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Chapter Two of Mark:
Jesus continues to heal those in need. This chapter begins with the "Through the Roof!" healing story of four friends who cut through a roof to lower their friend to be healed. It's a great story of faith and also shows the crowds that Jesus was attracting every time He entered a town, Capernaum being the town in this story. Once the man is in front of Him, because of the friends' faith, Jesus declares the paralyzed man's sins as forgiven. This angered the Pharisees who gathered to watch Jesus saying, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus, knowing their hearts and thoughts, answered, "I know what you are thinking, so I ask, What is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven, or get up, take up your mat, and walk?'" Then in order to show His authority, He tells the man, "Get up, take your mat, and go home." Bam! The man, no longer paralyzed, got up, takes his mat, and goes home. Everyone who saw this was amazed and praised God.
Jesus then calls yet another disciple, this one, Levi, also known as Matthew. Matthew was on active duty as a tax collector, but Jesus comes to him and simply says, "Follow me." That was all he needed to hear and he got up and followed Jesus. That night Jesus has supper with Levi and his tax collector friends, and some "sinners" had also been invited, probably to make the supper even more interesting. And this, of course, upsets the Pharisees who have to ask, "Why does He eat with sinners and tax collectors?" Jesus' reply is that His purpose among us was not for the healthy, but the sick.
Questions about fasting and its practice among Jesus and His disciples also come up, and Jesus addressed those. Jesus also declares Himself, Lord of the Sabbath.
MARK MY WORDS PRAYER: Lord, make me a new wineskin as You fill me with the new wine of Your Holy Spirit. Let it be the start of a wonderful day in which I serve You and Yours. This in Thy name I pray, amen.
