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MARK: AN OVERVIEW

(CHAPTER TWO)

JIM LAWS

In the second chapter of the book of Mark one will find four important paragraphs. First, there is the matter of the man, sick of the palsy, that is miraculously healed by the Lord (Mark 2:1-12; see Matthew 9:1-8). As Jesus returns to Capernaum, the news of Jesus and his arrival spread, so that the place where Jesus was staying was filled with people. Four men arrive carrying a man, who is sick of the palsy; since they could not get to Jesus through the crowd, they dug through the roof above his head and lowered the sick man down in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick man, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee" (vs. 5). Howeve, when certain Jewish leaders heard this, they realized that Jesus was attributing the authority of God to himself, as only God can forgive sins (vs. 7). Jesus knew their hearts and asked them why they would think this way. The Messiah has the authority to forgive sins. To prove this Jesus heals miraculously the paralyzed man; he immediately picks up the stretcher and walks away. This miracle brought about a stunned reaction from the crowd, who glorified God stating that they had never seen anything like this before.

The second paragraph of the chapter relates the calling of Matthew (vv. 13-20; see Matthew 9:9-13). As Jesus is teaching, he walks up to Levi, who was the son of Alphaeus, sitting at his tax collection table; Jesus calls him to follow him and be his disciple (v.14). Matthew is so taken with Jesus that he invites him to be his guest in his house, where he has invited other tax collectors, as well as, other sinners, who sit and eat with Jesus and his disciples. The text says there were many; they followed him (vs. 15). However, when the scribes and the Pharisees saw Jesus eating with such, they asked his disciples how Jesus could be eating with such people? The Lord's answer to them is classic, "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" (vs. 17).

The question regarding fasting arises at this point and the Lord's reply, once again, instructs regarding the fact that the bridegroom is here. There would come a time when the bridegroom would be gone, and then they will have opportunity to fast and pray. Keep in mind, that there was a fast prescribed by the old law during the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29-34). However, by New Testament times the Pharisees would fast twice a week (Luke 18:12). The Lord's reference to one day being taken away from them is but an early prediction of his death (vs. 20).

By verses 23-28 Mark refers us to the incident, where Jesus and his disciples passed through the grain field, and as they do, his disciples begin to pluck the heads of grain and eat them. This, of cours, was not stealing (Deut. 23:25). The Pharisees try to find fault with Jesus over this, since this was done on the Sabbath day. However, Jesus plainly demonstrates their inconsistency, as he reminds them of a time in David's life, when he ate the bread, which only the priests were allowed to eat (See I Sam. 21:1-6). In reality, David was guilty, yet the religious leaders of Jesus day still honored David. Here Christ who eats that which is lawful is innocent, and they try to find fault. Based on all that Jesus did they should have accepted him for who he was, the Son of God. His reference to himself being Lord of the Sabbath is another reference to his divine nature. The Lord's statement really takes the question out of the matter of argument and into the matter of divine authority. God does not always do things our way; God is above the Sabbath. Jesus has shown the inconsistency of his disputants and has reasserted his own authority.

Mark has taught us in this chapter that Jesus is, indeed, God in the flesh, as only God has the authority and power to forgive sins--notice the case of the paralytic (vv. 1-12). Further, he has shown that the character of Christ is irreproachable, even though he was attacked over the company that he kept (vv. 13-17). Closely related to this matter is the question of keeping the Sabbath. Once again Jesus and his moral character are beyond question. With each occasion he vindicates his conduct by demonstrating the error of the scribes and the Pharisees and in turn proves his owns innocence.

MARK continued

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