Challenged

 

In chapter one of Mark’s Gospel, he wrote about the things Jesus did in His early ministry. Mark showed Jesus’ divinity. He told of Jesus healing people, casting out demons, and teaching. Jesus did these with power and authority. The people who watched and listened realized they had never seen this happen.

Starting with Mark chapter two, Mark relayed to the readers and hearers the religious leaders’ displeasure at what Jesus taught and did. In Mark 2:1-12, the scribes said nothing aloud, but Jesus knew what they thought. They wondered and questioned how Jesus could say to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5 & 8). The religious leaders understood and believed only God could forgive sins. Though these leaders did not overtly challenge Jesus by putting their thoughts into words, they argued with His teaching and actions in their minds.

One other thing each reader of Mark’s Gospel should note is Mark used a literary technique when he wrote Mark 2:1-3:6. This technique gradually led the reader to understand in deeper depths what the writer’s focus was. The chiasm in this passage of verses led to a deeper understanding of the religious leaders’ anger of Jesus. It showed even more who Jesus is: Deity. The first part of the chiasm introduced Jesus’ ability to heal and forgive (Mark 2:1-12). The next three parts showed Jesus teach using food and meals (2:13-17, 2:18-22, &n 2:23-28). A final verse in the chiasm shows Jesus’ overt action and statements proving He is Lord of the Sabbath. He healed a man, though the religious leaders challenged Him on it, on the Sabbath day in the synagogue (3:1-6). This Bible study, based on the chiastic structure above, is the first of three about food. In it, Jesus taught, called, and restored/reunited people.

Teacher

And He went out again by the seashore, and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them. (Mark 2:13 [NASB])

Jesus taught about who He is by preaching, healing, casting out demons, restoring, and reaching out to the downcast. With verse thirteen, Mark did a reboot, of sorts. He showed Jesus in His original mode - walking by the sea and teaching. Mark segued the readers back to the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had been at Simon’s house in Capernaum, where He healed the paralyzed man. In reading the Gospel of Mark, notice Jesus often returned to less populated areas. People began to understand who He was for that moment - the miracle worker and amazing teacher from God. They crowded and made it difficult for Him to be in towns and cities. In Mark’s recording, Jesus walked to the sea to instruct people and to call another man to follow Him. Though none of the people who traveled to listen to Jesus as they sat by the sea understood Him explicitly call them to follow Him, Jesus still sought to be about the Father’s business, preaching to all people.

In verse thirteen, Mark exaggerated again. He said, “all the people were coming to Him.” Mark emphasized how many came to listen to Jesus. “Were coming” and “was teaching” are both past continuous verbs. They describe action begun then and repeated, continuous action by people. The people came and kept coming. Jesus taught and kept teaching. Note the verb “was teaching.” This word almost always refers to teaching the Scripture. Writers use it to explain what Jesus and His apostles said in public. The first verb of this verse is past tense. Jesus “went out again.” This place was familiar to Him, so He returned to it often.

The people came to the sea out of curiosity. After that, they returned home. They did not stay. Many did not become believers in Jesus. Determining how many people traveled to listen to Jesus that day was difficult. A crowd of people wanted to witness for themselves what Jesus would do and teach. Would you go to listen to and see Jesus? Would you stay and follow Jesus, or would you return home?

Realize verse thirteen is about Jesus. He is the primary subject of the verse. The people were the direct objects of Jesus’ teaching. The people came because they heard about Him. They answered Jesus’ call to come to Him, though most did not believe in Him for salvation. The four men He had called—Simon, Andrew, James, and John - learned from His teaching and His actions. The people overheard Jesus teaching His disciples and other people. How many turned away from Him? Would you turn away from Jesus, too? Do you turn away from Him now?

