Jesus: Message versus Miracle

1. Jesus: Message versus Miracle 1 - After expelling the unclean spirit from a man, Jesus went to the house of his first disciples, Simon and Andrew, and healed Simon’s mother-in-law. 2 - As word spread of Jesus’ healing power and His ability to drive out demons sick people flocked to the house hoping Jesus would cure them. 3 - Before anyone was awake the following day, Jesus made the short trip to the nearby desert to pray to Our Father in silence. When the Apostles found Him, Jesus begins a preaching tour in Galilee. Jesus focus was on preaching the Word of God, His Father. In a very real sense, all the miracles and healings took a back seat to Jesus need to preach His Father’s message of love and forgiveness.

2. 4 - A leper begs Jesus to cure him and Jesus complies. He tells the man to tell no one lest the crowds overwhelm him. And of course the man ignores Jesus’ wishes so that even in that house in Capernaum Jesus finds no respite from the crowds.. 5 - The cry for Jesus help gets so intense that four men lower a paralyzed person through the roof (most roofs of the time were made from palm fronds and easy to build and repair) so Jesus can cure him. 6 - Jesus forgives the man’s sins – remember that in ancient times most people equated illness with sin: if you were sick it was because you committed a serious sin. But the Jewish authorities present in the house condemn Jesus for doing what only God can do – forgive sins.

3. 7 - So Jesus cures the man who then gets up, picks up his mat and departs. Most people paralyzed for any length of time require physical therapy and need a lot of time to learn to walk again. And yet Jesus not only cures this man but does so in a way that he can walk out without assistance!! 8 - And the people who witnessed this miracle were amazed – but Jesus focus was still first and foremost on delivering the message of His Father, not healing the sick and exorcizing demons.