Mark Pt. 4: The Forgiveness Of Sin

Mark 2:1-12

1 When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them.

3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’?

10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

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Mark Pt. 3: What Jesus Wants

Christ wants everyone to know Him

How much time do we spend figuring out what Jesus wants? We see him mostly as a teacher, a exorcist and a healer…and He is really in demand. But what does He want to show us trough His actions and words?

We are looking at the 1st days of His public ministry. He begins a pattern of prolific public ministry followed by Him going off alone for prayer and then initiating new things. He demonstrates how He wants to be highly accessible and highly personal. He shows them and us how He wants to be intimate and touch us with His influence. He is going to show His compassion and mercy on a big scale and it little ways. He is going to show us what He wants to do for us and with us

Mark 1:29-45 (NASB 1995)

29 And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her. 31 And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them.

  • Same day as the exorcism in the synagogue (lunch after church)
  • Simon’s mother [what about Andrew’s mom?]
  • Jesus finds out, Jesus comes to her [His presence] and ‘All Better’

32 When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city had gathered at the door. 34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

  • STILL THE SAME DAY!!!
  • At the end of the sabbath they carted and carried those who were immobile
  • The whole city is at Simon & Andrew’s door…’The Man’ is in demand
  • Healing for diseases and demon possession [not the same thing]
  • He didn’t let the demon talk

35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon and his companions searched for Him; 37 they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

  • After a day of teaching and confronting demons…then an evening of healing
  • PRAYER = Connection
  • The person no one knew a week ago is now indispensable…To Everyone!
  • Jesus would from then on seek out times of ‘retreat’

38 He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” 39 And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.

  • Jesus says: ‘I need to spread myself around’… expand The Everyone
  • He didn’t just come for the Galileans: Gospel is for Everyone
  • He went around to where they had jewish gathering places [synagogues]
  • The idea is He replicated the day we had just seen in Capernaum

40 And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

  • Leper seems to be in a separate category…He had been casting out demons
  • Leprosy seems to symbolize the degradation of mankind due to sin
  • It is not a question, it is a statement: ‘if You’re willing, You can cure me’
  • We see Jesus’ compassion and His ‘Ministry of Touch’
  • He wants the leper to know how willing He is to respond to faith
  • BAM! Cleansing / restoration

43 And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44 and He 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, as a testimony to them.”

  • Charged him vehemently, warned him to tell no one except the Priest
  • Jesus always honored the law of Moses and compelled people to observe it
  • The message was for the religious establishment, it would be one of many
  • Testimony established by Jesus as something we give regarding HIS influence

45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.

  • The leper did not do as Jesus asked him to…basically the opposite!
  • Jesus could not operate as He did just days before, everything had changed
  • The Everyone had grown
  • What He wants for you and me He wants for everyone!

SUMMARY

Jesus wants to be part of our families and way of living, bringing healing to our homes.

Jesus wants everyone to come to Him, seeking physical and spiritual healing.

Jesus wants to be part of every community, willingly redeeming a sin infected world through the intimacy of personal relationship.

His people are to testify to the reality of how HE can change everything in this world.

APPLICATION:

Have you opened up your entire life to Jesus? What parts of your life do you need to fully give Him access to?

Have you sought Jesus for physical and spiritual healing? What stands in the way?

How can you be a Testimony in your workplace and social life to Jesus’ willingness to redeem things sin has degraded?

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Mark Pt. 2: Demonstration of Kingdom Authority

Are you under Christ’s authority?

Happy Mother’s Day! We honor our Mothers…not just because they deserve it.

Christ’s authority is best displayed in Mothers… Authority that flows from love.

Last week we started Mark and if you want some background listen to the podcast. Jesus of Nazareth is on the move…Mark is telling the most compelling of all stories. What we are going to see today is Jesus demonstrating His Authority as God Himself. Jesus The Messiah is beginning the process were He reveals Himself as God.

