Mark
Copyright © 2008 Darroll Evans

 

CHAPTER 2

 

Mark 2:1-3
1 And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
2 And straightway many were gathered together,

insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

 

After a few days, Jesus once again entered Capernaum.  The news of His arrival moved quickly through the town.

 

At that time Capernaum had just under 2,000 residents, so they all knew each other and they knew what was going on in town.

 

“Straightway” (Gr. eutheoos-euqewV), immediately many gathered at Peter’s home.  There were so many that there was no room in the house. Even in that situation, Jesus preached to good news.

 

The people brought a man who suffered from palsy (Gr. paralutikos-παραλυτικός), a paralytic.  It took four men to carry him.

 

There were no stretchers in that day.  The man was laid on a sheet of some sort, and then each of the four grabbed a corner and lifted the man. It must have been very uncomfortable.

 

Mark 2:4-5
4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

 

The bad news was that there were so many in the house that they could not get him through the door.  The good news is that it did not stop them. The men took him up to the roof.  In times of great need men will overcome such barriers.  They uncovered the roof above and lowered the man, bed and all, into the room.

 

When Jesus saw the faith of the man and his friends, Jesus told the man who was sick with palsy, “Son, your sins are forgiven!”

 

That was an omen of things to come.

 

Eph 1:7 [Christ Jesus] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

 

Forgiveness of sins is redemption!

 

Col 1:14 [Christ Jesus] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

 

That simple statement by Christ caused a problem.

 

Mark 2:6-7
6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

 

Among the people in the home were some scribes.  They were sitting there, “reasoning in their hearts.”  They had come to see the show.  Whenever healing services are held, some will come to see the show!

 

The asked, “Why does this man speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God?”

 

Jesus did not debate them.

 

The fact is that only God can forgive sins.  In this case, it was God, the Son who forgave the man’s sins and the theologians of that day were ignorant of His position and power. Many “theologians” today suffer from the same malady.

 

Mark 2:8-12
8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

 

Immediately (Gr. eutheoos-euqewV), Jesus perceived in His spirit (Spirit) that they reasoned such among themselves, He asked, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts?

 

“Is it easier to say to the man with palsy, Your sins are forgiven? Or, to tell him, get up take your bed, and walk?

 

“However, so that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (he said to the man who was sick of the palsy,) I command you take your bed, go home.”

 

Christ Jesus healed that man simply to prove that He is God the Son!  Many miss that point!

 

That was strong!

 

Immediately (Gr. eutheoos-euqewV) the man got up, took his bed and walk out.  They all were amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen this before!”

 

Mark 2:13-14
13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

 

Then, Jesus went to the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and the entire crowd came with Him.  It was there that He taught them.

 

As Christ walked on the shore, He saw Levi [Matthew] the son of Alphaeus sitting and collecting taxes.  Jesus told him, “Follow (Gr. Akolouthei-Akolouqei) me!” That is a command, not an invitation.

 

Mark 2:15-17
15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

 

As Jesus reclined in his house having a meal with several tax collectors, other sinners and His disciples, the scribes and Pharisees saw him eating with those social outcasts. They confronted Jesus’ disciples asking, “How can he do that?  He is socializing with undesirables!”

 

When Jesus heard it, He responded, “Those that are healthy have no need of the physician! However, those that are sick do! I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance!”

 

All who have not come to Christ are sick! In fact, they are spiritually dead.

 

Rom 3:10-12
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

 

Christians have been aroused from death!

 

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

 

Breathing is not a sign of spiritual life!

 

The only “life” we may have is a positive relationship with God the Father through His Son, our Lord, Christ Jesus!

 

Mark 2:18-22
18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

 

John the baptist’s disciples and many Pharisees observed times of fasting. They come to Jesus and asked, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples don’t fast?”

 

Jesus replied, “Can the Groom’s attendants fast, while he is with them? As long as the Bridegroom is with them, they cannot fast. However, the time will come, when the Groom shall be taken away.  It is then that they shall fast.

 

“In addition, no one sews a new of cloth onto an old garment, because it may cause a tear in the old cloth that will be worse that the original tear.

 

“And, no one puts new wine into old wineskins, because the new wine will expand and may burst the old wineskins and cause the wine to spill. New wine must be put into new wineskins.”

 

That is why we become new creations in Christ!

 

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

As new creations, we should not attempt to cling to the old things that brought us spiritual sorrow!  Besides, those things, including the letter of the Law have passed away!

 

Christians have been changed and are in the process of renouncing the old, dead man.

 

Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

 

Mark 2:23-28
23 And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.
24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?
26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

 

Later, on a Sabbath, Jesus and His disciples were walking through a field of grain---probably wheat or barley.  His disciples began to pluck the grain, and eat it.

 

The ever-present Pharisees were upset and accused them, “Behold, why do they on the Sabbath day do what is not lawful?”

 

It was unlawful under the Old Covenant to gather grain on the Sabbath!

 

Jesus countered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and those with him were hungry?

 

“He went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread! That was only lawful for Levite priests.  Both David and those with him ate.”

 

Then, Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath!

 

“Therefore, the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath!”

 

We should study the Sabbath.  I fear that many Christians have never studied Sabbath truth. 

 

There is absolutely no biblical admonishment to worship on Sunday!  It is tradition that dictates such and not the Bible!

 

Many read the Ten Commandments and say, we should not do this or that because the Commandments say we should not do it.  However, when they get to the 4th Commandment they say that following that single Commandment is legalism. 

 

Is that logical?

 

No, it is not!

 

Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

 

It seems that we establish the Law, except for the 4th Commandment!  The truth is that most Christians and Jews do not know how to keep the Sabbath!

 

Many, Christians and Jews, who observe the Sabbath place undue restrictions on God’s Sabbath!  In doing that we dishonor the Sabbath and its Creator!

 

During the week of creation, God blessed only one of His creations.  The Sabbath!

 

Gen 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

 

In all of Creation week only one thing was “sanctified,” and that was the Sabbath!

  

Chapter 3
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