Caller

As He (Jesus) passed by, He saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting in the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. (Mark 2:14 [NASB])

Today, people love tax collectors are as much as in the first century AD. Tax collectors endured much disdain from the Jews and Romans. You might wonder why people hated them. The tax office, where Jesus noticed Levi, was a booth for people to pay a toll to enter Galilee. Galilee was on the western side of the Jordan River. Herod Philip’s territory of the Decapolis was on the east side of the Jordan River. He lived in Syria. Herod Antipas’ territory was on the west side of the Jordan River. The Romans created the Decapolis by creating ten Greek town-cities in Galilee. Nine of those were on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Herod Philip ruled the eastern Decapolis cities. Herod Antipas ruled the one town-city of the Decapolis on the western side of the Jordan River. These ten town-cities came into existence as Rome expanded their empire eastward. The Romans created the Decapolis to promote the common interests of the area. These interests were trade and commerce. The Romans created the Decapolis for a united protection against the people groups who lived around them. Traders came from several countries. Levi collected the taxes/tolls as people crossed the Jordan River into Galilee.

Why did the Jews consider tax collectors unclean and among the biggest sinners? They believed tax collectors notoriously charged more in taxes than the Roman government required. The tax collectors kept the difference for themselves. Most became rich. Because the tax collectors worked for the Romans, the Jews considered them to be part of the Roman empire, the empire who ruled over them. Added to this, the tax collectors crossed paths continually with Gentiles. This made the tax collectors ritually unclean according to Jewish law. (Note: In Matthew 9:9, the gospel writer called this tax collector Matthew. Levi is the man’s Hebrew name. Matthew is his Greek name.)

Notice the verbs in this verse. “Passed” is past continuous. He walked and passed by people then and kept on walking and passing them. Until He noticed Levi. The verbs “saw,” “said,” “got up,” and “followed” are past tense verbs. Jesus pointedly saw, stopped, and spoke to Levi. He did not pass by him, but focused on him. To Levi, upon whom He focused, Jesus commanded he follow Him. This command required action, either obedience by following Him or disobedience by stubbornly ignoring Him.

Jesus’ commands had authority. He preached, taught, cast out demons, and healed people with authority and power. Many people observed those instances. Other than Zebedee and the hired fishermen, Mark noted no other people witnessed Jesus commanding Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him. This time, a crowd of people saw Jesus focus on Levi and command that he follow Him. Like Levi, Jesus’ power and authority drew the other four men to follow Him.

Mark chronicled Levi’s actions. He wrote about Jesus calling Levi into unity with Himself as His disciple. For the Jews, this was inconceivable and could not happen. They might have wondered why an authority on Jewish scripture would speak to, live with, eat with, and travel with an unclean person, a sinner. Jesus often spoke to, ate with, traveled with, and lived with people Jewish religious leaders considered unclean. The leaders demeaned these people. They considered unclean people like lepers, sick, beggars, tax collectors, and others. Mark disclosed Jesus gave grace to a tax collector in these verses.

Who can receive such love and mercy from God without responding to Him with love? Levi’s love showed through his obedience to Jesus. He got up and followed Him. Notice, Jesus took the initiative and called to Levi. Levi had to choose to answer or ignore His call. Mark did not mention Levi asking for Jesus’ forgiveness and inclusion as His disciple. He did not write of Levi repenting. Still, Levi’s life showed a changed mind and direction. Jesus’ action resulted in a positive reaction from Levi.

Jews and Romans looked down on tax collectors. Levi experienced this contempt while he earned a good wage. Yet, he walked away from everything he knew to follow Jesus, just like Simeon, Andrew, James, and John. Levi did not know if the other four disciples would look down on him. Did the four men despise Levi or accept him as Jesus did, sins and all? Do we make a complete break with our old life when we decide to believe in and follow Jesus? Jesus calls to each person. We each choose, like these five men, if we will hear Him and obey.

Physician

¹⁵And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his (Levi’s) house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. ¹⁶When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “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 2:15-17 [NASB])

Jesus often ate with people. Readers should recognize with whom He ate. The first time Mark records Jesus eating was when He walked to Simon’s house and found his mother-in-law sick with a high fever. The four men with Jesus and the mother-in-law had not yet expressed faith in Jesus as the Messiah. He had not told them who He is. By this reasoning, these five people were not clean from sins, as God defines it. In that regard, they were akin to Levi. Though the Jews considered Levi ritually unclean and not the five people in Simon’s home, they each were spiritually unclean and needed cleansing daily for their sins.

