Encounters with Jesus

The Sinner - the Afflicted - the Blind

*The Sinner:

Mark 2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

9 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?

10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

*Jesus was in the house. He was there to teach them. (like church)

No one in the house made room for the sinner to come to Jesus, except the ones that brought him there. They made the extra effort it took to get him to Jesus.

*The Afflicted: (Jesus is on his way to heal Jairus’ daughter)

Mark 5:25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? *Everyone was touching him.

32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

*In a crowd, being touched & pushed on every side - She touched him in faith!

*The Blind:

Mark 10:46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

*Bartimaeus didn’t know exactly where Jesus was, he just knew that he was nearby. He couldn’t walk to where he was, so he knew he had to get Jesus to come to him. He used what he had! His voice! When Jesus is in our midst, what will we do to get near to him? How much effort will we make to cause him to stand still for us?

*Jesus heals a blind man & after the blind healed man is questioned by the Pharisees, Jesus finds him & asks >

John 9:35...Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

* ("I have come into this world to give sight to those who are spiritually blind, & to show those who think they see that they are blind." The Pharisees asked, “Are you saying we are blind?” Jesus answers, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty, but your guilt remains because you claim to know the truth.”)

►The men that brought the sinner to Jesus were determined to do whatever it took to get to Jesus.

►The afflicted woman believed with all her heart that she would be healed, if she could only touch his hem & she put that faith into action. She allowed all those around her to hear of her embarrassing condition.

►The blind man didn’t know what trouble he might encounter, or what the outcome would be if he kept calling out when he was told to be quiet, but he was willing to take the risk to get Jesus to hear his cry.

*What are we doing to help others come to Jesus? Are we doing whatever it takes for us to get in His presence, or are we too proud, too ashamed, too blind?

• If there’s a roof - anything that is between you & Jesus, are you tearing it down?

• If you’re weak & burdened, afraid, weighed down on every side, by the world, are you pressing through to get to Jesus?

• If you’re blinded to the knowledge of His truth (His doctrine or His will in your life) are you seeking him, calling out with your whole heart?

*You might have to break the barrier (the roof), press thru your weakness & fear or cry louder & seek harder & longer!