Devotions

The Power of the Lord Was There to Heal

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Jesus returns to Capernaum, he is back in the place he now calls home and begins to confronts religion. He forgives a mans sin to heal him. By calls a tax collector to be one of his disciples and then eats with sinners. His disciples are not fasting. He and his disciples eat grain from the field on the Sabbath when it is not allowed by their tradition. The scribes of the Pharisees are frustrated, why isn’t he following their traditions? Jesus came “for the removal of sin” Hebrews 9:26.

They Brought to Him a Paralytic

Mark 2:1-12
The gospel of Mark records this with the greatest detail. It is recorded also in Matthew 9:1-8 and Luke 5:17-26. 

Your Sins Are Forgiven

Mark 2:1–12
Jesus has returned to Capernaum in Mark 2:1-2 and “it became known that he was home”.

The people pressed in, and so much so that in Mark 2:4 “when they were not able to bring him to him because of the crowd, they removed the roof”. This man’s friends made a hole in the roof of the building to lower him in. They had an expectation of healing for their friend. And in Mark 2:5 “when Jesus saw their faith,” It was unexpected that Jesus would say “your sins are forgiven”. This is the realm of God’s authority. This caused the religious to challenge Him. He reiterated His authority by saying “take up your bed and walk”.

The people were amazed. They had the custom of animal sacrifice for sin and there were offerings for cleansing from disease. Here though, Jesus spoke the word and sins were forgiven, He spoke the word and sickness was gone.

Why Do You Think Evil In Your Hearts

Matthew 9:1–8
Matthews account seems to focus on the response when “the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!””. And their response was because Jesus had said “your sins are forgiven” in Matthew 9:2. Jesus then claims his title, “Son of Man” and his “authority on earth to forgive sins” in Matthew 9:6 as he tells the paralytic to “Get up”. Jesus made the connection between sin and disease. As soon as this mans sin was forgiven, his body was made whole. This is what it says in 2 Chronicles 6:28–30 and also in 1 Kings 8:37 

The Power of the Lord Was There In Order To Heal

Luke 5:17–26
Luke gives some additional insight in Luke 5:17 “he was teaching” but it is more specific, there were “Pharisees and teachers of the law there who had come from every village”, this was not just the local people. And Luke makes one more important statement, “and the power of the Lord was there in order for him to heal”. But there isn’t any record of anyone in this crowd being healed. That is, until the paralytic gets up in Luke 5:25.

Jesus Eats With Sinners

Mark 2:13-17
The gospel of Mark records this with the greatest detail. It is recorded also in Matthew 9:9-11 and Luke 5:27-32. 

He Began To Teach Them

Mark 2:13–17
In Mark 2:13 we see that Jesus “went out again by the sea” which is likely where he had found Peter and Andrew previously. And in Mark 2:14 “as he was passing by” the tax booth would have been on the road and intended to be in a busy place of transit for people. Here Jesus finds “Levi the son of Alphaeus” also called Matthew. This was no honorable profession, “People never knew just how much they had to pay; the tax-collectors extracted from them as much as they could possibly get and lined their own pockets with the surplus that remained after the demands of the law had been met”.1

Levi, in Mark 2:16 invites Jesus and his disciples to eat with him and Levi’s whole crowd is there for the meal. It doesn’t bother Jesus, but outside are the religious, “the scribes of the Pharisees” in Mark 2:16 moaning because Jesus is eating with “tax collectors and sinners”.

Mark 2:17 (LEB) And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy do not have need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

I want Mercy and not Sacrifice

Matthew 9:9–13
To those that complained that Jesus and his disciples ate with sinners, he responded, “go and learn” in

Matthew 9:13 (LEB) But go and* learn what it means, “I want mercy and not sacrifice.” For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Those Who Are Healthy Do Not Need A Physician

Luke 5:27–32
Luke’s account is very much the same as the others. Jesus came for those that were lost. Or. as Jesus will say it later in

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are lost.”

Fasting

Mark 2:18-22
Matthew 9:14-17
Luke 5:33-39

Jesus Picks Grain on the Sabbath

Mark 2:23-28
Matthew 12:1-8
Luke 6:1-5

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Mark 2:1–28
  • Matthew 9:1-17
  • Matthew 12:1-8
  • Luke 5:17-39, 6:1-5

The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ – The Gospels

This series follows the order of readings from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much different context and helps us understand the move of God as He is introducing the Saviour, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. This series begins with Return To Me And I Will Return To You at the end of Malachi and introduces the “Witnesses” writing the Gospels.

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

References

  • 1. Barclay, W. (2001). The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Mark (p. 60). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.