To pointedly show the religious leaders who Jesus considered unclean, He ate with Levi and other tax collectors and sinners. Jesus did not consider these people or any others too sinful to be near Him. Rather, He considered them sinful and desired to make them clean, no matter the cost He would pay. John 3:16-17 expresses this great love of God.

For the Jews, only by refraining from their actions and making amends with God, through giving the right sacrifices, could make a person clean of sins. They knew no other way. Yet, they did not pity the ones ritually cast away from submissive Jewish citizens. For them, these unclean people, with whom Jesus ate, were grossly immoral because they did not follow the laws and traditions of the elders as strictly as the religious leaders liked. The Pharisees considered the people who associated with these unclean people as unclean, too. Yet, as noted when He healed the leper, then touched him, Jesus did not become unclean and sick. He knew He could not become unclean. Healing the leper proved Jesus is inherently clean. That means He is Deity, God.

With these people, at that right time, Jesus ate. Eating and associating with sinners did not end with this one meal. Jesus continued eating with sinners. In this passage, Mark used past continuous verbs: was dining, was reclining, were dining, and were following. Jesus and people started eating together then. He has continued to be with people and they with Him until now and into eternity. In current lingo, people break bread with each other. Jesus broke bread with people where He walked. He is the living bread for all who believe in Him. In His ministry on Earth, Jesus continued to associate with sinners, and they continued to invite Him for meals. They wanted to associate with Jesus, the teacher. After His death and resurrection, Jesus became the broken bread, the sacrifice for our sins. As such, He is the Living Bread (John 6:51).

Are we like the Jewish religious leaders who judged and persecuted people unlike themselves? Do we shun the sick, lowly, and sinners? Jesus calls each of us to follow Him, to become His disciples. This means we must associate with people who are unlike us, so we can share the gospel and they receive salvation through belief in Jesus.

With verse sixteen, Mark recorded the first time the scribes of the Pharisees outwardly challenged Jesus - His actions and His teaching. Mark recorded these religious leaders asking Jesus’ disciples, “Why is He eating with tax collectors and sinners?” To Jesus, eating with the tax collectors and sinners was no less than eating with devout Jews. Jesus knew these people, all people, sin and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).

Mark made sure readers understand clearly. He said, “The scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners…” The religious leaders were devout men. They dedicated themselves to honor God by faithfully keeping the Jewish laws. The problem was they became prideful. The religious leaders became lost in the law's minutia. These laws became obstacles to spiritual growth and distracted them from the law's main purpose. God gave the Laws to lead people to Himself, not to over-inflate self-worth.

“Was eating” is a past continuous verb. It means it occurred then and kept on occurring. The challenge and persecution of Jesus by the religious leaders did not deter Him from associating with unclean people. To the religious leaders, what a person put into him or herself is what contaminated the person and made him or her unclean. Jesus taught in Mark 7:15 that what came from the person’s heart made him or her unclean, a sinner. People cannot make themselves spiritually or ritually clean. Nothing in a person’s being is strong enough to keep him or her from falling into temptation. Jesus came to Earth to preach and teach about Who can make a person truly clean and how He would make it possible. The religious leaders’ adverse reaction to Jesus eating with unclean people should cause us to ask ourselves a question. Would a challenge to our belief in Jesus cause us to stop doing something?

Jesus did not endorse the sins of the tax collectors and other sinners with whom He ate that day. He did not ignore the sins of the religious leaders either. Jesus recognized each person there was a sinner. With His reply in verse seventeen, Jesus explained in a veiled way that each person is a sinner. Until a person recognizes that, they do not recognize a need for a savior. Jesus challenged these religious leaders at their level of concern by His actions. They wondered if this carpenter’s son turned authoritative and powerful teacher did not care for holiness and Torah law. The religious leaders may have questioned in their minds, “Did not Jesus realize the poor example He set by His association with those sinners?” They might have wondered, “Would not Jesus' actions contribute to the moral decay of Israel?” Their question of Jesus included the above conjectured questions. They asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Does Jesus’ life, teaching, authority, power, and divinity challenge us Christians today in their inviting people to church and not watering down His message? Do our attempts at being correct in all the little bits of God’s Word cause us to miss what God intends? Do we forget the important part, that daily each of us needs a savior?