He does this by showing glimpses of His Sovereign power, His authority in all areas. How do you feel about authority? Do you need authority to be legit? What has to happen In order for it to be legit? Are you good with all authority? Are you good with no authority? Today we get a taste of God’s authority and how we do well to honor that authority.

Mark 1:14-28 (NASB 1995)

14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

  • John is arrested while Jesus is being tempted for 40 days, goes to Galilee
  • Gospel Of God used 5 times in NT [Mark once, Paul 3 times, Peter once]
  • The Kingdom is going to be accessible because he is going to the cross
  • It all starts with repentance and belief [trust in God]

16 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

  • One of my favorite places in the Holy Land: [Church of the Primacy of Peter]
  • Christ connects with these men using their profession as a metaphor
  • fish are there, but you have to go get them…same as souls 4 the kingdom

19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.

  • With Simon and Andrew in tow He walks amongst the fishermen…
  • The leave their current responsibilities and take on new ones
  • They give up a sure and safe life to begin one with nothing guaranteed

21 They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22 They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

  • Fishing grounds were just southwest of Capernaum
  • At the beginning of the day when the gathering happened; max people
  • Exposition of Hebrew scripture [explaining the story, context, theology]
  • He does it in the way an author talks about a book he has written [familiar]
  • Current religious leaders had strayed from relationship with God [unfamiliar]

23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

  • Wherever Jesus is moving, demonic forces will disrupt
  • Demon know exactly who Jesus is, and yet they have rebelled against him
  • Demon tries to get Jesus labeled before it is time [He had a ‘P.R. Timetable’]

25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him.

  • Rebuke = Reprimand / Admonished / Warned
  • Christ commands and the demon obeys [obviously against it’s will]

27 They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.

  • The reaction is amazement!
  • The spiritual need is recognized [sheep without a shepherd]
  • We will see different reactions of people to Christ’s demonstration of authority
  • Lots of curiosity…We will see that some move beyond curiosity to faith

SUMMARY:

John The Baptist is removed from the scene to clear the way for Jesus of Nazareth.

[John 3:30] He begins proclaiming the Good News of redemption from God through repentance and trust in Him.

The Christ calls His first disciples from among humble fishermen, demonstrating that citizenship in the Kingdom is not about your place in this life. He calls them [and us] to become ‘Anglers of Souls’.

In the town where His first disciples live, Christ immediately demonstrates how He is different from the religious teachers of the day; in their gathering He teaches God’s Word from a place of authority that flows from authorship.

When faced with demonic disruption, Jesus demonstrates His supernatural authority as God. He commands the demon to obey Him and frees a possessed man.

Jesus’ demonstration of authority regarding God’s Word and the power over evil / unclean spirits causes a reaction of amazement that spreads throughout the area.

APPLICATION:

Do you consider repentance and trusting In Christ foundational in a relationship with God? If so, what are you doing to grow in those two areas?

What is the connection in your life between how much you trust Jesus Christ’s authority and how much priority you put on spreading the Gospel?

Have you see the demonstration of Christ’s authority in your life? How has it changed you? How can you let it change you more?

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Mark Pt. 1: The Beginning

The First Report of The Good News

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” ~ C.S. Lewis

My prayer: we never consider what we have ‘IN CHRIST’ as moderately important.

The Purpose of this Book: Answer the question, Who Is Jesus of Nazareth?

AUDIENCE

Roman audience:

  • It is the least Jewish of the four gospels.
  • It uses the most latin words, phrases and idioms of all the gospels

Roman culture valued productivity & action (Christ constantly depicted as ‘Doing’). Quick shifts of action, condensed narratives / shortest of 4 gospels. The Servant Messiah is how Jesus is often depicted, a man of action and purpose. Believed to be the most translated book of the New Testament.

AUTHORSHIP

Written in Rome, under Peter’s supervision. First of the four ‘Scriptural Gospels’ written and circulated. Peter’s Influence (Apostolic Authorship of New Testament Scripture). Mark’s Gospel given authority that flows from Peter, not Mark. Just like Luke’s authority flows from Paul.

