
had that
great response
to whom
else can
we go?
You have
the words
of eternal
life.
They knew
the importance
and the
identity of
Jesus.
You alone
have the
words of
eternal
life.
The
troubles of
this world,
they'll be
there,
but you
have a
greater
purpose.
You have
a greater
power and
authority
than
anything
else
in this
world.
But many
turned away
faithless,
not believing
the identity
of who
Jesus
was.
And it's
amazing how
people can
come into
a church
and go
away because
they don't
get what
they want.
I've seen
it over the
years in
different ways.
I remember
once some
people coming
into a
church and
they were
wanting to
hear Gaelic
singing.
And when
they came
in and
asked if
there was
Gaelic
singing,
they heard
that there
wasn't
that day,
they went
away.
What was
important was
the singing.
They missed
out on the
gospel.
Another time,
some people
came in
looking and
asking if
there was
going to
be food
served in
church.
And when
they heard
that it
was just
a cup of
tea and
a biscuit
afterwards,
they went
away.
They didn't
wait for
any other
service.
They missed
out on the
gospel.
What's
important to
them wasn't
who Jesus
is,
it was
their own
needs.
And that's
the danger
for ourselves
as well,
that we put
ourselves
first and
our own
desires,
our own
needs first
and not
the needs
of knowing
Jesus as
the Son
of God.
And it's
amazing when
you look at
Capernaum
here.
Capernaum,
a place where
Jesus did
so much in
his earthly
ministry.
so much
teaching.
He was
there preaching
the word
to them.
And they
saw all
of these
things
happening.
And yet
so many
still remained
hardened and
unconverted.
And it
stands as a
warning to
us today.
In the
gospel of
Matthew,
Capernaum is
used as a
warning.
In verse
23 of
chapter 11,
it says,
And you,
Capernaum,
will you be
exalted to
heaven?
You will
be brought
down to
Hades.
For if the
mighty works
done in you
had been
done in
Sodom,
it would
have remained
until this
day.
But I tell
you that it
will be more
tolerable on
the day of
judgment for
the land of
Sodom than
for you.
What's he
saying there?
He's saying
you have seen
the blessings,
the presence
of Jesus,
the preaching
of Jesus,
and you've
turned away.
So it will
be more
tolerable on
the day of
judgment for
the land of
Sodom.
And there's a
warning for us
in that today as
well.
That passage in
Matthew when there's
that warning is
just before it
says about Jesus
having all
authority and
saying,
Come to me,
all you who
labor and are
heavy laden,
and I will
give you rest.
It's to find
rest in
Jesus.
And it's a
warning to us
today because of
the blessing of
the gospel in
our midst.
The gospel has
been present in
our island for
a few generations
now.
The blessing of
having the word
preached and yet
so many will say
no, not for
me.
It will be more
tolerable on the
day of judgment
for the land of
Sodom than for
you.
That's the stark
warning.
that the
faithless people,
there's a warning
there that
salvation is
found in
Christ alone.
We need
forgiveness of
sins and this
is found in
Christ alone.
Somebody once
said, where God
places a full
stop, let no
man put a
question mark.
And if you look
at that in the
context of this
passage in verse
five, Jesus
sees this faith of
these men and
says to the
parletic, your
sins are
forgiven.
Full stop.
Your sins are
forgiven.
But what do the
scribes say in
verse seven?
Why does this man
speak like that?
He is blaspheming.
Who can forgive
sin but God
alone?
There's a
question mark.
They're questioning
who this Jesus
is.
there's a doubt
there.
But if he said
it, if he's able
to say your sins
are forgiven,
that's it, full
stop.
People will come
to church with
doubts and
questions and
worries and
fears.
We have to say
there's a full
stop.
When you put your
trust in Jesus,
your sins are
forgiven.
They are cast
into the depths
of the sea.
There is
redemption
found in
Jesus.
Well, there's a
faithless crowd.
Let's not be
found in the
midst of them.
But the final
thing we want to
see here is the
forgiving
Savior.
As I say, Mark
moves so quickly
and when you come
into chapter two,
it's amazing how
much has already
happened.
Where Jesus is
showing his
authority already,
his authority
over people.
In verse 16,
he calls the
first disciples,
he says,
follow me and
I will make you
fishers of men
in verse 17.
And they leave
everything and
follow him.
He has this
power, he has
this authority.
And then
immediately they
start to see
his power and
authority.
He heals a
man with an
unclean spirit.
He goes on to
heal many.
Then he
preaches in
Galilee.
Then he
cleanses a
leper.
There's so
much going
on already
here.
He's showing
authority in
so many
different ways.
But now we
see his
greatest
authority.
That he is
able to
forgive sin.
And when you
look at verse
nine through
to verse
twelve in
chapter two,
Jesus says,
which is
easier to say
to the
paralytic,
your sins
are forgiven,
or to say,
rise, take up
your bed and
walk.
But that you
may know that
the Son of
Man has
authority on
earth to
forgive sins.
He said to
the paralytic,
I say to
you, rise,
pick up your
bed and go
home.
And they
both happened
together.
He was able
to walk and
he knew
forgiveness of
sin.
What was
more important?
Surely the
forgiveness of
sin.
It's
wonderful that
he was
healed.
But the
greatest gift
of God is
salvation in
Jesus Christ.
It's the most
important thing
that we need
to hear.
And that's
what Mark is
showing us
throughout his
gospel.
