The Book of Mark - Part 2

READING FROM 2:13-3:34

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The Book of Mark

SECTION 1:

STORIES:

Jesus calls Matthew (Levi) and eats with sinners - Mark 2:13-17

The Pharisees ask the question, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’. They obviously weren’t looking for an explanation

Mark 2:17

Mark 2:17 NIV

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 identified God’s changed priority - Jesus has come to call the sinners, the lost. Previously, the jews thought the focus and culmination of God’s effort was on the jewish people - but they were the tool, not the prize.

But this isn’t a new thing - God indicated from the very beginning that this was the plan. The promise to Abraham, that the jews held fast for themselves, was a promise to bless the entire world through abraham’s descendants (Genesis 22:18)

Genesis 22:18 NIV

and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

Jesus questioned about fasting - Mark 2:18-22

Some people ask Jesus why his disciples do not fast. And this one has a possitive connection at least - that John’s disciples were held up as an example as well.

Jesus identified God’s changed method - that His presence was a cause for rejoicing rather than fasting. He called himself the bridegroom. A fast is a time of somber reflection - a wedding was a cause for rejoicing.

Mark 2:19

Mark 2:19 NIV

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.

But Jesus also identifies God’s new movement - he talks about the idea of putting an unshrunk cloth on an old garment.

Mark 2:21-22

Mark 2:21–22 NIV

“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. 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.”

Jesus talks about how God has new things he’s doing - and we need new vessels and environments to handle it.

PART 2

Jesus questioned about the sabbath - Mark 2:23-27

Now, this is where people start to get overtly hostile towards Jesus. His disciples are picking heads of grain, and the pharisees say, straight up, Mark 2:24

Mark 2:24 NIV

The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Now, to be clear - the requirement that the jews are talking about here isn’t a biblical one, it’s a rabbinic one.

But even then, Jesus points way back to God’s original intention. He tells a story about David eating some consecrated bread. Now, that one WAS explicitly commanded in the bible directly to not happen.

Leviticus 24:8-9

Leviticus 24:8–9 NIV

This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord.”

So, the jews come to him and say ‘why are you breaking the law?’ - though they technically weren’t, not in a biblical sense. But Jesus replies with, hey, remember that time David himself straight up actually broke the law?

Mark 2:27

Mark 2:27 NIV

Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

God created something to be a blessing and a support, and human effort turned it into a burden and a requirement. The jews would rather someone starve to death than disrupt their religious system - God was happy to share his food.

How much do we do that today? How much is our concept of following God tied to judgment we think will follow if we aren’t strictly following a pattern?

Eric Liddel was a devout christian and a british olympic runner. His best event was the 100m dash. He competed in the 1924 Olympic games in Paris - but he steadfast refused to compete in the 100m dash. Because they were holding the event on a Sunday - and that was the Sabbath to him.

HOWEVER -

Jesus and healing on the sabbath - Mark 3:1-6

They were looking for a reason to accuse him, so they waited to see if he would heal on the sabbath

Mark 3:4-5

Mark 3:4–5 NIV

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.

Jesus accused of being possessed by beelzebul / his family thinks he’s out of his mind - Mark 3:20-34

Mark 3:27

Mark 3:27 NIV

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.

Mark 3:28-29

Mark 3:28–29 NIV

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.”

Mark 3:34-35

Mark 3:34–35 NIV

Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”