Bible ReadingMark 2:1-12 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, “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, perceiving 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 that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
[09:49]John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
[06:29]Matthew 9:1-8 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
[12:33]Luke 5:17-26 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
[12:33]Observation questions- In Mark 2, what specific actions do the friends take when they realize they cannot get their paralyzed friend through the door? [17:58]
- What does Jesus say first to the paralyzed man, and how is that different from what the room likely expected him to say? [26:53]
- In John 13:34-35, how does Jesus define the kind of love he commands, and what does he say that love will show to the world? [07:10]
- In this account, what happens to the man’s mat at the beginning of the story and at the end of the story?
Interpretation questions- If Jesus commands his people to love one another “as I have loved you,” what does this story suggest that love actually does for other people, not just what it feels like? [14:54]
- The crowd is physically close to Jesus, yet it keeps someone else from reaching him. What might this reveal about the difference between being around Jesus and truly following him? [20:42]
- Jesus addresses the man’s sin before his paralysis. What does that reveal about the deepest need every person has, even when a visible problem feels most urgent? [28:03]
- Jesus heals the man publicly to show that he has authority to forgive sins. Why is that connection important for understanding who Jesus is? [32:52]
Application questions- Who in life may be on a “mat” right now—stuck, weary, overwhelmed, or far from Jesus—and what might it look like to help carry them instead of only hoping things get better for them? [35:50]
- Where is there a tendency to let obstacles make the decision—fear of awkwardness, inconvenience, schedule, rejection, or cost? What would it look like to stop saying no on someone else’s behalf? [26:30]
- Has there been a time when being part of a crowd around Jesus felt easier than living as a disciple who acts? What would moving from observing to carrying someone toward Jesus look like right now? [20:52]
- When praying about a hard situation, is the focus mostly on relief, change, or healing? How might that prayer also include a deeper desire for repentance, forgiveness, and restored fellowship with God? [29:31]
- Is there a need right now to let someone else carry a corner of the mat—by asking for prayer, admitting weakness, or letting someone walk closely through a hard season? [37:26]
- What might the “old mat” be in life right now? Is there a temptation either to keep lying on it or to hide it? How could that old story become a testimony of what Jesus has done? [38:55]
- What is one concrete step that could be taken this week to love someone in a way that is costly, intentional, and aimed at bringing them nearer to Jesus? [36:44]