Jesus replied to the scribes’ question in verse seventeen. He 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.” Look at the verbs in this statement—hearing, told, is not healthy, need, have not come. “On hearing” is a present participle that forms continuous tenses. Jesus would hear and keep on hearing. He would tell and keep on telling all who would listen to Him. Jesus told the scribes without hesitation His reply to their question. They could not doubt He directly replied to them. Those who recognize they are sick and needy are the ones who recognize their condition, that they need a physician. They are for whom Jesus came to heal, cleanse, and reunite with the Father. For these people, sick sinners, Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” This verb indicates a link between the present and the past. God wants to wash all sins away, including the consciousness of and guilt from it (Hebrews 9-10)

Jesus used a metaphor in this verse. He used the terms to which the scribes willingly would connect. He equated the sick with sinners and the healthy with righteous people, made so by their belief in Him as the Savior sent by God. This made the physician the metaphor for God. Jesus said in metaphor, which scribes would understand, that He is divinity and makes people holy by providing the sufficient sin sacrifice for each person who believes in Him. He would make the ones sick with sin, healthy with righteousness. Jesus came to cleanse each person who trusts in Him. A doctor who refused to go to sick people is useless. He cannot serve anyone that way. Jesus came to serve the people who recognize they need Him. People who recognize their sins are more apt to recognize their need for Jesus and welcome His ministry.

Jewish religious leaders criticized the early Christian church for not living with high standards. They took in anyone. Christ does not leave people as sinful and with no hope. He transforms them with His love, forgiveness, and salvation. Christians should love the unlovely and encouraging them to continue growing into more Christlikeness. To do that, the Christian church must eat with sinners and associate with them, like Jesus’ example to us in this passage. How else would the unsaved come to know Jesus and His love unless He ministers through us?

Application and Conclusion

Jesus came to call and save sinners. Unless God shows them their sins or they are already in despair because of them, how will they recognize their need and His plan of redemption and healing? When a person thinks he or she is righteous, that deters him or her from accepting Jesus as his or her Savior. Paul said in Romans 3:10, “None is righteous, not even one.” The psalmist said the same thing in Psalm 14:1, 53:1, & 143:2. John said that if we say we have no sins, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8) The religious leaders were unable to see their unrighteousness because of their vanity and overlooking the minutia of the law and intent of God. They did not see that the law did not save, but only reminded people of God and their sins. Paul said, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Each person alive faces temptation and sometimes sins. No one is immune except for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, because they are inherently holy. Their being defines holy and from where the word originates. Job 14:4 says no one can make something clean (righteous) when he or she is unclean (unrighteous). Job said he recognized humanity’s unrighteousness in Job 15:14 & 16.

Jesus did not explain fully in Mark 2:14-17 why and how a person is unclean like He did in Mark 7:15. Instead, He pointed to His purpose - to call sinners and to go to other cities, towns, and villages so more people would learn about the gospel. By confronting the scribes, He led them to ponder and decide if they were sick or healthy and if He was the Messiah or just a carpenter’s son. The leaders would have quickly cast-off what Jesus said except that He compared the sick to sinners and the healthy to the righteous. These religious leaders had to confront who they really were. Did what Jesus said apply to them?

Maybe the leaders took offense at what Jesus said. Mark does not record their rebuttal. The readers perceive only silence from them in this gospel writing. But internally, the religious leaders may have pointed to the people who obviously were unrighteous. How easy can a person point his or her finger at someone to cast doubt away from their own sins? This episode of Jesus eating with the sinners and the scribes confronting Him would become the foundation upon which they later heard of Jesus’ teachings. Just as someone must plant a seed, water it, weed around the plant, and give it sunlight to grow, Jesus planted a seed in the religious leaders’ hearts. Would they continue to listen to Him and let what He said cause them to grow, or would they quash it?

