SCRIPTURE: MARK 2
JESUS HEALS A PARALYTIC (vs. 1-12)
As Jesus entered Capernaum, many gathered to hear Him preached the word. Since there were so many people, there was no room left. They made an opening from the roof top by digging a hole above. Four men carried a paralytic from roof top and lowered the mat down to where Jesus was. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (v. 5) When the teachers of the law heard it, they were thinking : “Why does he talk like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (v.7) Immediately, Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to them: “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk?” But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. ” (vs. 8-10) Then he said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” (v. 11) The man got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. Everyone was amazed and praised God.
THE CALLING OF LEVI (vs. 13-17)
Jesus went out beside the lake and began to teach a large crowd. As he walked along, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. Jesus told him to follow him and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were eating with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they were questioning His disciples why Jesus ate with tax collectors and ‘sinners’. Upon hearing this, Jesus said to them. “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (v. 17)
JESUS QUESTIONED ABOUT FASTING (vs. 18-22)
Some people were asking why John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting while Jesus’ disciples were not fasting. Jesus answered: “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both t he wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.” (vs. 19-22)
LORD OF THE SABBATH (vs. 23-27)
One Sabbath, Jesus and His disciples were going through the grainfields. The disciples began to pick some heads of grain. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to Jesus: “Why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” Jesus answered; “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions. The Sabbath was made f or man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (vs. 25-28)
THOUGHTS:
In this chapter, Mark recorded the unique ministries of Jesus Christ:
- He forgave sins and healed a paralytic – He forgives our sins and set us free
- He called Levi, a tax collector to follow Him – He is calling us to become His disciples and follow Him.
- He had fellowship with the sinners – He is the only physician who can heal sinners and give us a new robe of righteousness.
- He is the Lord of Sabbath – He frees us from the yoke of bondage and gives us Rest and Freedom.
The friends of the paralytic tried ways and means to bring him to Jesus. When you recognize someone that has physical or spiritual needs, are you willing to offer help with compassionate action?
When Jesus said: “Your sins are forgiven”, he claimed that He is God. And He proved it by healing the paralyzed man.
Levi was also known as Matthew. He was a Jew, appointed by the Romans to be the area’s tax collector. Tax collectors took a commission on the taxes they collected and most of them overcharged to enrich themselves. Tax collectors were despised by the Jews because of their reputation for cheating and their support of Rome. But when Jesus called Levi, he immediately relinquished his job and followed Jesus. When Jesus calls you, are you willing to heed His call and follow Him?
Jesus gladly associated with sinners because he loved them and wanted to save them. Christians must befriend those who need Christ even if they do not seem to be ideal companions for you. We have the responsibility to let them hear the message of Christ’s love from us.
Fasting empties the body of food and is an outward sign of humility and an inner discipline to clear the mind and keep the spirit alert. The Pharisees fasted twice a week to show others how holy they were. But Jesus emphasizes fasting with the right motives. If people fast only to impress others, they are twisting the purpose of fasting.
Sabbath is designed as a day of rest and worship but it should not keep us from helping others. The Pharisees concentrated on man-made laws and traditions and lost sight of what was good and right. Jesus implied that the Sabbath is a day to do good. Don’t allow the Sabbath to become a time of selfish indulgence.