Mark 2: The Authority to Forgive Sin

Today’s reading is Mark 2.

In the beginning of the gospel, Jesus was anointed to be king by the Holy Spirit of God. Then He demonstrated authority over unclean spirits and unclean sicknesses. He commanded the demons to depart, and they did. He commanded the diseases to depart, and they did. All is looking good for the would-be king. All that is about to change.

Jesus’s popularity had grown. When He returned to Capernaum, great crowds formed. So great, those who needed healing couldn’t reach him. But a particular group of friends would not be stopped. They removed some of the roof from above Jesus and lowered their friend right into the middle of the teaching. In that moment, Jesus lit the match to start the fire throughout Mark’s gospel account.

And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
–Mark 2:5 (ESV)

He didn’t have to say this. He could have just healed the man. That is what He had done up to this point. He didn’t command the sickness away, but the sins. “Blasphemy!” the scribes sitting there thought.

This is how Mark demonstrates the beginning of controversy and opposition in Jesus’s work. Don’t miss how important it is. This opposition will continue all the way through His trial in Mark 14:53:65. In similar fashion, had Jesus not said anything, the opposition would have faded. In the monkey trial before the Council, even with trumped up charges and bribed witnesses, they couldn’t get the testimony they needed to accuse Jesus. They were unable, that is, until Jesus spoke up and said they would see the Son of Man seated at God’s right hand. They leveled the charge again: “Blasphemy!” That time, they sentenced Him to death.

But Jesus knew what He was doing both times. After forgiving the paralytic’s sins, He healed the paralytic’s sickness. However, this miracle was not simply for the purpose of healing. Jesus said…

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–he said to the paralytic–“I say to you, rise, pick up you bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all.
–Mark 2:10-12a (ESV)

What an incredible king! He has authority over spirits and over sickness. He even has authority over sin. Sin cannot remain in His presence. When He commands it to depart, it goes. And the man was forgiven.

That is a really big deal. Why would any of us want to surrender to King Jesus? Because King Jesus has the authority to forgive our sins.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Mark 2.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Mark 2 prompt or improve your praise of God?

Persecution Grows

Today’s reading is Acts 14.

In Pisidian Antioch, persecution started. Paul and Barnabas were driven out of town. They moved on. In Iconium, an attempt was made by the city residents and the city rulers to mistreat Paul and Barnabas and to even stone them. The men fled to Lystra and Derbe. In Lystra, the stoning actually happened. What do we see? The persecution Paul and Barnabas are facing is growing. It is getting a little worse each stop of the way. However, after this stoning, Paul gets up and goes back into town. Then, the next day, he decides to keep preaching at the next town. Wow! That is conviction. That is perseverance. Additionally, when they finish preaching in Derbe, they could just travel in a circle, keep heading east across land, and get back to Syrian Antioch that way. Instead, they travel back through each of the towns that had persecuted them. Talk about gluttons for punishment. On the way, they encouraged the congregations and even appointed elders in each one. That’s amazing all on its own. While checking back in with each new group of disciples, Paul preached on all the persecution they had endured. “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” They were learning the hard lessons early. Kingdom life isn’t all rainbows and moonbeams. There will be tribulation, hardship, and persecution. But don’t let it get you down. That is the path to the Kingdom. Hang on. The Kingdom is worth it.

Tomorrow’s reading is Acts 14.

Herod vs. the Word

Today’s reading is Acts 12.

Today’s thought is very simple. Herod wanted to stamp out the church. He wanted to stop the spread of the Word. So, he executed James and thought he was going to execute Peter. James went to be with the Lord. Peter escaped. Herod died, eaten by worms. The Word of God increased and multiplied. Here we are nearly 2000 years later, the Word is still growing, increasing, and multiplying. Herod isn’t even food for worms anymore. Let’s just understand that no matter who attacks the Word, the Word will win. Don’t abandon the Word.

Next week’s reading is Acts 13.

On Questions and Answers

Today’s reading is Luke 20.

There are lots of questions out there. Many of them are good. Some of them…not so much. I know I have to learn from the Sadducees’ question about the resurrection. I need to hear its warning against my own arrogance. We need to ask questions. We need to be free to ask questions. But when I am not careful, I can develop an arrogance around my questions. Sometimes I come up with questions that I can’t seem to answer. They flummox me to no end. Sometimes I’ll share the questions with others, and they aren’t sure they know the answers either. Herein lies the arrogance. I start to assume that because I don’t know the answer, there must not be one. Then the real danger sets in. Someone actually comes along and answers it, but I can’t accept their answer because I’ve already bought into my own arrogance that the question has no answer. Usually, I am invested in the lack of answer because it leaves me free to pursue something I want or avoid something I don’t want. Jesus’s interaction with the Sadducees teaches me that just because I couldn’t figure out the answer to a question, doesn’t mean there is no answer. When someone does answer it, providing Word of God evidence, it’s time for me to humble myself and let the answer change my life.

Tomorrow’s reading is Luke 20.