We live in a world of overabundant tolerance where people are less likely to criticize sin and sinners. Remembering that each of us is a sinner should cause less finger-pointing and scapegoating. Yet, the world appears more polarized. Sin fragments the people of the world. We lose unity with each other. Sin does this. We each are sinners. And we all need a Savior. Because of God’s love, Jesus died for our sins so we would not have to die the eternal death penalty, separation from God. Jesus died so we could receive forgiveness and salvation. He is our Reuniter, Teacher, and Caller: our Physician. Jesus came to reunite us with each other and with God. As Christians, our part in God’s plan is to encourage people to experience rebirth that comes from Jesus and to practice spiritual discipline. Christians are to minister to the unsaved and the saved. The Jewish religious leaders misunderstood that. They spewed venom on people like the tax collectors and Gentiles. They could not recognize their own sin because they busily cast blame on other people. This would not let them see their own sins. We often call out people’s sins to shift the spotlight from our sins.

Do we encourage Christian brothers and sisters? Do we go to the unclean and tell them of Jesus’ love and salvation for them? Are we more likely to criticize sinners rather than ourselves? Do we, as Christians, hold each other accountable to the standard Jesus set? Remember, we each are sinners and each day we need the Savior.

Jesus has not given up on you. Even when you sin each day, He does not give up on you. Do not give up on yourself or your friends and family. That is not the love of which He spoke. Jesus said the two commandments for each person are to love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31). Love does not give up on God or on other people. God does not give up on us. Instead of pointing a finger at someone, stretch out your hand and help them stand. We must continually seek God each day and help, encourage, and share the gospel with other people.

Don’t be a Pharisee; be one who truly sees.

Instead of pointing a finger at someone, stretch out your hand and help them stand.

Trust

 

The first chapter of Mark quickly introduces the readers to Jesus as the Son of God. John the Baptist baptized Jesus and God proclaimed from heaven that Jesus is His Son. At once, Jesus began teaching, healing, and casting out demons with power and authority. People in Capernaum started clamoring to be near Him to watch what He would do. The religious leaders began taking notice of Jesus. They started listening and examining Him to teach, heal, and cast out demons.

Mark's second chapter continues to show Jesus' teaching and doing miraculous things. No one has ever done what Jesus did, except as God empowered him or her being as a prophet or priest. From Mark 2, Jesus told the people He is the Son of Man. The time was right for people to know about Jesus and the plan of salvation.

Jesus’ activities up through Mark 2:12 were generally positive. People expressed amazement at what He did and glorified God. From Mark 2:13, Jesus received “push-back” from the religious leaders. They challenged Him—His power, authority, and teaching. The stories Mark records in 2:13-3:6 generally show Jesus' meeting with negative interactions. The Pharisees and Herodians challenge Jesus. The Pharisees wanted to restore the kingdom of David. The Herodians wanted to restore a Herod to the throne in Judea. These two factions determined to work jointly to kill Jesus. Even though Pharisees and Herodians were political opposites, each faction worked with the other only to persecute Jesus.

With the start of Mark chapter two, Mark used a teaching form called a chiastic structure. A chiastic structure serves to lead readers and hearers to understand the lesson by developing in a way that people understand the purpose of the writer. In the Bible, a chiasm can occur within a verse, paragraph, chapter, or book. Each repetition develops the point. Mark used a chiastic structure in Mark 2:1-3:6. The structure for this passage of verses is as follows.

A.   Healing the paralytic (2:1-12)            

B.    Calling the tax collector and eating with tax collectors and sinners

C.    Question about fasting

B’. Jesus’ defense of the disciples for a Sabbath harvest

A’. Healing the man’s withered hand. 

Parts A and A’ deal with Jesus’ healing people. Sections B, C, and B’ tell about Jesus’ teaching on eating. In A, the religious leaders did not outwardly challenge Jesus. Jesus knew what was in their hearts. He showed and taught He has authority even to forgive sins. (Note: the Jews supposed a person was sick because he or she sinned. That sickness was God’s judgment on the person for his or her sin.) With A’, the religious leaders spoke out and Jesus challenged them on their idea of the Law’s purpose. He used healing people to teach in this instance, too. In B, C, and B’, Jesus dealt with religious leaders challenging Him about disobeying the Law. They judged Him because of with whom He ate, when they ate, and why they ate. In each part of this chiasm, Jesus confronted the religious leaders on their interpretation of the Law and God’s intent of it. Jesus shows His authority is greater than that of the Jewish authorities. Mark 2:1-12 shows who Jesus is and His purpose by using one encounter recorded in twelve verses. These twelve verses retell Him healing and teaching with power and authority and His opposition and vindication. These verses tell who Jesus is, the Son of Man, just as He stated in Mark 2:10 and Daniel foretold in Daniel 7:13-14.

