MARK LESSON 4
We will begin this lesson in Mark 2:1
Mark 2:1 "And again he entered into Capernaum after [some] days;
and it was noised that he was in the house."
As we said in the previous lesson, Peter's home was on the
outskirts of Capernaum. Jesus had fled to the wilderness to avoid the
huge mobs of people. We see, here, that Jesus had quietly come back
into town, but someone saw Him return and now, it was all over town
that He was back.
Mark 2:2 "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."
We can see that in just a very short time this house filled with
people. In fact, so many people packed in this house to hear Jesus
preach that not even one more person could squeeze in the front
door. We know from the previous lesson, that Jesus' message was
not what they were used to hearing. His message was of power and
authority. We know, also, that Jesus' message was not of formality,
because here we saw Him preaching in the home. The scribes went
strictly by the formality of worship in the synagogue. They were
hungry for this type of preaching, which was for all the people.
Mark 2:3 "And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the
palsy, which was borne of four."
Palsy is a progressive disease. It seems this man's palsy had
gotten to an extreme case. He was unable to walk. Palsy has terrible
shaking associated with it and is actually like a short circuit in
the brain. Most people with palsy are able to walk, so this had to be
someone who had an advanced disease, because it took four men to
bring him.
Mark 2:4 "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."
We see, here, that the crowd was so large, there was no way
to get to Jesus through the crowd. I see great faith, not only of the
man with the palsy, but with his friends who would not give up on
getting to Jesus. First of all, they had great love for their friend
to go to this much trouble to get him to Jesus. Most of all, they had
to believe strongly that if they could get him in Jesus' presence, he
would be healed. It seems they broke open the roof of the house and
let him down right in front of Jesus.
Mark 2:5 "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of
the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."
Notice, Jesus recognized their faith first. Faith impresses
Jesus. On many occasions, Jesus said your faith has made you whole.
I do not believe that all disease is because of sin in a person's
life, but I do believe some diseases are brought on ourselves because
of sin in our lives. The wrong type of sex brings all sorts of
terrible diseases. I personally believe that Aids falls into that
category. Not all people who acquire aids (but the majority) have
committed sin causing their disease. Some disease is associated with
sin. Sin is a sickness itself. At any rate, we see here that in this
particular case, this disease was because of sin in the man's life.
Jesus went to the root cause of the disease and said thy sins be
forgiven thee. We cannot assume from this that all palsy is brought
on by sin.
Mark 2:6 "But there were certain of the scribes sitting there,
and reasoning in their hearts," Mark 2:7 "Why doth this [man] thus
speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?"
These scribes were not there to be of help in this ministry of
Jesus. They were here to spy and criticize. In verse 7 above, they
showed just how little they really knew or believed about Jesus. Their
first mistake was in believing that Jesus was just a man. Without
realizing it, they made a true statement. God alone can forgive sins.
Jesus is God the Word caught up in the body of a man. This was the
truth they failed to see. Many in our churches today cannot see Jesus
as anything but man. They are like these scribes, doubting, because
they put limits on Jesus. Were Jesus just a man, the scribes would
have been correct. Jesus, as we have said in all of these lessons,
was God manifest in the flesh: Emmanuel, God with us. God forgives
sins anytime, or anyplace, for anyone He wants to.
Mark 2:8 "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?"
It seems that these scribes did not speak out openly against
Jesus, but were just having evil thoughts. They were, probably, afraid
of the people too much to speak out openly. Just the fact that Jesus
knew what they were thinking in their hearts should have told them
that He was no mere man. Jesus nearly always answered them with a
question. He really was saying to them: if there were no good results,
you would have room to complain. Judge whether it is right or wrong
by the results.
Mark 2:9 "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?"
This man sick of the palsy had been around for the scribes to
minister to, and they had not been able to help him. Jesus, to me, was
saying here, Why complain about the manner it is done in, if it
works?
Mark 2:10 "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,)"
Mark 2:11 "I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy
way into thine house."
I believe, here, that Jesus was saying to these scribes, You do
not understand who I am. He called Himself, "Son of Man" because that was
who they believed He was. "Son" is capitalized. Jesus' power was not
diminished just because He was housed in the body of a man. His power
is not just in heaven, but here on the earth, as well.
