Jesus, King of Heaven and Earth (Mark 2:1-12)

As we dive further into the Gospel of Mark, it begins to become apparent that Mark wants the reader to undestand just how authoritative Jesus is over all things. In this account, Jesus not only performs a physical miracle but also forgives the paralytic man of his sins, because of his faith. Jesus showcases that he is in fact in charge of the spiritual realm and the physical. There is nothing that his Kingdom is not going to make new!

  • The Crowds (1-2)

    • The crowds were excited for the spectacle

    • Most of the crowds are going to leave soon (Matthew 5)

  • The Friends (3-5)

    • The friends are driven by their faith

    • Their faith is expressed in outward action

    • The friends genuinely cared for their neighbor

    • The friends are a picture of what God calls for in the Deut 6:4-5 and Lev 19:18

    • Jesus will go on to combine these commands in Mark 12:28-31

  • The Scribes (6-7)

    • In juxtaposition to the friends, the Scribes neither loved God, or neighbor.

    • John 6 reminds us that those Israelites who rejected Jesus did so because they had already rejected the Father.

    • They are not actually worried about sin or blasphemy, but about someone else getting attention, or causing problems for the current religious status quo.

  • The Paralytic (12)

    • The paralytics response is simple: He went out in front of everyone.

    • He put on display what Jesus had done!

  • The Savior (8-11)

    • Jesus knew the hearts of those around Him

    • Jesus has equal authority over sin (the spiritual) and physical brokenness

    • Jesus’ healing of the paralytic’s physical condition serves to spread the truth of his forgiveness of sins