calendar_today April 7, 2025

People In Need | Grave Robber | Week 2

person Mike Wilson

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People In Need

Every person, at some point, finds themselves in need—emotionally, physically, spiritually, or relationally. In this second week of the Grave Robber teaching series, Pastor Mike Wilson walks through the reality of human brokenness and the deep need each person carries. He explores what it means to be among “people in need” and how Jesus steps into those moments to bring life, healing, and hope.

At the heart of the message is a question: Are you someone in need? And if not right now, how are you noticing and serving the people around you who are?

The Pool of Bethesda: A Picture of Need

The primary story comes from John 5:1–15, where Jesus heals a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. This man had been lying by the Pool of Bethesda, a place surrounded by “a great number of disabled people.” It was a place filled with suffering, disappointment, and hopeless waiting.

Jesus doesn’t avoid this place. He enters it. He walks among the people in need. And then He does something remarkable: He speaks directly to the man and asks, “Do you want to get well?”

This story is more than a miracle narrative. It’s a direct confrontation of our desire and our faith. It reminds us that Jesus sees people in need, not just their circumstances. He addresses the core issues in their lives and invites them into healing, wholeness, and forward movement.

Four Types of People in Need

During the message, Pastor Mike shared four specific types of people in need—a simple yet powerful list to help us identify those around us and even look inward.

People who are physically in need
These are individuals facing health issues, injuries, disabilities, or other physical limitations. Like the man at the pool, many people are physically hurting but are often overlooked.
People who are emotionally in need
Emotional pain can be more invisible than physical pain but just as paralyzing. Loneliness, anxiety, depression, fear, or deep grief can leave people stuck—just like the man who had given up on healing.
People who are spiritually in need
These individuals may have lost faith, walked away from God, or never encountered the Gospel. They are spiritually dry and in desperate need of Jesus’ living water.
People who are relationally in need
Broken marriages, struggling families, or isolation from community define this group. The man at the pool had no one to help him get into the water—he was alone. Many today experience that same kind of relational isolation.

Understanding these four categories helps the church become more compassionate, more intentional, and more like Jesus. The goal is not to fix people but to walk with them and point them to the One who can bring lasting healing.

A Story from Mark: Lowered Through the Roof

Another powerful story shared by Pastor Mike comes from Mark 2:1–12. In this story, four friends bring a paralyzed man to Jesus. When they couldn’t get to Him because of the crowd, they climbed up on the roof, tore it open, and lowered the man down in front of Jesus.

What did Jesus see first? “When Jesus saw their faith…” (Mark 2:5). It wasn’t just the paralyzed man’s need that moved Jesus—it was the faith of the community.

This story teaches us that community matters. When people in need can’t move forward on their own, it’s the job of friends—of the Church—to carry them, even if it means tearing through roofs to get them to Jesus.

The contrast between the man at the Pool of Bethesda and the paralyzed man in Mark is striking: One was alone, and the other had a group of committed friends. Both stories show that Jesus responds to need, but one highlights how vital it is for the Church to rally around the hurting.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[a] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Mark 2:1-12

The Role of the Church: People Helping People

The Church is called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. In Galatians 6:2, Paul writes:

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

This doesn’t mean solving every problem. But it does mean noticing. It means being aware of the people in need in our communities, workplaces, and even homes.

When people in need are carried by people of faith, miracles happen. Not always the dramatic kind like in John 5 or Mark 2—but the kind where healing comes, burdens are lifted, and Jesus is glorified.

What’s in the Heart Overflows

Pastor Mike also pointed to Luke 6:45:

A good person brings good things out of the good stored up in their heart… for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Luke 6:45

This verse reminds us that helping people in need begins with the heart. If our hearts are filled with compassion, grace, and truth, then our actions will follow.

Jesus didn’t walk past people in need—He moved toward them. If our hearts are aligned with His, we’ll do the same.

Are You in Need?

This week’s message wasn’t just about how we treat others—it was also about examining ourselves. There are seasons where each person is the one in need, and that’s okay. The man at the pool had been in need for 38 years, and Jesus still saw him. Still healed him. Still restored him.

If you’re in need, Jesus sees you. He hasn’t overlooked your pain, your discouragement, or your loneliness. Whether it’s physical, emotional, spiritual, or relational, Jesus offers healing.

The encouragement from the sermon was clear: Be honest about your need. Be open to Jesus’ healing. Be surrounded by people of faith.

Takeaways

Here are five key takeaways from the message:

Jesus notices people in need—even those overlooked by others.
Healing starts with a willingness to be healed. (“Do you want to get well?”)
You may be someone in need—or someone called to carry another.
Faith-filled friends make a difference in healing.
People in need matter deeply to Jesus and must matter to us.

Closing Thoughts

Throughout the Grave Robber series, Pastor Mike is helping the church see Jesus as more than a distant Savior—He is intimately involved in our daily pain and doubts, especially for people in need.

This message, “People In Need,” reminds the church that miracles often begin with compassion and a willingness to step into the mess. Whether we are carrying someone to Jesus or being carried ourselves, we are invited to be part of the story of healing and hope.

Jesus still moves toward people in need. And so should we.

Did you like Grave Robber – Week 2 – People In Need? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

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