Mark 2:12 "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."
Just as the wind obeyed Jesus in Matthew, we see, here, that this
man obeyed the voice of Jesus and did just exactly what Jesus told him
to do. He never doubted for a moment that he could do what Jesus told
him to, and he did it. You can imagine how amazed the people were.
They had not seen miracles like this done by the scribes. This was
something brand new. They realized that this was from God and they
glorified Him.
Mark 2:13 "And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the
multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them."
We see, here, that when Jesus left the house and went back to the
seaside, all these people followed Him; and He taught them. These
people were anxious to hear what Jesus had to say, because He had
answers to their problems. They had just witnessed a man healed of a
long time illness, and they realized Jesus had something these scribes
did not have.
Mark 2:14 "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."
In Matthew 9:9, Levi was called Matthew. Luke 5:27-28 tells about
this, also. Matthew, or Levi, whichever you want to call him, was a tax
collector. Publican actually indicated tax collector. Tax collectors
were hated by the people. Most tax collectors raked off some of the
revenue for themselves and were not really upright citizens. This man
would not have been someone the scribes would have chosen for
Christian endeavors. As far as making money, this was a good job.
Matthew gave up a lot of worldly income to follow Jesus. Matthew came
without hesitation when Jesus called.
Mark 2:15 "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."
The Hebrews were extremely careful who they associated with. They,
would not fellowship with people of the world and especially with tax
collectors. Jesus had broken the pattern again. He was doing something
in meeting with these tax collectors and sinners that the scribes
would never do. Jesus held promise even for these people that the
synagogue had rejected.
Mark 2:16 "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?"
Even at this early stage of Jesus' ministry, these scribes and
Pharisees knew that they were no match for Jesus. They came to the
disciples and talked to them. In a sense, they were saying, Don't you
know that in our law it is forbidden to eat with people like this?
They asked the disciples why was He doing this sinful thing?
Mark 2:17 "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."
We all know that everyone has need of Jesus as Saviour. I believe
that Jesus in speaking to these self-righteous people was telling them
that He didn't come to help those who did not want His help. Jesus came
to help whosoever will.These scribes and Phariseeswould not accept His help.
He was telling them, if you are already perfect, you don't need My help.
Jesus came to save the lost. A person must realize he needs help, before they will receive help. Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" You can easily see from this Scripture above in Romans, that He was speaking to them this way because of their self-righteousness.
Notes
Mark 4 Questions
1. As soon as Jesus went back to Capernaum and entered the house,
what happened?
2. Why had Jesus gone to the wilderness?
3. What was said that makes us know there was no more room in the
house?
4. After all these people gathered, what did Jesus do?
5. Why had so many come to hear Him preach?
6. Who brought the man sick of palsy to Jesus?
7. What did they do when they could not get him in the door?
8. What kind of disease is palsy?
9. What do we see in these four men who would not give up, until they
got the man sick of palsy to Jesus?
10. "When Jesus saw their _________________, he said unto the sick of
the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."
11. Why did this man have palsy?
12. What did these scribes say Jesus spoke?
13. What truth did they speak unknowingly?
14. Why had the scribes come to the house?
15. What did the scribes call Jesus that is the same mistake many
church goers make today?
16. How did Jesus know what they thought?
17. What could Jesus have said and gotten the same results?
18. Why did Jesus forgive his sins, instead of just saying be healed?
19. Why did Jesus call Himself, Son of man?
20. What did the man sick of the palsy do?
21. How did this affect the people?
22. Who did they praise for this?
23. When Jesus left the house and went to the seaside, what did the
people do?
24. What did Jesus go to the seaside to do?
25. Who did Jesus see as He passed the place of tax collecting?
26. What is this man's other name?
27. Who was this man the son of?
28. What two other books tell of Matthew's call?
29. Who were with Jesus that the scribes and Pharisees did not approve
of?
30. Who did the scribes and Pharisees complain to about Jesus'
behavior?
31. When Jesus heard their complaints, what did He say to them?
32. In Romans 3:23, we see what?
33. What was Jesus telling these scribes and Pharisees that they
were?
Notes
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