Mark 2 reminds me of going to school following after my four older brothers. It seems that their reputations preceded me. Many teachers, coaches and classmates already had me sized up before even meeting me. That was not always a good thing. The chapter takes place in the little lakeside town that was home to many of the disciples. It begins, “When Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door”. They came to hear Him teach God’s Word and they came to receive healing. It says, “He preached the word to them”. God’s Word is foreign and distant unless you find the personal application. When Jesus taught, He spoke very personally to each individual. We also read about some men that brought their paralyzed friend, but because of the crowd, “they made an opening in the roof above Jesus… and then lowered the mat the man was lying on”. I’m sure everyone was stunned by His response, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’”. There are all kinds of healing that we need, and sometimes the scars on our soul are hidden. The Jewish leaders thought “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” I believe many others were skeptical too. We read, “Jesus knew in His spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts”. He asked, “Which is easier: to say… ‘Your sins are forgiven’… or ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?” This is the point for each of us, we want God to change someone, or heal, or fix, but we do not always consider our own soul. Friend, what is the real issue in your life?
He continues, “I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” as a faith builder, He demonstrated His authority, telling the man to “get up, take your mat and go home”. The man “got up…and walked out in full view of them all”. It says, “This amazed everyone and they praised God”. What did Jesus do next? He “went out beside the lake… and He began to teach them”. Just as today, many pre-judged Jesus, but when they met Him they find something very different. What will it take for you to submit to His authority?
The rest of the chapter is for those who only know the stained-glass Jesus. First He called Levi, the tax collector to “Follow Me”. Remember Tax Collectors were considered traitors; Jews that worked for Rome. They were universally hated, yet Jesus was eating at his house and “many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples”. The religious leaders assumed Jesus was unaware, believing He did not know the type of men eating with Him. On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”. Are you too cool to sit at His table? The Religious challenged Jesus for not fasting. Fasting is a way to focus internally and remind us to pray, but Jesus was with them. He explained, “The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast”. What about the Sabbath rules? Again He taught them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath”. The traditions of men had added layers of requirements to define piety, and it robbed them of joy. But Jesus taught that He was bringing a new covenant of forgiveness through faith. Grace brings freedom to honor God with a smile. My friend, is it time for you to put away your old presumptions and get to know the real Jesus yourself?