Deep Healing (sermon Blog)
As we continue in The Book of Mark, chapter 2 challenges us with an important question:
👉 When you feel far from God… where do you start?
Most people instinctively try to fix behavior first—do better, try harder, clean things up.
But Jesus shows us a different starting point.
1. Forgiveness Is the Starting Point of True Healing
The Story: Faith That Breaks Through
In Mark 2, four men bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus:
The house is packed
There’s no way in
So they go up on the roof
And lower him down right in front of Jesus
👉 That’s bold, persistent faith
Jesus Goes Deeper First
Instead of healing his body first, Jesus says:
“Your sins are forgiven.”
This surprises everyone.
Why start there?
Because:
Jesus sees beyond the surface
He addresses the root issue
He brings deep, soul-level healing
👉 Forgiveness comes before full restoration
What This Means for Us
We often think:
“I need to fix my life first”
“I need to clean things up”
But Jesus invites us to:
Come as we are
Receive forgiveness
Let Him heal us from the inside out
2. Jesus Comes Calling
The Calling of Levi
Next, Jesus walks up to a tax collector named Levi:
Wealthy but deeply hated
Seen as a traitor
Rejected by society
And Jesus says:
👉 “Follow me.”
A Radical Response
Levi:
Leaves everything behind
Walks away from security and wealth
Immediately follows Jesus
Why?
Because something deeper was missing in his life.
The Heart of Jesus
Jesus didn’t wait for Levi to:
Clean up his life
Fix his reputation
Prove himself
👉 He simply called him
And Levi responded.
A Challenge for Us
Jesus is still calling today.
Not just the “good” people
Not just the “put together” people
👉 But anyone willing to follow
The question is:
Will we respond when He calls?
3. Jesus Offers the New Wine of Gladness and Joy
A New Way of Relating to God
When questioned about fasting and religious practices, Jesus responds with powerful imagery:
A wedding celebration
New cloth and old garments
New wine and old wineskins
What Jesus Is Saying
👉 Something new is happening
Not about religious performance
Not about endless rules
Not about trying harder
Instead:
Joy over obligation
Grace over legalism
Relationship over ritual
New Wine Requires New Hearts
Jesus says:
“New wine must be put into new wineskins.”
Meaning:
You can’t fit Jesus into old religious systems
You can’t experience new life with an old mindset
👉 You must be open to something new
The Invitation
Jesus is offering:
Forgiveness
Freedom
Joy
A restored relationship with God
Not a heavier burden…
👉 But a better life
Final Takeaways
1. Start with Forgiveness
You don’t fix yourself first—Jesus forgives and heals you.
2. Respond to the Calling
Jesus is calling—right now. Don’t ignore it.
3. Embrace the New Life
Let go of old ways and step into the joy and freedom Jesus offers.
Final Thought
Deep healing doesn’t begin with trying harder.
👉 It begins with coming to Jesus
And letting Him do what only He can do.
Pastor Steve will continue to part 4 of The Book of Mark this Sunday.