Fun facts about Mark or John Mark:

The early Church met in Mark’s mother’s house (Acts 12:12). He loses his shirt getting away as Jesus is being arrested (Mark 14:51-52). He is also the guy that Paul kicks off his missionary team (Acts 15:37-39)

Mark 1:1-13 (NASB 1995)

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

  • The start of the God Breathed proclamation of the Good News [define it]
  • The news is about Jesus [man] Christ [Messiah]
  • The news is about THE Son of God [God Himself]

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way; The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.’”

  • Malachi 3:1 is the set up for the quotation of Isiah 40:3
  • The Messiah was going to have a forerunner, one who would set the stage
  • Making ‘His paths straight’ involved the preparing of peoples hearts for God
  • What prepares our hearts for the reality of Jesus Christ is repentance
  • In one sense the beginning of the Gospel’s POWER is repentance

4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

  • The prophecy in the Scripture: Wild guy preaching repentance
  • The messenger preparing the way: John The Baptist
  • The Gospel brings forgiveness [We NEED it] it begins with repentance

5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

  • God was moving people to repent…God moves, we respond…
  • Ritual cleansing representing the cleansing power of confession / repentance
  • It is believed John was doing it for months, not just a quick fad
  • The Jordan River had special connotations for God’s people [Doorway]

6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.

  • Serious wilderness lifestyle / The voice is ‘IN’ the wilderness [not camping]
  • John is totally opposite the whole Temple system and it’s pretense

7 And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

  • John draws a clear line between himself and Jesus The Christ
  • The lowliest of servants did the ‘foot work’… why Jesus washed disciples feet
  • Johns baptism was a natural representation of the supernatural act to come
  • We now baptize as a representation a supernatural act that has taken place
  • Biblical Baptism is: repentance, obedience, witness and oath
  • When properly approached, God uses baptism… but not to impart salvation

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I Am well-pleased.”

  • While John was doing his thing @ The Jordan…
  • Matthew 3:14-15: When Jesus comes to be baptized John tried to stop Him…

But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.

  • John acquiesces, and baptizes Jesus of Nazareth
  • He was in the water and came up out of it…[biblical baptism is immersion]
  • The descending Spirit confirms here at the beginning, that He is God Himself
  • Jesus is identified as the Messiah, the only one who could be God’s Son

12 Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. 13 And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.

  • Right after this baptism…BAM! Into the wilderness [fast paced action]
  • Theologically speaking He enters a new phase of the Incarnation
  • You could say He is ‘Missionized’…More connected & directed via ‘The Spirit’
  • The beginning of this phase known as ‘Christ’s Public Ministry’ is ‘Temptation’
  • To prepare for the mission ahead, He trains for what is to come @ the Cross
  • Without human contact, only supernatural supplies [Angels Ministering]

SUMMARY:

This book begins the New Testament record regarding the incarnation / coming of the foretold Messiah of Hebrew Scriptures. He is defined as the person Jesus of nazareth, who is the Anointed One, God Himself.

There is an established connection between the Hebrew Scriptures and this Good New about the Incarnated Son of God. His forerunner was predicted just as He was.

John The Baptist [Jesus’ Cousin] performed the function of enabling people to receive what God was about to do. By intentionally confessing sin and repenting of it without pretense, people open up to the reality that God wants to reconcile us to Him

Jesus was baptized to begin His public ministry as an example of obedience for us. He demonstrated God favor in baptism, so do we! It declares God given salvation by an earthly reenactment of a previous supernatural act [Salvation / The indwelling of God’s Spirt].

To begin the next stage of His Incarnation, Jesus The Christ is obedient to be tempted and in His perfection He demonstrates His divinity to Satan by supernatural means.

APPLICATION:

What about your day to day life says you are convinced Jesus is God Himself? Does your lifestyle say this Christianity thing is moderately important?

What role does the Old Testament Scriptures play in your relationship with Jesus?

Why is it important to follow scripture regarding things like baptism?

What might you do today to supernaturally prepare for a life of eternal meaning?

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