Gathered

¹When Jesus came back to Capernaum a few days later, it was heard that He was at home. ²And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer space, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. (Mark 2:1-2 [NASB])

Remember, near the end of Mark chapter one, Jesus told Simon, Andrew, James, and John, when they found Him praying early in the morning in a quiet place, that He must go to other places in Galilee to preach and cast out demons (Mark 1:38). In chapter two, Mark records Jesus returned home to Capernaum. Capernaum was Jesus’ second home. He considered Simon and Andrew like family.

After Jesus cast out the demons after preaching in the synagogue in Capernaum, people flocked to Him. Jesus captivated them with His power and authority in His teaching, healing, and casting out demons. They wanted to witness Him do more. Some may have considered Him to be more than a magician or an outstanding teacher. No matter why people followed Him in droves, returning home to Capernaum showed how large of a crowd sought to observe and listen to Him. Mark wrote, “And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer space, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them” (NASB).

Jesus returned home to Capernaum. A vast crowd of people waited for Jesus to talk. No room in the house or near the door remained. People peeked in the window. They climbed onto the roof to listen to Jesus. Jesus came back to Capernaum. He did what He told the four men He had to do. Jesus preached the word. He taught about the Father and His words. Jesus speaking the word was a key part of His purpose. It was central to His ministry on earth. It became central to the Church’s ministry (Acts 6:4, 8:4, & 17:11, Galatians 6:6, & Colossians 4:3). Jesus drawing a crowd to Himself enabled many people to hear Him teach. Though the crowds and work wearied Him, the message the prophets foretold unfolded before their eyes.

Into the midst of this enormous crowd, four men carried their paralyzed friend. What might these men have concluded as they considered how large a crowd sought Jesus at home? What did they want from Jesus? Why did they suppose He could help their paralyzed friend? What would they do since they could not get near enough to Jesus for Him to look at their friend? God is omnipresent, everywhere present at the same time. He can spot you wherever you are, even at the back of a crowd.

Forgiven

³And some people came, bringing to Him (Jesus) a man who was paralyzed, carried by four men. ⁴And when they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and after digging an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralyzed man was lying. ⁵And Jesus, seeing their faith, said the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:3-5 [NASB])

Mark told of the resolve the men had and what they desperately did to get their friend noticed by Jesus. Jesus noticed the four friends, too. These men accepted if Jesus saw them, He would heal their friend. With that faith, they climbed the roof because they were desperate for a solution. How long did these men ponder their dilemma before going onto the roof? Mark does not say, but he shows their faith as they went upstairs with their paralyzed friend on a pallet. This pallet, some commentators consider, was a thick, quilted mat. Others understand it was like a mattress or army pallet of cloth and two rods. Whatever it was, it would be unwieldy to lower the man through a hole in the roof.

After digging through grass, dried mud, plaster, rock, and/or wood, the four men “let the pallet down” using ropes at each corner. The paralyzed man could not move to lessen injury if the pallet lowered askew. He had to trust his friends. The paralyzed man had learned to trust them since he could not take care of himself. The paralyzed man had faith and agreed to let his friends take him before Jesus, hoping He would heal him. He must have realized that since Jesus could heal his paralysis, He could heal any injury he received if he fell off his pallet. The faith of these men in Jesus, the Healer, gave them hope.

Jesus regarded the faith of the four men and their paralyzed friend. He recognized their realization of His power and authority. These five men acknowledged Jesus could do what was necessary to heal the paralyzed friend. Jesus had more in store for them that day than they expected. After seeing the faith of these five men, He said, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (vs. 5). Jesus understood they trusted in Him. He recognized the men had more than just a head faith or an emotional feeling. The trust of these five men in Jesus showed itself by visible actions. Jesus rewarded the men’s faith that, when faced with obstacles, kept strong. Do you stand firm in your faith in Jesus when difficulties confront you? God said He would never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8, 1 Chronicles 28:20, and Hebrews 13:5). Jesus reminded people of this promise. He did not leave or forsake this man and the hope his faith gave him. Jesus rewarded his faith with forgiveness. Forgiveness was more than the five men sought, but the relief it gave must have been breathtaking.

