2:1-2 Mark observes (for us because we did not get to experience it for ourselves) that Jesus' message swept through multitudes of people. People swarmed the area. Jesus had time for all of them. He spoke to them with love and guidance and became their direction, their destination.
2:3-4 Four men bring a man suffering from paralysis to Jesus. Do not overlook this statement. These men carried him to Jesus and their arduous efforts revealed their face in Jesus, and also their compassion for the man.
The crowd was so large that they could not even get near to Jesus but their faith was so strong that they did not give up on Him or turn away... they sought Him.
Let's examine this as a metaphor: Today, we must also seek God and Jesus. We can't give up when something is not easy or tangible to our fingers. We have to put in effort to develop our faith. And true, solid faith reaps so much love.
2:5 Jesus saw their faith but remember that faith is also defined by our actions. Jesus noticed that these men were compassionate and caring for this helpless man.
And what does Jesus mean when He forgives our sins? Jesus means to tell us that we do not have to let our mistakes define who we are. Jesus lets us know that God completely wipes our errors off the board once we learn from them and work to do and be better. Jesus is freeing us from ourselves. He wants us to be confident and brave and to have a healthy amount of self worth... by forgiving our sins He reminds us that we can change and that we can be whoever we want to. We are not tied to our mistakes if we bind ourselves to God.
2:6-7 By now, we are quite familiar with these folk: the religious and state leaders. Instead of listening to Jesus and fairly analyzing His message, they immediately seek to derail Him.
They ask: Who is allowed to forgive sins but God alone? If they were being fair and thoughtful, they might have realized that Jesus had come through God (with His blessing, with His guidance, with His help).
2:8 Jesus knew what His adversaries were thinking about and talking about. He had a lesson for them, too:
2:9 Jesus gives them a bit of evidence... He asks them, do you doubt I am God because it's easier to "say" sins are forgiven rather than display a sign of power? Jesus gives them a sign of power:
2:10 Before Jesus heals this man, He informs everyone that He does in fact have the authority to forgive sins. Jesus wants us to know this message: 1) the most important gift from God is the gift of spiritual strength and to have that spiritual strength, He gives you forgiveness and a fresh start. 2) after we have healed our souls and become strong, He will heal our bodies.
2:11 Jesus heals the man right through His speech.
2:12 The man arises and walks. God can heal you, too. It's fascinating to feel God's presence transform your life. God gives us the courage, the strength, the wisdom and the opportunity to battle your adversaries and our challenges - but you have to trust Him and give Him permission to do so. If you reject or neglect Him, He stays quiet in your life because you have asked Him to (whether you realize it or not).
People were amazed and glorified God. Look around our beautiful, natural world...even beyond the skies into the universe. It is amazing. God is amazing. Glorify Him for the everyday miracles humanity often overlooks: our complex physiology, the pull of the ocean by the moon, the vitamins which nourish us from a sun whose distance from us we can barely even conceive!
2:13 Everywhere Jesus went He taught. Jesus never took a break. He was motivated, directed and inspired by God at all times. People were transformed by His message and they loved to learn and be with Him.
2:14 Levi joins the disciples, follows Jesus.
2:15 Jesus dined with tax collectors and sinners. We can assume by the coming verse that these men were all corrupt in their lives and/or professions. The disciples were gathered there as well.
2:16 The scribes and the Pharisees scoffed at Jesus for sitting with these imperfect people - and this inspires Jesus to teach one of the most important lessons in the Bible:
2:17 Let's dissect this as a metaphor: The people who needed Jesus were not the people who already loved and believed in God... because they already had His guidance and comfort. The people who needed to dine and learn from Jesus were the people who need direction, guidance and comfort. God extends the invitation to His house to everyone. God has no exclusive list. God denies nobody. Instead, God lets us decide if we want to come in and if we make the effort to get to the door.
By dining with sinners, Jesus was uncovering a path for them they might not have seen. Jesus was giving them a chance to improve their lives, to find purpose and compassion. Jesus invited them to His home where everyone is loved equally, despite the mistakes they have made in their lives.
There is a parable we will cover in Luke 15 which builds upon this: The Parable of the Lost Son, in which we learn that God is so overjoyed when someone turns back to Him. God loves all of His children, but it is so precious to Him when someone who veered off of His path returns to it.
We will cover this in more depth in the Book of Luke study.
2:18 The Pharisees return to find a new reason to debase Jesus. They want to know why Jesus' disciples are not fasting. We know, because we are careful and wise students, that the disciples were quite busy with learning, living and travelling with Jesus.
2:19 This is Jesus' answer: When a person fasts, they are fasting in quiet respect... they are devoting their thought to an entity they are not with. The disciples were with Jesus, who had come through God. They did not need to fast because they were in His presence! And because it was their moment to learn from Him and enjoy their time with Him. To show their reverence.
2:20 Jesus continues: His time here to teach was limited. He would have to leave soon and when He had returned to God, it would then be time for the disciples to fast and meditate on their Teacher and His instruction.
2:21 It would be pointless to mend a shirt that is not torn -- it would be pointless to retreat and think and Jesus when Jesus was right there alive and teaching! Jesus came to teach the messages that would inspire us to fast in God's name. We need to know God before we proclaim our faith.
2:22 It makes no sense to waste a good, new, pure thing by pouring it in an old, broken bottle. Jesus brought a new, beautiful message and He wanted people to hear it, experience it and accept it before they ran off and fasting about something they did not even know about yet.
2:23 The disciples and Jesus did a lot of travelling. On their way through a grain-field, the disciples plucked some of the grain to eat because they were hungry.
2:24 The Pharisees watched and were eager to catch the disciples doing something wrong. God never proclaimed that it was unlawful to pluck grain on the Sabbath.
2:25 We are referred to scripture involving David in the Old Testament.
2:26 David and those who follow God are teachers of the Word through their actions and their God-given wisdom are teachers, they are priests.
2:27 Sabbath was made for man: the Sabbath was designated for humans so that they had a complete day, at least, devoted to working for God and communicating with Him. Jesus never rested and God never rests; they stay motivated. You always should remain motivated, working in the Word of God and you will receive your rest.
2:28 Jesus is the Lord of that rest: He taught us how to maintain it and how to sustain it. We work! Those of us who remain compassionate and hard-working with God find that we can handle anything. God gives us strength, courage and wisdom and we find an eternal rest in Him. People who reject God often have more difficult lives because they give up and reject the love and comfort that God gives to us.
2:24 The Pharisees watched and were eager to catch the disciples doing something wrong. God never proclaimed that it was unlawful to pluck grain on the Sabbath.
2:25 We are referred to scripture involving David in the Old Testament.
2:26 David and those who follow God are teachers of the Word through their actions and their God-given wisdom are teachers, they are priests.
2:27 Sabbath was made for man: the Sabbath was designated for humans so that they had a complete day, at least, devoted to working for God and communicating with Him. Jesus never rested and God never rests; they stay motivated. You always should remain motivated, working in the Word of God and you will receive your rest.
2:28 Jesus is the Lord of that rest: He taught us how to maintain it and how to sustain it. We work! Those of us who remain compassionate and hard-working with God find that we can handle anything. God gives us strength, courage and wisdom and we find an eternal rest in Him. People who reject God often have more difficult lives because they give up and reject the love and comfort that God gives to us.
