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The Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Part 2 Paralytic Healed vv. 1 - 12. 2. 1 - 2. Now after some days, when he returned to Capernaum, the news spread that he was at home. So many gathered that there was no longer any room, not even by the door, and he preached the word to them. Jesus returns to Capernaum most probably again to Peter's house. As soon as it was known that He was there the people came in multitudes, so much so that they filled and surrounded the house. This time however these people came not to be healed but to be taught and receive the word of God. Nevertheless, wherever and whenever there was a need of healing Jesus responded for healing was one of the signs to show that He was the Messiah/Christ (Luke 7:22). 2. 3 - 4. Some people came bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. When they were not able to bring him in because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus. Then, after tearing it out, they lowered the stretcher the paralytic was lying on. As Jesus was preaching four men arrive carrying a friend who was completely paralyzed. It would seem that he was unable to do anything for himself and had to be fed, clothed and washed by his friends for we do not read in any of these verses that he moved any part of his body. These comrades had most probably heard about Jesus healing and had therefore come expecting Him to do the same for their friend. On arriving Jesus was in the middle of preaching and there was no way they could get through the throng to draw his attention to the plight of the man. Their faith was so great that they were determined by any means to bring him to Jesus. This is an instance when obstinacy and stubbornness are right because it is used for and directed towards God and for a good cause. They did not give up but persevered until they accomplished what they set out to do even if it did mean carting the man up to the roof top and tearing the roof apart and lowering him down on ropes to the feet of Jesus (Gal. 6:9). 2.5. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." In seeing the faith of the man's friends Jesus responds. He saw beyond the physical need of the man, and the man himself became more conscious of his spiritual need than his physical. Perhaps this is
why we do not hear of the man having faith but his friends having it for him. So the Lord does not say "be healed" as the people expected Him to but "your sins are forgiven you." 2.6 - 7. Now some of the experts in the law were sitting there, turning these things over in their minds: "Why does this man speak this way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" This caused a stir among some of the teachers/scribes in the crowd (not all of them) and they began to reason it out in their minds what He had just said and the implications of it according to their knowledge of the scriptures. They knew that no one could forgive sins (that is, remove guilt, remit the penalty and bestow righteousness) except God, therefore by making this statement Jesus was guilty of blasphemy. We may wonder how Jesus could forgive this man's sin at this point when He had not yet made atonement for sin, when He had not yet completed the works of salvation by nailing our sins to the cross. There is nothing wrong in us trying to reason things out in fact God invites us to "reason together" with Him (Isaiah 1: 18). We know that Jesus Christ was God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3: 16) and therefore on this fact alone He was able to forgive sins. It is because He is the Son of God as well as the Son of Man that He knew that His mission in coming into the world would be achieved and that nothing would stop Him obtaining salvation. It is on the strength of this that He could say to the man "your sins are forgiven you." 2.8. Now immediately, when Jesus realized in his spirit that they were contemplating such thoughts, he said to them, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? They did not openly speak to Jesus but He knew what was going on in their hearts and minds (John 2:25) and so He questions their reasoning. 2.9. Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk?' They of course wanted infallible proof that He is who He claims to be for they incessantly demanded signs (Mark 8: 11). Therefore, Jesus gave them one that they did not ask for. First of all He asked them which is it easier to say "your sins are forgiven" or "be healed." Of course, it is equally easy to say both phrases and for divine power to justify either phrase. There is no outward sign by which the reality of the forgiveness of sins can be tested, while it is a sign to all whether a lame man actually walks or not. A. Cole says “it was an easier thing to heal the body than to restore the soul, a prophet might heal, but no mere prophet could ever forgive sins.” 2.10 - 12. But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," — he said to the paralytic — "I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher, and go home." And immediately the man stood up, took his stretcher, and went out in front of them all. They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" In order that they may see and positively know that He is indeed the Son of God and as such has the right, the power and authority to forgive sins, He turns to the man and tells him to arise pick up his bed and go home, and he immediately does, much to the amazement of the people, who give the glory to God.
Jesus and the Word v. 13. 2.13. Jesus went out again by the sea. The whole crowd came to him, and he taught them. Jesus now goes to the seaside and is followed by the crowd whom He teaches about the things of God. In 1: 14 we saw that Jesus 'proclaimed' (kerusso) or heralds the good news in 1: 21 He teaches (didasko) in 2: 2 He talks through the word (laleo)ÂŻand this verse He again teaches (didasko) the word. In these three different terms we can say that He evangelised, He instructed from the scriptures and He informally taught the people.
A Tax Collector chosen as a disciple vv. 14 - 17 2.14. As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth. Follow me," he said to him. And he got up and followed him. As with the other disciples Jesus did not just pass by or just happen to see Levi/Matthew, He purposes this to be so. The other disciples were fishermen Matthew was entirely a different kettle of fish. He was one of the despised and hated tax collectors for the Romans and many eyebrows were raised at his calling. These people were often greedy, grasping and immoral. It was this man that Jesus chose and he immediately left his job and followed Him. 2.15. As Jesus was having a meal in Levi's home, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. From Luke 5: 29 it seems that this was a feast put on by Matthew to which he invited all his old business acquaintances, and there was a great many of them, so that he could introduce them to his new master. 2.16. When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" This brought the wrath and criticism of the Pharisees down upon the Lord, because to them He was contaminating himself by mixing with those known to be notorious sinners and tax collectors. We know from the story of the Good Samaritan" that neither the priest or Levite would help the man attacked by robbers in case they became ceremonially unclean. (Luke 10: 30 - 37). They were wrong in their judgment of Him for firstly, when a person became a friend or follower of Jesus they had turned from their sins, secondly, He needed to be reach this kind of people whose need was so great. 2.17. When Jesus heard this he said to them, "Those who are healthy don't need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." When Jesus became aware of their criticism He told them straight that it was for the lost and for sinners that He came into the world (Luke 19:10), to call them to repent and be saved. It is these people who are most conscious of their need of salvation whereas the religious have no sense of their need. The illustration He uses is that of a sick person needing a doctor, whereas those who are healthy do not. Not that He was in anyway suggesting that religious people do not need a saviour. They need to have their eyes and hearts open to the truth "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3: 23).
© Derek Williams 2013 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org