Change the world for someone “Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them,†(Mark2:2). The scene in our text is very compelling. There are so many people gathered at this home that no one can get in or out the doors. Several men in the city suggested building an elevated platform so everyone can see the speaker. The residents of Capernaum are witnessing a man change the world. This man is doing things at that times which have never been done before and has not been duplicated since that time. He has proclaimed power in heaven, earth ,and a new kingdom not of this world. He eats with sinners; he heals people; and he has power to forgive sins. Jesus is there to deliver a sermon .This scene ends when four men bring a man to him who has been paralyzed for along time and is completely unable to walk. Amazingly, Jesus tells this man to pick up his bed and walk. Mark the writer of this text vividly captures events that unfold the day Jesus paid a visit to the house in Capernaum. This city is significant in that four apostles came from there. Peter, Andrew, James, and John are believed to be from this city. It is also believed to be the home town of Jesus. It sits near the Sea of Galilee; however, it does not exist today. As you well know, Palestine at the times was divided among Galilee, Samaria, and Judea.Capernaum was a city in Galilee. The new kingdom that Jesus mentioned in the text also needs to be explained. This place refers to his heavenly kingdom. The rules there are different from the earthly kingdom which we have to live in now. There are several principles there which I will discuss which are quite different from our standards of success today. They are as follows: 1. Success is measured by love and service to mankind not money and power. 2. Greater individuals in this kingdom are required to serve the least among us. 3. Lesser ones among us should be served by the greatest among us. 4. Angles rejoice in heaven when one person on earth finds Jesus. Everyone is special. We are all here for a purpose. Each of us has a unique gift or talent that was given to us to make a difference in the world. We all have an opportunity to be great or change the world. We can make a difference; you can make a different. Where would the world be without these great individuals who made a difference? Where would we be without these giants who dared to make a difference? Where would we be without Abraham Lincoln? Where would we be without George Washington Carver? Where would we be without Sojourner Truth? Where would we be without John F. Kennedy? Where would we be without Ben Carson, M.D.? Where would the paralyzed man be without the Savior? Where would we be without the Lord? Where would we be without Jesus? If you can’t change the world for everyone, change the world for someone! CHANGE THE WORLD FOR SOME ONE This reminds me of a story which illustrates how one person can change the world for someone. The story goes as follows: ‘Once a man was walking along a beach, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance he could see a little boy going back and forth between the surf's edge and the beach. Back and forth this person went. As the man approached he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide. The man was stuck by the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached, the little boy continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf. As he came up to the little boy he said, "You must be crazy. There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can't possibly make a difference." The little boy looked at the man. He then stooped down and picked up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean. He turned back to the man and said, "It sure made a difference to that one," Loren Eisley.’ WORLD PARALYSIS Jesus’ visit to Capernaum that day resulted in the world being changed for the man who was paralyzed. His visit also gave that region a new perspective and hope for a better future. Jesus’ sermon that day explained to those people how they could have inner peace and joy in their personal world regardless of what was going on in the larger world around them. He eloquently illustrated that the kingdom of God is at hand now. He explained that he was the high priest in this kingdom. Our world today is still paralyzed by war, poverty, violence, greed, and hate crimes, just to name a few. There has been a war some where in the world for the last 2000 years. The United State Annual Military Budget could feed every person in the world for several years. The starfish was paralyzed without the help of the little boy. This world would be paralyzed without the help of Jesus. Millions of individuals are paralyzed with hunger, disease, fear, drug addiction, and all manner of afflictions. Jesus attracted a huge crowd that day in Capernaum because he represented hope for a crippled world. NEVER MIND YOUR CRITICS Critics will say to you that it is impossible to help everyone so don’t even try. One person cannot make a difference in this crazy world of our. If you come up with a good idea, they can tell you why it won’t work. God is not a practical joker. If he placed a mission on your heart, he will provide you with the inspiration to achieve it. Jesus had some critics that day in Capernaum. Two men were observing events that day from a distance. They were trying to ridicule Jesus. They challenged Jesus by saying; ‘only God can forgive sins and heal.’ Jesus approached them with a dilemma. He said, ‘which is easier to say thou sins are forgiven or pick up your bed and walk.’ When he told the paralyzed man to pick up his bed and walk, this proved that he was the son of God. PICK UP YOUR BED AND WALK...SAYS JESUS WHAT EVER YOUR CONDITION...JESUS SAYS PICK UP YOUR BED AND WALK CONCLUSION We must give some respect to the four men who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus. Neither History nor the Bible gives us any specific information about these four men; we don’t even know their names. I have searched scripture diligently for information about these four men and was not able to find anything .However, these men performed the greatest act know to mankind. This act they performed is greater than winning the super bowl or becoming president of the United States. I would submit to you that it was greater than any things Michael Jordan did on the basket court. What they did caused the angels in Heaven to rejoice. They took time out of their schedule to bring a man to Jesus. This is the greatest thing that can be achieved in this world. But… you know; we all can do this. We can bring someone to Jesus. We can change the world; maybe not, but we can change the world for someone… by bringing one person to Jesus. Esco Yancey,Jr., Ed.D.(ACSI) © 2007 GOSPEL TIMES MINISTRIES
