Mark 2
-The activities in the ministry of Jesus continue into this
next chapter with several key events that Mark notates. First, we see the
healing of a paralytic in Capernaum as Jesus comes back to His home base. In a
crowded house, four men brought their crippled friend to be healed, but found
no room for them to enter. In faith they devised a way to get to the Healer by
removing the roof right above Jesus and letting him down on his pallet on which
he was lying. The Christ saw their faith and purposed to heal them, but He made
an important statement before the physical healing took place. He intently
spoke to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Some of the scribes who
were in attendance reasoned in their hearts about this perceived blasphemous comment
by the Rabbi. Jesus, understanding their hearts and motivations, quickly addressed
the situation. He claimed, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your
hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or
to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk?’ But so that you may KNOW
(emphasis mine) that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said
to the paralytic, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” The
crippled man got up immediately picking up his pallet and went out in the sight
of everyone in attendance. Certainly they were amazed by this miracle and
glorified God saying, “We have never seen anything like this (Mark 2:1-12).”
Only Jesus could do this: forgive sins (the greater spiritual need first) and
provide a miraculous physical healing (the material need after).
-Jesus then goes out by the seashore of the Sea of Galilee
again to find people coming to Him, and he began to teach them. He passed by a
hated and loathed tax collector by the name of Levi (later to be known as the
gospel writer, Matthew), the son of Alphaeus, and He called to him, “Follow Me!”
Levi got up and followed his new Master, even throwing a party for Him and His
disciples in his house along with many other tax collectors and sinners. Jesus
was gaining a large following. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He
was eating with these types of people, they wondering why this Man would do
such a thing. The Lord’s response was classic, “It is not those who are healthy
who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the
righteous, but sinners (Mark 2:13-17).”
-Later, John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and
they questioned why Jesus’ disciples did not fast. The Lord took the
opportunity to teach about His body, the church. While He, the bridegroom was
with them (the bride, i.e. the church), it was a time of celebration and
rejoicing. But, there would come a time, He predicts prophetically, when the
bridegroom is taken away, and then they would certainly be fasting to draw
close to the Spirit of God. He then begins to instruct on the New Covenant
dispensation that was coming. This church era would be a new “wineskin” that
would disrupt and irritate the traditional establishment (Mark 2:18-22). The
Redeeming Savior would provide a lot of changes in people’s perceptions of what
the Kingdom of God was all about. No longer would the Jews have a priority on
the Law and knowledge of God. The nations would soon be able to experience the
Holy Spirit in His fullness as He indwelt and moved in the whole world. This
would be hard for the traditional Hebrews to accept, even though it had been
clearly foretold by the prophets during the Old Covenant (Psalm 4:5-8; 67:2,
Isaiah 56:7, Ezekiel 36:26 to name just a few).
-Jesus begins to assert His authority over misguided
interpretations of the Law as it pertained to the Sabbath. As He was passing
through the grainfields on the Sabbath, His disciples were picking the heads of
grain, which drew the ire of the lawful Pharisees in their midst. Jesus
reminded them of David’s exploits when he was in need with Abiathar the high
priest and the eating of consecrated bread, which was definitely unlawful to
eat. The Lord’s point on this was, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man
for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28).”
-*Application* The healing of the paralytic gives us ample
instruction on how we should do benevolence. We must address the spiritual need
of individuals first, and then take care of their material needs with the supernatural
abilities of the LORD. It is also important for us to note the aspect that
triggers this whole process in a person of need, that being FAITH. Faith
unlocks spiritual well-being as well as opens door for God to do incredible
miracles in a person’s life.
-*Application* We also see the conflict between the
traditions of man verses the righteousness of God begin to rear up as we study
these events of the Messiah’s life. God is always focused on the heart of the
matter rather than the outward compliance of a given statue. When we get into
arguments over interpretations of God-given directives we are in danger.
Remember to assess the heart, or true intent, of any law before you go
condemning a situation. Let love, mercy, class, goodness, and grace be your
guide, and we will do well.
Verses to Memorize:
Mark 2:12, 22
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