The identity
of who Jesus
is.
Beginning in
that first
verse of
chapter one,
the beginning
of the gospel
of Jesus
Christ, the
Son of
God, to
seeing here
in verse
12, the
response.
They were
all amazed
and glorified
God, saying
we have never
seen anything
like this.
In chapter
four, verse
41, as they're
caught in the
storm and
Jesus calms
the storm,
the disciples
were filled
with great fear
and said to
one another,
in verse 41,
who then is
this, that
even the wind
and the sea
obey him?
There's this
identity of
Jesus being
revealed over
time.
Who is this
that even
the wind and
the waves
obey him?
Then you
come into
chapter eight
and there's
all this
discussion going
on.
Who is
Jesus?
Some are
saying Elijah
or one of
the prophets,
but Jesus
turns it on
his head and
says, but
who do you
say that I
am?
And that's
the question
today, our
identity of
Jesus.
Who is he?
Well, Peter
answered in
chapter eight
verse 29,
you are the
Christ.
You are the
Son of God.
So this
revelation is
there through
his word.
And then you
come to
chapter 15,
on the cross,
on the
crucifixion,
and it's
almost like
it just comes
full circle.
Jesus
revealing,
Mark saying
to us,
this is the
beginning of
the gospel
of Jesus
Christ,
the Son of
God.
In chapter
15,
verse 39,
you have the
Roman centurion
looking on,
and what does
he say?
He says,
truly,
this man
was the
Son of
God.
This is
who Jesus
is.
There's a
Jewish
proverb that
says,
a friend
is one
who warns
you.
Well,
Jesus came
to warn
us.
He came
to warn
us.
In chapter
1,
verse 15,
the time
is fulfilled,
the kingdom
of God
is at
hand,
repent,
and believe
in the
gospel.
Believe
in Jesus
Christ,
the Son
of God.
We don't
see him,
but we
hear him.
He is
preaching
to us
today.
He is
the one
who is
able to
say,
your sins
are forgiven.
He is
the one
who is
able to
make you
well.
But you
say,
I can't
see him.
How can
I trust
him?
Well,
he sees
you,
and that's
what counts.
There's a
story told
of a
house that
caught fire
one night,
and there
was a
young boy
still in
the house
and he
was forced
to flee
up to
the roof.
And his
father had
got out
of the
house and
he was
looking up
to his
son,
he was
hearing him
screaming.
And he
was shouting
up to
his son,
jump,
I'll catch
you.
He knew
the boy
had to
jump.
He knew
it was the
only way
to get
to safety.
And so he
was shouting,
jump,
I'll catch
you.
But as
the wee
boy was
looking down,
all he
could see
was smoke
and flames
and darkness.
He couldn't
see his
father.
He could
hear the
voice,
but he
couldn't
see him.
And he
was afraid.
And the
father was
still shouting,
jump.
And the
boy was
saying,
but dad,
I can't
see you.
And the
father replied,
but I can
see you.
And that's
all that
matters.
And so
the boy
jumped.
And the
father caught
him.
And that's
the gospel.
We say
we can't
see Jesus.
How can
we know
he's real?
We have
to put
ourselves
into his
hands
to take
that leap
of faith,
to come
believing
in him
as the
son of
God,
the one
who is
able to
forgive
our sins.
That is
the Jesus
that we
see here.
Do we
see his
identity?
Do we
see him
as the
son of
God,
the Christ,
the Messiah,
the one
who came
to save
his people
from their
sins?
Do you
identify
with him
as he
identifies
to you?
He came
for sinners.
And we
are all
sinners.
But we
are all
to put
our trust
in him
and to
invite
others
so that
as we
know Christ
and the
forgiveness
of our
sins,
that we
would be
like these
men who
brought
their
friend to
Jesus,
that he
might be
well,
that we
would say
to others,
come,
come to
Jesus.
He is
the one
who can
forgive your
sins and
make you
well.
Let's
identify
with Jesus,
the son
of God,
and let's
have faith
in him
and encourage
others to
come and
know that
power of
salvation
in him.
Let us
pray.
Our
Father in
heaven,
we do
rejoice in
your goodness
to us,
that you
speak,
you call
us to
yourself
through
your
word,
and even
in times
when we
cannot see,
even in
times when
we doubt
and we
seem to
lack
faith,
that you
still call
us to
yourself,
that you
are the
one who
is able
to forgive
us our
sins and
to make
us new.
So,
Lord,
hear our
prayers and
help us
to be
faithful as
friends to
others,
inviting to
Jesus,
that there
we would
find that
friend who
stays closer
than any
brother,
and the
one who
says,
you are
my
friends if
you do
as I
command.
Hear our
prayers and
go before us
in the rest of
this day,
pardoning our
sin in
Jesus' name.
Amen.
We'll
conclude by
singing to
God's
praise in
Psalm 138.
We'll sing
Psalms
version,
page 179.
Psalm 138,
we'll sing
from verse 1
to verse 5.
I'll praise
you,
Lord,
with all my
heart.
Before the
gods,
I'll sing
your praise.
I'll bow
towards your
holy place
and bless
your holy
name always.
We'll sing
from verse 1
to 5 to
God's
praise.
We stand
to sing.
am Evan
goes
to
Christ.
harder
to
be
HD
in
music
,
Vern
to
I
own
power
in
y
va
時
preventing
be
忍
tać
who
Amen.
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my right.
We'll close with the benediction.
Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.
Amen.