Mark Chapter 2. (How to Study the Bible)
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.