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Jan. 8, 2023: The Paralyzed Restored
*THE NEED
There is something God cannot do — He can do no wrong. But within the scope of what is right and good, there is no limit to God’s power. When Jesus declared a sick man to be forgiven of his sin, some of the scribes wouldn’t believe. Jesus was claiming to do something only God could do. So, in turn, Jesus healed the man from his outward disease. Unbelievers often find it difficult to accept the intangible or spiritual results of prayer. To them, Christians make a lot of claims that don’t really correlate with their experiences. But that is not the way God intends it to be. As in the case of the paralytic, God wants His power to be very visible to unbelievers so they may come to accept the inner, spiritual transformation He provides. There is a need for unbelievers to see God’s power in a tangible, life-changing way.
Many people doubt the existence of miracles today. Yet God is still as active as He has ever been. Perhaps this lamentation is more indicative of our preoccupation with physical health than spiritual health.
Jan. 4, 2023: Jesus Forgives and Heals
Read Mark 2:1-12.
Jesus Forgives and Heals
“Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?” (v. 9).
“And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them…and he preached the word unto them” (v. 2). Jesus was surrounded by people with needs. He knew the hurts, griefs, struggles, and longings of each person in the room, so He offered them exactly what they needed: He preached the word unto them.
While the physical need of the paralyzed man who came in through the roof was immediately apparent, Jesus understood that the man needed forgiveness even more desperately than he needed a physical touch. Jesus preached the word unto them, offered forgiveness, and brought all the healing the man needed — soul and body.
In fact, each person in that room needed the same thing. They all needed the healing of forgiveness. The scribes needed healing for their spiritual blindness. Everyone needed Jesus to preach the word unto them. Through His teaching, His physical healing, and His revealing the thoughts of their hearts, Jesus demonstrated God’s goal for each of us — forgiveness and healing. (Karen Speak)
I lay my wants on Jesus; All fullness dwells in Him.
He heals all my diseases; He doth my soul redeem.
I lay my griefs on Jesus, My burdens, and my cares.
He from them all releases; He all my sorrows shares.
--- Horatius Bonar
“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions”
(Psalm 107:20).
Jan. 8, 2023: The Paralyzed Restored
FOCUS TEXT: Mark 2:1-12
KEY VERSE: That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house (Matthew 9:6).
CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ performed miracles to promote God's glory.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Helpless Sufferer (Mark 2:1-4)
II. The Compassionate Savior (Mark 2:5)
III. The Murmuring Scribes (Mark 2:6, 7)
IV. The Powerful Healer (Mark 2:8-12)
Dec. 14, 2022: The Disciples’ Lack of Faith
Read Mark 9:14-22.
"And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him; and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not" (v. 18).
An occasional lack of faith seems to be a common problem among Christ-followers. Especially when something for which we were believing didn’t happen quickly. On more than one occasion, I wondered if I was out of line, believing for God to work in certain situations when I wasn’t seeing results for my praying. My doubting wasn’t so much doubting God’s power as it was doubting my connection to Him, a questioning of knowing if I was praying according to His will. Beyond that, however, I must recognize that there was a lack of faith, a lack of trust that God heard or cared about my burden, a doubt that He cared about what I cared about. There have even been times when the “don’t trouble the Master” or “Lord, don’t you care that we perish?” syndrome has popped up in my heart. I am glad that when I cried out to Him with these things, He understood my infirmities and was there to heal, even amid chastisement.
It is easy to understand the discouragement of the disciples and the disillusionment of the desperate father in this story. May we, in such times, be willing to cry out like the father did, recognizing the tenuous hold that we have on faith, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” (Tim Brubeck)
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).
Dec. 18, 2022: The Spirits Exorcised
FOCUS TEXT: Mark 9:14-29
KEY VERSE: And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive (Matthew 21:22).
CENTRAL TRUTH: God's power to deliver is gained through prayer.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Need Described (Mark 9:14-18)
II. The Remedy Defined (Mark 9:19-27)
III. The Secret Explained (Mark 9:28, 29)
Dec. 11, 2022: The Dead Raised
*THE NEED
Last week we discussed the fact that God can work with little. This week, we are told that God can even work when all is lost. If it seems that the situation is hopeless, this lesson serves as a reminder that God works when all is lost — including life itself. The truth is that we all come to God “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1), and yet He gives life where there is none.
Discussion: In addition to salvation, when h s God brought something from nothing in your life?
In this story, the dead son could not come to Jesus on his own; someone had to bring him to Jesus. Some men brought the boy to Jesus, but it was a loving mother already weakened by the loss of her husband that moved Jesus with compassion. She could have made excuses or asked someone else to take her son to Jesus, but she took it upon herself.