Mark Vol. 1 - Week 6 (2:1-12)
Mark 2:1-12
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The Difference Between Observing and Participating With Jesus
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Mark 2:1-12 〰️ The Difference Between Observing and Participating With Jesus 〰️
We're now entering chapter two of our walkthrough of the book of Mark and this feels like a good place to pause and reflect on what we've had the privilege of studying thus far. In walking through chapter one, we've covered a few things, including the message of the gospel of Jesus (life, available through repentance and belief) and the purpose of Jesus' coming (healing the broken connections between man and God). The heart has been a big point of emphasis for Mark's writing, as we've gotten glimpses of the purpose of Jesus' arrival: healing of the heart (redemption from and forgiveness of sin) first, then healing of the body.
Mark solidifies this for us in 2:1-12, where we see Jesus presented with a man who has been paralyzed. Between the end of chapter one and the beginning of chapter two here, it looks like some time has passed. We're now seeing the result of the disobedience of the man with leprosy. In 2:2 we read that, "So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them." In Eastern cultures, hospitality was one of the basic laws, so it was not entirely rude or out of the ordinary for people to just show up uninvited. Unfortunately, this left those who were truly in need of healing out on the margins yet again.¹
We don't know how or when it happened, but at that time, it was believed time that diseases and illnesses were due to unrepentant sin, either by the individual or their parents. Of course, this is not to say that this man was free of sin, but that at that time, it was likely believed by others that the man "deserved" to be paralyzed in such a way. This isn't something that we know for certain regarding the paralyzed man. We only know that Jesus first addresses the man's primary need: to be made right with God. Jesus sees the faith of the paralytic's companions, forgiving the man's sins. When we think of this story, we often remember Jesus healing the paralytic. It's joyful, and rightly so, to think of the healing hand and voice of Jesus and the miracles He performed. But in line with His entire message, Jesus came to forgive and make the relationship between God and man right. After being lowered into the house, interrupting his teaching, Jesus first forgave his sins.
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Jesus forgiving sin immediately (and understandably) set off red flags for the religious leaders of the day. The Pharisees were like the pastors or leaders of the synagogues, shepherding and teaching a community of followers of the Lord. Conversely, a scribe was a profession, like a carpenter or fisherman. As literacy wasn't nearly what it is today in our time and culture, scribes dedicated their entire lives to reading God's Word and knowing what it says. Years and years were spent internalizing the knowledge of what God says, and here comes this guy who forgives sins. They know what God's Word says and how penance is paid through sacrifice. It makes sense, but it still doesn't excuse the fact that the Son of God was before their eyes, and all they could see was breaking the rules they held on to so dearly. And we're not so unlike the religious leaders we see in this passage. Sometimes, we doubt God, too. While we don't blatantly deny Jesus as being the Son of God, we often doubt God's goodness or faithfulness in our circumstances.
With that said, we truly get a picture of Jesus' purpose for coming. Healing people with physical infirmities was a by-product of Jesus interacting with individuals. While it was a good thing and something we read of with joy, it wasn't the purpose of His coming. Jesus came to earth to bridge the gap between man (after the fall) and God. Those who place their faith and trust in Christ are free from the chains of sin and have a direct line to God by way of the Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus came, overruling the law of the old covenant.
Key Terms and Doctrine
The Omniscience of God
The omniscience of God is the reality that God knows everything. Nothing is beyond His understanding or awareness, and nothing surprises Him. Elihu says that God is "perfect in knowledge" (Job 37:16), and John says that God "knows everything" (1 John 3:20). Within this, we learn and understand that God knows everything all at once. He does not forget or learn something new. As beings living in a reality that moves with time, we learn as we experience, and we forget as we move away in time from events in life. God is beyond our reality and linear progression of time and sees, knows, and understands all things all at once. Jesus exercises this in this passage, knowing what was in the hearts of the scribes. They questioned Jesus in their hearts, and Jesus spoke of it before they said a word. As His children, we can take heart and gain comfort in knowing that our Lord "is working wisely in our lives to bring us into greater conformity to the image of Christ."²
Discussion Questions
What stood out to you from the passage?
What are some repeating words, phrases, or concepts in this passage?
Does anything in this passage remind you of another part of Scripture?
Read verse 5 again. What is the first thing Jesus does for the man who can't walk?
Why do you think He did this?
How does it give comfort to know that Jesus sees faith?
What can this passage teach us about Jesus' purpose for coming?
How does Jesus meet the true need of the man? How can that inform how we love and serve our neighbors, co-workers, etc.?
What are some areas of your heart where you've lacked faith?
What would it look like for your faith to grow in that area?
1. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament Vol. 1, (Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 1989), 115.
2. Wayen Grudem, Bible Doctrine: The Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 1999), 88-89.