Mark 2 & 3

Mark 2

Mark 2:1–12 “And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may…”

Perspective

The Crowd

What do you think the crowd was thinking?

The Friends

Who were these friends? What do you think there thought process was?

The lame man

“Son, your sins are forgiven.” Do you think this is what he wanted to hear?

Take a moment and think… if you could have Jesus fix anything in your life, what would it be? (FC)

The Pharasees

Let’s try to understand the scribes problem. What’s going on here?

Only God has the ability to forgive sins.

How does Jesus respond to their questions?

How Big of a Deal is your SIN? (FC)

Think back on what you would have wanted Jesus to fix in your life if he was willing to fix anything.

Where would your one thing rank compared to the sin that separates you from God?

Jesus is challenging the whole system that the Jews know as their religion. In the rest of this chapter we will see this over and over.

Mark 2:13-28

QUESTIONS FROM THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS

13-17 - Why do you dine with Sinners? - TRANSFORMATION

Matthew - Tax Collector - Writer of the first Gospel in your bible.

What does Jesus mean when he says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Let’s read 1 Timothy 1:15 and see how it relates to this answer.

1 Timothy 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

Saul would have thought himself as one of the Pharisees, righteous and healthy.

How did Paul, after meeting Jesus fell about himself? - TRANSFORMATION

18-22 - Why do your disciples not fast? - TRANSFORMATION

Talking about John the Baptist disciples and Jesus disciples. They fast his do not. How does Jesus’ response answer anything at all?

Jesus is declaring that something new has come. It can’t be contained by these old thought processes and religion. Jesus is bringing a new idea that needs to be placed in new transformed hearts. Remember the example of Saul to Paul before.

Jesus is proclaiming salvation. Johns message of repent for the Kingdom of God is near is standing right in front of them all. He’s standing right in front of you right now. He wants to transform you. He wants to make you new. God doesn’t just mend your heart… he gives you a brand new one.- TRANSFORMATION

Quick side note, we see here that Jesus already has grasp on his whole mission while here on earth.

23-28 - Why do your disciples break the Sabbath? - TRANSFORMATION

Someone tell me what the issue is here?

Why is eating grain unlawful? What is the Sabbath?

Tell the Story of David and his men - 1 Samuel 21:1-6

So, what is Jesus getting at?

The sabbath was made for man to rest and restore himself for life and to connect with and worship God. -TRANSFORMATION

The Pharisees made the sabbath burdensome for everyone by making them follow rules.

Conclusion (FC)

What is Mark trying to tell us about Jesus in these first two chapters?

What does Mark tell us Jesus has Authority over?

Jesus has Authority over Sickness, relationships, religious orders, the law, and sin.

What is the focus of Jesus ministry?

People or being religiously correct?

Who benefits from what Jesus says and teaches? Who loses out?

What do Jesus’s words tell you about how God treats his people?

Closing idea: How do you treat your relationship with Jesus? First, do you have a relationship with God? Have you allowed Jesus to transform your hear into a new heart. If you desire that we can help you out tonight. Please talk with a leader.

If you are trying to follow Jesus, do you find yourself trying to follow the rules or do you find yourself searching your heart and in purity and devotion running toward God.

I ask you what do you think Jesus desires?

Mark 3

Mark 3:1–6 “Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.”

Why do you think in Vs. 5 Jesus looks around at them “in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts”? What don’t the Pharisees understand?

The Pharisees don’t want to believe Jesus because their hearts are hard.

Their hearts are hard because they think they are right in their interpretation of the law. They think they are so right in the way that they obey the law that they are actually disobeying God in what they do.

Vs. 5 “distressed at their stubborn hearts”

Can you think of a time when being stubborn has gotten in the way of you doing what is right?

Mark 3:7–12 “Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.”

What do you see in this passage of scripture concerning the setting?

Huge crowd from everywhere

Crowds of people pushing just to touch Jesus.

What specifically is Mark telling us about Jesus?

“You are the Son of God”

Mark 3:13–19 “Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

Here are your twelve disciples.

Mark 3:20–34 “Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” He said…”

What is Jesus saying about those who say that He is crazy or doing things by the power of the devil?

The unforgivable Sins. (vs 28-29).

Let’s figure this one out? What is “Blaspheme”.

Means to revile or speak against someone but is especially used in our context about God.

So, what is the unforgivable sin? See Matthew 12:31 and Luke 12:10

One of the things that we see with the Pharisees is that they have a history of hardness of heart. The continually accuse Jesus of falsehood and blaspheme. This hardening of their hearts has led them to a place of committing this sin.

Has anyone ever worried about maybe committing that sin?

How do we know if we have?

What would it look like to be cut off from God?

Next week we jump into parables in Chapter 4. One of Jesus’s favorite way of teaching. It’s a story that is somewhat of a riddle in that the things he talks about represent greater truths that what are see on the surface.

We will also get into chapter 5 and see Jesus do some more miraculous healing, demon slaying, and death raising. Mark will reveal to us some pretty exciting things about Jesus.

If we have time we will get into Chapter 6 as well. So, read through chapter 6 for next week. If we don’t get to it all, you will be ahead.