Jesus did not heal the man first. He addressed the Jews’ understanding of why a person is sick. Jews considered sickness of any kind a punishment from God for a person’s sins. Jesus addressed that idea by first telling the man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” He did not say, “I forgive your sins.” He used a passive verb to show He acted for God, like rabbis act for God, as a mediator for this man. Jesus knows each person sins. The Jews understood that, too. They offered sacrifices to God regularly to atone for their sins. Jesus did not say He healed the man. He offered the man what he needed most: forgiveness. Forgiveness did not cure the man of his paralysis. The people recognized this.

The five men wanted to be in front of Jesus. Obstacles did not keep them from Him. Jesus saw each of these men. He recognized them and rewarded their faith in Him. Though they had not sought forgiveness, when the paralyzed man received it, he undoubtedly felt relieved. The paralyzed man might have thought, “Jesus knew what I needed most.” Regarding the religious leaders, Jesus raised two issues. By what authority does Jesus forgive sins? What is the relationship between sin and sickness?

Restored

⁶But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts. ⁷Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone? ⁸Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were thinking that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you thinking about these things in your heart? ⁹Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk?’ ¹⁰But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the paralyzed man, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet, and go home.” And he (the once-paralyzed man) got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:6-10 [NASB])

The scribes of the synagogues dedicated their lives to copy the Torah. They taught at the synagogues what they had learned from rabbis’ teaching. The scribes watched Jesus heal and forgive the paralyzed man. They contemplated what the five men did and what Jesus said to the paralyzed man because. They considered how He taught like one with authority. The scribes might have thought in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming!” (vs. 6) They considered and wondered if what Jesus taught was in the Law? Was it a fabricated teaching? Teaching fabricated ideas, as if they are from God, is blasphemy. Should the scribes trust what Jesus said? Should they challenge Him and report Him to the rabbis?

The scribes’ prime consideration for these questions was, “Who can forgive sins except God alone?” (vs. 7) They did not recognize Jesus as the Son of God yet. For Jesus to forgive a person of his or her sins meant the person did not need the Law to receive God’s forgiveness. Sinners did not need priests as their mediator. This meant they would not be offering a sacrifice at the temple for their sins. That would decrease the priests’ allotment of food for themselves and their families. Under the laws, God allowed only priests to be intermediaries and only God can forgive sins. God ordained them to fulfill the rituals of atonement, not anyone else. That means they saw Jesus as assuming God’s position of forgiving sins and assuming their positions as intermediaries between people and God. Thus, they judged Jesus guilty of blaspheming for assuming He is God. The Torah teaches the judgement of any person who blasphemes is death (Leviticus 24:10-23).

Jesus was aware of the scribes’ reflections. As part of the Godhead, He knows all things. Jesus realized the scribes did not look positively at Jesus forgiving a man for his sins. He knew they considered Him to be blaspheming. Instead of the scribes speaking out and challenging Him, Jesus challenged them about their deliberations. Because Jesus understood their thoughts, He proved to them He is God, though they did not want to admit it. What does God detect when He searches your heart? Doubt, fear, or trust?

How did Jesus confront these scribes? He said in verse nine, “Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your pallet, and walk?’” Which is physically easier to say of these two statements? The first statement has six syllables, and the second has nine syllables. The first statement is easier to pronounce. Since Jews concluded sins cause sickness, if a person got well, that meant God had forgiven the person’s sins.

Mark wrote what Jesus said in verse ten. Jesus said, “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Jesus realized the people wanted visible proof of Jesus’ authority to forgive sins. With Jesus’ question, He offered a way to prove His authority. Jesus healed the man to authenticate what these people could not verify by sight — forgiveness. People cannot see forgiveness, but they can see when a person is well. Even though saying “Your sins are forgiven” is easier, Jesus knew He would confirm Himself as the Messiah by healing the man. The people would see the healed man and know God forgave Him. Jesus, as God’s mediator, would prove to the scribes and other people He is who He says He is, the Son of Man.

