Stories of the Rabbi 3

Mark 1:39-45; 2:1-17

Religious groups of people in Jesus’ world:

· Sadducees were Levite priests who did not believe in the resurrection and were skeptical of anything supernatural.

· Pharisees – Jewish fundamentalists

· Essenes - a mystic isolationist group in the Dead Sea area.

o They believed the current Temple leaders and procedures were corrupt and had to be replaced with those who followed the Torah.

· Scribes – religious lawyers Could also be Sadducees or Pharisees.

· Sanhedrin – Everyone except for the Essenes – the primary leadership group for the Jews in Israel.

Mark 1:38-45: The healing of a leper.

· Vs. 38-39 - The word used for the other “towns” (κωμόπολις kōmopolis) suggests large agricultural towns still governed according to regular village structures; these were apparently places that had not yet heard of Jesus. He probably could have drawn the largest crowds in the synagogues on market days and sabbaths and in late afternoons or early evenings when laborers had finished their day’s work.[1]

· Vs. 40 – man with leprosy.

o Hanson’s Disease - is a long-term infection by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve damage may result in a lack of ability to feel pain, which can lead to the loss of parts of a person’s extremities from repeated injuries or infection through unnoticed wounds. An infected person may also experience muscle weakness and poor eyesight. Leprosy symptoms may begin within one year, but, for some people, symptoms may take 20 years or more to occur.[2]It is now curable.

o The man was considered unclean and untouchable by the culture.

o Notice the qualified statement – “if you are willing.” Why do you think he put it that way?

· Vss. 41-42 - healing the outsider

o How did Jesus feel about this man? Compassion.

o What did he do? He touched the man.

§ This act would be very offensive to all the Jews around the scene.

§ Unclean (death) would transfer through touch.

o Jesus stated he was willing – is God willing to always heal us?

o He ordered the man to be clean.

§ Instead of unclean death transferred to Jesus, cleansing life transferred to the man.

o Euthos – the man was healed! He was clean!

· Vss. 43-44 – The Messianic secret

o He sent the man away euthos.

o Jesus gave him three instructions and an explanation:

§ Tell no one what happened.

§ Go to the priests.

§ Present the correct sacrifice (Lev. 13-14).

§ Why? It is a testimony to God’s healing.

o Why was the man instructed not to tell anyone?

§ Healing of leprosy was seen as a messianic action.

§ Two reasons:

· The man was not to declare himself healed until a priest verified it. This action would be the appropriate proof of Jesus as Messiah.

· Jesus was attempting to quell counterproductive publicity of his ministry – just another miracle worker.

Mark 2:1-12: Spiritual and physical healing.

· Vs. 1 – Where? Back at Capernaum at “home” – probably Peter’s home.

· Vs. 2 – a crowded house, and Jesus was preaching “the word.”

o Scripture – he was doing a Bible study.

· Vss. 3-4 the paralytic.

o Who is they? Friends of the paralyzed man.

o A paralytic would be considered unclean.

§ Read Jn 9:1-3 – the cultural view is that physical sicknesses and infirmities were caused by sin.

§ Book of Job addresses this head-on.

o The audacity of the friends.

§ Cut a hole in the roof.

§ Lowered an unclean man into the midst of the crowd.

· Vs. 5 – The compassion of Jesus

o Jesus admires the friend’s audacity, “Seeing their faith (trust)” in Him.

o Jesus first did spiritual healing by forgiving man’s sins.

· Vss. 6-7 – The reaction of the religious elite.

o Mark was careful to note that the scribes did not voice their offense.

o They thought that Jesus forgiving sins was blasphemous as only God could do that.

· Vss. 8-9 The audacity of Jesus

o Jesus reads their minds – euthos.

o Two questions:

§ Why do you think these things?

§ Which is easier, forgiving sins or healing a paralyzed man?

· Vss. 10-11 – a new title for Jesus.

o Jesus claims authority as the “Son of man.”

§ This title sometimes refers to just being a human (e.g., Job 25:6).

§ Jesus is using it as a reference to Daniel 7:13-14.

· A vision of Messiah who has equality with God.

§ This claim is why Jesus has the authority not just over demons or sickness but also to forgive sins,

§ Mark is making the case that Jesus is God.

§ Jesus orders the man to pick up his mat and go home.

· Vs. 12 – Euthos, the man, got up and went home.

o Notice the crowd’s reaction:

§ Astonishment

§ Gave glory to God

§ Something completely new – never done before.

Mark 2:13-17 Matthew is called

· Vs. 13 Where? What?

o By the sea

o Teaching the crowds.

· Vs. 14 – He saw Levi (Greek name Matthew – notice the name drops his dad Alphaeus).

o Simple command – Follow me – and he does.

o Sitting at the tax office

§ A tax collector worked for Rome – a customs agent charging import duties and goods brought through the town.

§ Some were honest, some were not – that wasn’t the issue.

§ Tax collectors were seen as conspirators with Rome and unclean by definition.

· Vss. 15-16 At Levi’s house

o Those outside the religious community surround Jesus.

§ Reclining at the table – how they ate.

§ Eating a meal with someone was a very intimate act in the ancient world; it signified a sort of alliance.

§ Notice – “many were following him.”

o The scribes ask why a teacher with authority would associate and ally with unclean people.

· Vs. 17 Jesus answers.

o Uses the metaphor of the sick needing a doctor.

o He emphatically states he is calling those lost in sin to be found.

o “I didn’t come to call the righteous.” – Do you sense a hint of sarcasm?

[1]Keener, Craig S. 1993. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leprosy