Unsettling

Gospel of Mark

Mark 1:1 NIV

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,

Mark 1:15 (NLT)

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Mark 1:22 NLT

The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.

He ignored certain religious protocol. He claimed to have authority to forgive sin. He was uncomfortably comfortable around sinners and outcasts.

Mark 1:39 NLT

So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.

Mark 1:40 NLT

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.

Confident Jesus Can, hopeful that he will

Mark 1:41 NLT

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”

Mark 1:42 NLT

Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.

Mark 1:43 NLT

Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning:

Mark 1:44 NLT

“Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

Mark 1:45 NLT

But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.

Mark 2:2 NLT

Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them,

Mark 1:15 NLT

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Mark 2:3 NLT

four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.

Mark 2:4 NLT

They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.

Mark 2:5 NIV

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Mark 2:6 NLT

But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves,

Mark 2:7 NLT

“What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

Mark 2:8 NLT

Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?

Mark 2:9 NLT

Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?

Something is wrong with you because you did something wrong.

Mark 2:10 NLT

So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said,

Mark 2:11–12 NLT

“Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Mark 1:15 NLT

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Mark 2:14 NLT

As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.

Mark 2:15 NLT

Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.)

Lose-Lose

Just like me, they like me, I like them.

The Kingdom of God had come near. Everybody was invited to participate.

When you hear the term Faith in a religious context, what do you assume it means?

Read Mark 2.2-5

Mark 2:2–5 NLT

Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

The text says: “When Jesus saw their faith...” What did Jesus see that equated to faith?

We’ve all had unanswered prayers. Have you ever been blamed or blamed yourself for not having enough faith? Read Mark 1.39-40

Mark 1:39–40 NLT

So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons. A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.

How much faith did the leper have?