In primitive New Testament times when Jesus had come into the world; being God dwelling among us, the demand to be near Him was tremendous as we have seen thus far in our continuing study in the gospel of Saint Mark for many reasons. After all, having someone who is able to heal the sick giving instant relief is truly miraculous and therefore, a thing to be sought after. What about you and me in our time? Are there advantages that we have in the present Church that were not available back then? If so, what are they? Can the faith of one, have an effect on someone else? Listen in as we embark into chapter 2 of the gospel of Saint Mark as Pastor Landis offers a message explaining the “Benefits of Access to Christ”.
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Isaiah 64:1 – 65:1 (NASB)
Isa 64:1 Oh, that Thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down, That the mountains might quake at Thy presence–
Isa 64:2 As fire kindles the brushwood, as fire causes water to boil– To make Thy name known to Thine adversaries, That the nations may tremble at Thy presence!
Isa 64:3 When Thou didst awesome things which we did not expect, Thou didst come down, the mountains quaked at Thy presence.
Isa 64:4 For from of old they have not heard nor perceived by ear, Neither has the eye seen a God besides Thee, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.
Isa 64:5 Thou dost meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, Who remembers Thee in Thy ways. Behold, Thou wast angry, for we sinned, We continued in them a long time; And shall we be saved?
Isa 64:6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Isa 64:7 And there is no one who calls on Thy name, Who arouses himself to take hold of Thee; For Thou hast hidden Thy face from us, And hast delivered us into the power of our iniquities.
Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father, We are the clay, and Thou our potter; And all of us are the work of Thy hand.
Isa 64:9 Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD, Neither remember iniquity forever; Behold, look now, all of us are Thy people.
Isa 64:10 Thy holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
Isa 64:11 Our holy and beautiful house, Where our fathers praised Thee, Has been burned by fire; And all our precious things have become a ruin.
Isa 64:12 Wilt Thou restrain Thyself at these things, O LORD? Wilt Thou keep silent and afflict us beyond measure?
Isa 65:1 “I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’ To a nation which did not call on My name.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Mark 2:1 – 12 (KJV)
Mark 2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
Mark 2:2 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.
Mark 2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
Mark 2:4 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.
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
Mark 2:6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
Mark 2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
Mark 2:8 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?
Mark 2:9 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?
Mark 2:10 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,)
Mark 2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
Mark 2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) There has been a longing in the heart of those who are un-blinded by God to seek righteousness through out the history of man, to have close fellowship with God The Father of all creation and especially since the fall of man into sin and his outcry therefore for deliverance from the effects and consequences of sins awful manifestations upon the creation and the human family. {i.e. sickness, disease, lying, thievery, adultery, murder, rape, greed, covetousness, etc. as well as natural catastrophic disaster which modern man refers to as “acts of God” etc. Not to mention the tyrannies of sinful power mad governments, dictators, & despots etc.}
#2) The first Advent of Messiah Jesus was characterized by shocking eye-opening teaching, and an extravaganza of power, righteousness, beauty, love, grace, kindness and mercy that stood the teaching of the Jewish religious rulers and teachers on its head, therefore, access to Christ was beneficial in a myriad of unexpected ways that boggled the minds of all the people, believers and unbelievers alike, including Jews and Gentiles producing all kinds of long-shot methods of displays of faith by many who simply wanted to obtain access to Jesus for one reason or another.
#3) Jesus displayed the glory of the Father while He walked among us and afforded for us who believe in Him access to the very throne room of The Most High into which we may freely carry all our burdens as oft as we desire, being authorized by God to forgive our sins He by the internal decision within the God Head to provide reconciliation to everyone who believes in Jesus by faith, and has commissioned us to extend our faith to the ends of the earth just as the four who bore the paralytic bringing him to Jesus for salvation.
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