Gospel of Mark 2:1-8

Gospel of Mark 2:1-8                            March 4, 2017

Why 4 Gospels? 

God determined before the foundation of the world that there would be 4 different life descriptions of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

God took these 4 men and prepared each of them to tell the story of Jesus’ life, each in their own way. 

Remember, Mark presents Jesus as the Servant and he explains what the Servant offers us. 

We learn that John Mark—John was his Jewish name, while Mark was his Latin surname.  

We learn that John Mark was the son of a wealthy woman named Mary, probably a widow, whose home was large enough to serve as a meeting place for many of the early disciples after the Pentecost. 

Jesus initial conflict with the religious leaders 

Mark next recorded five instances in which Jewish leaders opposed Jesus, probably not in time order. These occurred during the Galilean ministry of Jesus. Mark appears to have grouped them so his readers would see that opposition from leaders, particularly religious leaders, was something Jesus had to contend with and overcome.  

We, who are reading this, probably were or will facing similar opposition, and this section should encourage and help all of us Christians experiencing conflict because they, like us, are trying to follow God's Way of Life. 

Jesus popularity with the masses led to problems with the Jewish leaders. Opposition to Jesus intensifies throughout this section. 

"Mark's story is one of conflict, and conflict is the force that propels the story forward. The major conflict is between Jesus and the religious authorities and the Jewish crowd. Since the people does not really turn against Jesus until his arrest.   

Jesus Heals and forgives a Paralytic 

Mark 2:1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.   

“And”: 1,286 times in Mark.  A conjunction of action: No sentence can end with and. And always leads to further action. The style of Mark writing is brief and blunt, pertinent and pithy, short and sweet.  That is how the Apostle Peter was, in a lot of his wording and Mark was with him. 

John 21:3 Simon Peter told them, "I'm going fishing." They all told him, "We'll go with you, too." So they went out and got into the boat but didn't catch a thing that night. 

Again he entered Capernaum. After his first missionary circuit of Galilee and He is back home. 

After some days. More than one day, but we do not know how many days. 

Heard. This suggests a private entrance into the city, and then a general report that He was there. 

In the house”: He was at home.   

(2)  Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.   

Here we go again.  Large Crowds at the house.   

Mark describes how Jesus preached the Word, of the coming Kingdom. 

No longer room:  graphic touches, this suggests a constantly increasing crowd, at length filling even the porch leading from the interior court to the door. 

Preached the word”: Note the emphasis upon the Word of God. Jesus was doing this when His next healing happen. 

God’s Word will always produce the intended results 

Interesting side info:  This house door apparently opened into the street, not into a court as in the larger houses. The house was packed inside and there was a jam outside. 

Remember, we talked about handing out 100 bills and what would happen.

 

Have 10,000 bills, 1 every 5 mins or 833 hours or almost 35 days 

(3)  Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic (Palsy) who was carried by four men. 

Paralytic: Fine illustration of Mark’s vivid, dramatic historical present. 

5 people, one who was sick and the 4 who were carrying him.  

Mark alone mentions the number of men. 

They came to Him:  descript as if happening right now, a color way to express 

The man was literally “without strength”;  

(4)  And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 

The place was so crowded, they went upon the roof.  They were close friends.  They had to have some type of ladder, rope and what else.  It had to be a big hole. 

Very impressive what they did.  

You know when they were opening up the roof, roof is falling down on the individuals below.  That would catch the attention of those below.  

"In order to understand the action these verses describe, it is necessary to visualize the layout of a typical Jewish’s house. It was usually a structure with a flat roof. Access to the roof was by means of an outside stairway. The roof itself was usually made of wooden beams with thatch and compacted earth in order to shed the rain. Sometimes tiles were laid between the beams and the thatch and earth placed over them." 

Jesus was probably in the large open area or hall in the center of the house. 

(5)  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."  

The pains they took proved their "faith" in Jesus' ability and willingness to heal. 

James 2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.  

Jesus saw their faith by their work: the patient and the bearers had the same faith 

Faith is evidenced by works. Actions speak louder than words.  

Your sins are forgiven you – this is very important.  Pharisees say men cannot forgive sins. 

In the Old Testament, physical healing and forgiveness of sins were  connected  

Psalms 103:3  Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 

Paul’s prayer of Gaius  

3 John 1:2  Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 

While God may have some hidden purpose, we may still pray for healing. 

James 5:16  Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 

Here, Jesus spoke to the conscience before He spoke to the body.  

We know that the main root of all misery is sin, and until it is dealt with, trimming at the branches is a waste of time”  

Remember, When we miss something, the scribes always come to our rescue. 

(6)  And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,   

We have to guess that the scribes came early; it is probable they were in the upper room where our Lord was, nearer to Him and in the most important position.  The reasoning just mean the use of logical thinking in order to find results or draw conclusions. 

In their hearts. That they did not speak.  Jesus read their minds. 

Jeremiah 17:9-10 "The heart is more deceitful than anything. It is incurable—who can know it?  (10)  I am the LORD who searches the heart, who tests the inner depths to give to each person according to what he deserves, according to the fruit of his deeds. 

(7)  "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"   

Are they still thinking this in their hearts.  Why does this man”: this put down words in the Greek and they look at Jesus as only a man. 

We will find, this is one of the main reasons they wanted to kill Jesus.

They are right, only God can forgive sin.  This should have been a hint about Jesus.  One of the main purposes of the miracles was to teach, to reveal. Christ used miracles to demonstrate his deity. 

The scribes, took Christ to be a mere man, and reasoned with themselves,

who under their breath accused Jesus of blasphemy. In Christ's day the scribes were commonly called “lawyers,” because they studied the Law of Moses. 

This is the unspoken charge in their hearts which Jesus reads like an open book 

This verse, Jesus' claim to possess divine authority upset the teachers of the law who were present. The fact that they were sitting in that crowded house shows the respect the Jews gave them.  

No Old Testament prophet ever claimed personal authority to forgive sins, except Nathan had announced God's forgiveness to David so he would not die.   

2 Samuel 12:13 So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 

The Jews believed even the Messiah could not forgive sins because the Old Testament never attributed that power to Him. Only "God" could do that. 

Exodus 34:9 Then he said, "If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance." 

Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. 

Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." 

This is why they regarded Jesus' claim as blasphemous. Later they condemned Jesus to death for what they considered blasphemy. 

Mark 14:62-64  Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."  (63)  Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses?  (64)  You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?" And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 

The scribes did not dive into the Scriptures for understanding. It is disturbing to note that the religious leaders were the last to understand the times. 

They were dead right: This prerogative belonged to God alone. And they were dead and right.  

So the two forces clash here as now on the deity of Christ Jesus. Knowing full well that Jesus had the power of God in forgiving the man’s sins, Jesus then proceeded to justify his claim by healing the man. 

We, again, owe a debt of gratitude to the Pharisees: whenever we might miss a key point, they always come to our rescue. Whenever they are upset, examine the text closely to uncover the reason why! This is a very good example. 

(8)  But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?  

Jesus at once recognizes the hostile atmosphere in the house. The debate  in their hearts was written on their faces. No sound had come, but feeling did.  Jesus probably could read their minds.  (my view) 

Can we not read our children faces what their attitude is like. 

In his spirit. An immediate and supernatural knowledge is thus indicated: itself no slight evidence of His power to forgive sins. 

Concluding in their own minds, that none but God can forgive sins; but for imputing blasphemy to Jesus, for pronouncing this man's sins are forgiven; Jesus being God, as well as man, of which his knowing the thoughts and reasoning’s of their minds might have been a convincing proof. 

Next week we will pickup this strong discussion between Jesus and the lawyers.