Mark Chapter 2. (How to Study the Bible)
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Prayer: Father as we read your word, we ask that you open our eyes to see and our ears to hear what You are saying to us. Thankyou for your words to us. Amen
Mark 2: 1-12
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man
A few days later, 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, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately, Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
OBSERVATION - ( What is the text about? Who, What, How, Why, When & Where) -
The first thing that pops out to me is that Capernaum is referred to as Jesus' home. I had not noticed this before. The second thing is that Jesus returned there, indicating that he was not always on the road. Did he come home to refresh? To spend time with his family? Food for thought. Jesus was becoming increasingly well-known, and returning to his hometown meant drawing larger crowds. And his name was becoming widely known due to the miracles he performed and the words he spoke, words that brought both blessing and division. The difference between those who believed in him and those who were so caught up in their religious mindsets that they couldn't see the miracle that was in front of them.
INTERPRETATION - (What is the message of the text? What is the context?) - The importance of faith despite the obstacles. If faith had not been applied here, the paralyzed man may never have been healed. There were many reasons why that healing may not have happened. Those reasons could have crowded out his healing. Sometimes the path of healing is hard. Reasoning kills faith. Jesus preached the word to all those who came, but not all came with the same intentions. Beware, not all among you are for you.
APPLICATION - (What does it mean for me personally? What needs to change in me?) - Lord, I lay down my reasoning. I lay down the desire that everything makes sense. I lay down my religiousity. I lay down every obstacle that comes between me and receiving all you are offering me. I give up striving, questions, and doubt. I walk by faith, not by sight. Thank you, Jesus, that as I look to you, not to whatever is around me, that I am becoming more and more a woman who walks by faith and not by sight.
Mark 2:13-21
Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners
13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus Questioned About Fasting
18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”
19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with
them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”
OBSERVATION - ( What is the text about? Who, What, How, Why, When & Where) - As Jesus continues to teach and gather disciples He is questioned by the religious leaders. Tax collectors and sinners had no problem eating and associating with Jesus, nor He with them.
INTERPRETATION - (What is the message of the text? What is the context?) - Jesus came to save sinners; to those who knew they were not righteous. He came for the sick; those who recognize their need for his spiritual help. He came to offer a joyful and new beginning that cannot be contained in old, rigid traditions. Religious leaders could not recognize him while they clung to traditions and self-righteousness.
APPLICATION - (What does it mean for me personally? What needs to change in me?) - All too often, it is still the same today. I criticize others because of my religious mindsets that have brainwashed me and blinded me to the truth. So often I judge others based on "what the bible says". Yet Jesus came to show us a new way. Not so much about what we do, but who we believe in. Not so much about our status in society, but how we treat our fellow man. Not so much about religious rituals that blind us to truly knowing the Lord we profess to serve! Oh Lord, forgive me and help me to truly follow you and your ways, not the mindsets that blind me to the truth. Renew me, Lord, make me new; a new wineskin that you can pour yourself into!
Mark 2:23-28
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
OBSERVATION - ( What is the text about? Who, What, How, Why, When & Where) - This is about the Pharisees judging Jesus and basing their judgment on what the law said.
INTERPRETATION - (What is the message of the text? What is the context?) - Jesus pointed out the proper context of the law that he was being judged with. He explained that the Sabbath was made for man and that the law shouldn't deny a man in genuine need.
APPLICATION - (What does it mean for me personally? What needs to change in me?) - I agree that the law shouldn't deny a man in genuine need. However, for me, the verse that stands out is "the Sabbath was made for the man," and I sense the Holy Spirit urging me to remember that although laws aren't meant to blind us, as was the case here, the Sabbath remains a special day of the week. I am encouraged to keep the Sabbath as a part of my life, as it is a good principle to not only rest regularly but to set aside a special holy time with the Lord regularly. The Lord is reminding me that His laws are for our benefit, and it is wise to live by them, without letting them blind us to the needs that may arise in life. Thank you, Jesus.
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