Mark 1:29-2:12

Jesus came to heal the sick

Physically sick

1:29-34, 40-42, 2:1-12

Spiritually Sick

1:38, 44, 2:5-11

Jesus’ miracles aren’t really what’s important

Christ’s miracles only last as long as that person’s health remains, but the message that He cam to preach and eventually die for is eternal

Even the message in His miracles are more important than the miracles themselves.

Mark 1:29–2:12 ESV

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. 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 know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Some thoughts on the passage

Mark 1:40

What a beautiful mark of the man’s faith, and it is because of this that in verse 41, Jesus can be moved with compassion.

Mark 1:45

This seems to show why Jesus wanted the leper to avoid talking

Emphasizes Jesus’ need to preach over the need to perform miracles

Mark 2:5

Unlike the leper in chapter one, Jesus does not approach this initial encounter with a physical healing, but a spiritual one.

Christ’s response to the judgement of the Pharisees illustrates the mission of Jesus. He could have easily healed the man first, but instead He chose to forgive his sins. This shows two things

Christ is not just a prophet or miracle worker

No one can forgive sins. It is a debt that was incurred by everyone to God. Someone can’t enter the equation and forgive your debt on behalf of someone else, only the one who is actually owed the debt could ever possible forgive that.

This is incredibly interesting because it not only shows the character of Christ, but also the character of the entire Trinity (difficult grammar, but you get it).

Christ’s mission is so much better than a handful of miracles in 1st century Israel.

Who can forgive sins? And who, if they could forgive sins, would offer it to a handful of people?

God can forgive sins, and it would be ridiculous if He was only willing to forgive a small group of individuals in the Ancient Near East. Instead, Christ steps on to the scene at the exact moment He did (seemingly) because history had led very quickly to a point where the Gospel could absolutely explode. He came to change the world, not just to give a few people a couple more decades of relative comfort before they die and spend eternity in hell.

Mark 2:13

After all of this, He goes right back to teaching, because the teaching is the most important thing.

Potential Outline.

Introduction

Tell the story of Jesus healing the paralytic man after his friends dropped him through the roof as if you were in the audience.

Focus on the fact that He forgave the paralytic from his sins.

How can He do that? Only God can forgive sins.

Text: Mark 1:29-2:12

2 main points

Jesus came to heal the sick

Physically sick

1:29-34, 40-2, 2:1-12

Spiritually sick

1:38, 44, 2:5-11

Jesus’ miracles aren’t what’s really important, it’s His message

Christ’s miracles only last as long as that person’s body does, but His message is eternal

Even the message in His miracles are more important than the miracle itself.

Conclusion

We can’t say that we know Jesus or even that He actually loves us if we don’t know why He came and did what He did

Not just the cross, but His entire life is supposed to be a love letter, and that should make you look at Jesus differently and respond to Him powerfully.

Potential Questions

When you think of a miracle, what is it that you think of?

Why do you think we focus on Jesus’ miracles so much?

How do you think that Jesus’ miracles point to His message?