Opening Question
Have you ever been involved in something contentious or scandalous?
Introduction
This week’s lesson covers the next stories in Mark chapters 2 and 3. The stories are again punctuated with the word “immediately” which drives the stories forward. Jesus heals, but more than that, He also forgives sin. If this wasn’t enough to raise controversy, Jesus then asks a tax collector to become His student as well! But the controversies only begin here. Jesus becomes a target in these chapters!
Mark 2:1-12
One of my favorite stories in the gospels, a few points are worth noting here: first, Jesus does not heal this man because of his own faith, but that of others. Secondly, Jesus does not physically heal him first, but forgives his sins. Of course, this raises the ire of the Pharisees who do not believe anyone but God can forgive sins. But that is exactly the point here; as the “son of God,” Jesus has every right and the power to forgive the broken law!
What kind of effort did it take this man’s friends to bring Him to Jesus for healing? Would you do the same for a friend?
What is harder for Jesus: to heal this man of paralysis, or to forgive his sins? Which is more obvious that Jesus has actually accomplished what He says? What ultimately costs Jesus more?
Mark 2:13-17
Jesus calls Levi, the “son of Alphaeus.” He was a tax collector, sending Jewish money to Rome. Of course, he would be hated by his countrymen who called him a traitor. And apparently Levi knew other tax collectors, and introduces them to Jesus. Vs. 15 says they were following Jesus, too!
How would Jesus’ disciples have reacted to having a former tax collector traveling with them and learning from Jesus? What kind of tensions would arise?
Mark 2:18-22
Jesus offers some advice on fasting; the disciples did not fast while Jesus was among them, but Jesus promised they would once He was gone.
What is the spiritual value of fasting? What other values can it add physically, mentally, or time-wise? How can it hurt a person and who should be wary of it?
Jesus’ teaching on new wineskins and patched clothing is often misunderstood, but appears to be speaking about the need for flexible hearts to receive His “new” teachings!
Mark 2:23(-28 through 3:1)-3:6
Jesus and his disciples are accused to breaking the Jewish law regarding the Sabbath. However, there was no specific Deuteronomic or Levitical law prohibiting what they were doing. There was, on the other hand, plenty of Rabbinic “tradition of the elders” codified in the Talmud/Mishna outlawing this kind of reaping and threshing. But Jesus defends it with two examples from the Old Testament. Then he proceeds to heal a man on the Sabbath, knowing that the Pharisees were watching to “catch him” in a sinful act.
How do Jesus’ examples defend His actions on the Sabbath? How is Christ’s Lordship of the Sabbath to be understood today? Was He abrogating resting on the day memorializing creation? Or something else?
What example does Jesus leave us for keeping the Sabbath as a day of delight, both for ourselves and others? Is it a day to harm or give life?
Mark 3:7-12
Word about Jesus extends beyond Judea, and this will bear fruit later in both His own ministry and in that of the disciples. Again, we see “touch” mentioned in vs. 10, unclean spirits in vs. 11, and the Messianic secret in vs. 12, all major themes in this book!
Mark 3:13-19
Jesus calls the 12 He chose, and “appointed” them. The King James says “ordained,” which affects our understanding of how God choses pastors. However, the original word here is simply “to do” or “to make” (Greek: poieo), and not some kind of ritual laying on of hands with earthly authority. We see later in Mark that Jesus does not give the 12 this kind of Gentile power. Rather the 12 were sent to preach about the kingdom, but to have “authority over demons.” Many today believe that authority is for preaching as well, but this is not the case here.
How can we best understand the idea of “appointing” only men here while we do not see Jesus calling any women, yet the end of Mark has women commissioned to announce the resurrection before the men receive the news?
Mark 3:20-30
Jesus was perceived as crazy/mad/insane by those who heard him, and even his family suggested that he had lost His senses. From this, scribes began accusing Him of having a demon himself.
How did Jesus’ continuous exorcisms in Mark demonstrate that it was not by the hand of Satan that Jesus could do such miracles? How does Jesus say this would be counter-productive?
Mark 3:31-35
Who were Jesus’ real family? Verses 34-35 would have made his family even more concerned because He appeared to be abandoning them and instead choosing a new family. For Jesus, faith is stronger than blood! These verses conclude the sandwich story started in vs. 20.
If the family of Jesus is filled with those who do His Father’s will, how do I enter it if keeping His law is so difficult, and the morality is so elevated?
Closing Comments
These pericopes (stories) all demonstrate the real beginning of controversies that will conclude Mark’s gospel with Jesus’ death at the hands of the Pharisees, scribes and others. But even that event will show Jesus’ power and sonship of the living God!
