09/07/2026
Week 32 — Abiding and the Deeper Need | Alex Spry | Mark 2:1–12
Tension: Physical need vs. deeper spiritual need
Formation Outcome: Trusting Christ as healer and forgiver
Grounding Questions ;
• When you bring a need to Jesus, what kind of answer are you usually looking for?
• Why do we sometimes focus more on visible problems than deeper spiritual needs?
Expository Teaching ;
In Mark 2, a paralyzed man is brought to Jesus by four friends. The house is crowded, so they lower him through the roof. The scene is filled with urgency, faith, and visible need. Everyone can see the man’s paralysis.
But Jesus’ first words are surprising:
“Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Jesus does not ignore the man’s physical condition. But He addresses the deeper issue first. The man needs healing, but he also needs forgiveness, restoration, and reconciliation with God.
The scribes question Jesus internally because only God can forgive sins. Jesus then heals the man publicly to demonstrate His authority to forgive.
This passage is deeply gospel-centered. Jesus is not merely a miracle worker. He is the Son of Man with authority on earth to forgive sins.
For the ABIDE series, this text reminds us that remaining close to Christ means allowing Him to address the whole person. Sometimes we come asking for relief, but Christ also wants to deal with guilt, shame, sin, identity, and restoration.
The tension is between wanting Jesus to fix what is visible and trusting Him to heal what is deepest.
Group Discussion Questions:
• Why do you think Jesus first pronounced forgiveness before physical healing?
• What does this text reveal about Jesus’ authority?
• How did the friends demonstrate faith?
• What deeper need might Christ be addressing beneath the visible need in your life?
MacDonald Ave Church of Christ, Richmond, CA Sunday Morning Bible Class, September, 2026 (Revision.1)