Jesus used the Son of Man title fourteen times in Mark’s gospel. Daniel 7:13-14 is where this title first occurs in the Bible. In these verses, God gives the Son of Man eternal dominion, honor, and a kingdom. The “Son of Man” does not have the military connotations the title “Messiah” has. The Jews expected the Messiah to be the victor, who delivers them from Roman rule and reestablishes the kingdom of David. If the scribes had understood Jesus used this title, “Son of Man,” as Messianic, they would have understood Jesus’ purpose earlier. But the scribes misunderstood its meaning as Jesus used it. Do we have the right idea of who the Messiah is? Do we want Him just to be our hero? Are we expecting Him to be like the Son of Man, about whom Daniel prophesied?

With this title attributed to Himself, Jesus proclaimed in verse eleven, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet, and go home.” He declared His authority to the scribes and the people by ordering the paralytic to do these three things. Notice Jesus did not discuss His command with the paralytic’s four friends. The faith was the paralytic man’s own. He himself had to accept the authority Jesus has over sin and illness. This man had to trust in Jesus to enable him to arise. He had to act on this belief by picking up his pallet and going home, too. The paralytic man’s mental belief showed in his outward actions.

With the healing of the once-paralytic man, Jesus showed His divinity. He can powerfully and authoritatively forgive sins and heal. Jesus showed who He is by His power and authority. The people were “amazed,” Mark said in verse twelve. They glorified God.

The scribes did not express amazement, according to Mark’s retelling. They realized Jesus’ success came at their expense. The scribes and other religious leaders had lots to lose if Jesus is who He said He is. He would become the mediator and high priest for the Jews and others who believed in Him. Jesus, being the Messiah, would make the priests and sacrifices redundant. The priests would lose their income and their status in the community.

In Mark 1:32-34, Mark stated an entire city gathered to see Jesus heal the sick and cast out demons. This time, they saw the declaration of forgiveness by Jesus. They listened to His grand declaration of His right to do it. Jesus, Mark wrote, has the power to forgive sins, to heal, to cast out demons, and to preach and teach.

5 people’s faith took the man to Jesus.

1 man’s faith accepted health and forgiveness.

Everyone glorified God and exclaimed.

Application and Conclusion

We may not be sick now, but we have been. We may not have demons, but we could have in the future. We might not trust in Jesus, but we can. People came to see Jesus for themselves, to listen to what He taught, and to watch as He healed and cast out demons. Until this moment in Mark, people had not seen Jesus authoritatively forgive sins as if He is God. They glorified God because they saw Jesus heal a man and forgive him. Does your faith cause everyone around you to be amazed and to glorify God because of what He did?

We come to the point the Jews faced that day. Will we believe in Jesus? The four men considered Jesus could heal their paralyzed friend. The people accepted for themselves that the stories they had heard about Jesus. The scribes were curious. They later felt fear-fear He would take away their way of life and fear He would lead the Jews astray. The religious leaders were the keepers of God’s word and the way to go before God from a distance. Each of these people encountered Jesus from hearing about Him, seeing Him, and some, by believing in Him as the Son of Man. Each of us today encounters Jesus through reading this Bible study, reading the Bible, hearing about Jesus, and seeing miraculous healing. We face Jesus in our minds, hearts, bodies, and spirits. Jesus speaks to our spirits before and after we have professed faith in Him for salvation.

Today, you can hear about and come to have faith in Jesus through watching a church service on television, on the internet, or in person. You have the chance to meet Him on your own by reading your Bible and by praying. The four friends had faith in Jesus to heal their paralytic friend. It was the paralytic’s faith in Jesus that healed and forgave him. Today is your day to decide who Jesus is for you. Is He the Son of Man, the One who has dominion, power, and glory, as Daniel declared? Will you believe in Jesus by faith that Jesus is the Son of God who came to be your mediator and forgiver of your sins so you can be in God’s presence now and forever?

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 [NASB])

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Romans 3:28 [ESV])

And to the one who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. (Romans 4:5 [ESV])

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1 [ESV])

Being forgiven and saved from the judgment you deserve because of your sins comes by faith in Jesus. Nothing you can do will earn salvation. Just faith.

Nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law, no flesh will be justified. (Galatians 2:16 [NASB])