Scripture
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
1When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
6But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7“What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
8Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[1] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11“Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
12And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”
Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew)
13Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. 14As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.
15Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) 16But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees[2] saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?[3]”
17When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
Translation notes (3)
- 2:10 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
- 2:16a Greek the scribes of the Pharisees.
- 2:16b Greek with tax collectors and sinners?
“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
Many people misunderstood Jesus and who He was while He lived on earth. We learned in the weekend sermon that a group of Israelites believed that the promised Messiah would only come when people were good- or “pure” enough. They believed God would not step into a person’s mess and struggle with sin. You can imagine how confused they were when they saw Jesus associating with sinners and those considered “unclean” in society. They did not realize that Jesus specifically came to step into the lives of sinners and those considered “unclean.” They also did not realize that no amount of goodness can replace any sin in our lives. Only the blood of Jesus can do that.
Jesus made it clear that He had come specifically to help those who were “unclean” or “sick” during His ministry on earth. In Mark 12, several religious leaders wondered why Jesus was associating with “tax collectors and other sinners” (verse 16). In their eyes, associating with them would make them “unclean,” too. It was not the same with Jesus. Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners” (verse 17). Jesus clarified that He was more than willing to step into people’s mess.
There was also another point that Jesus made as He talked to religious leaders in Mark 12: we are all sinners. Notice that Jesus said in verse 17, “those who think they are righteous” and “those who know they are sinners.” You see, we are all sinners whether we know it or not. We are all sick and in need of the healing of Jesus. When we acknowledge this and reach out to Him, we take steps toward healing. Aren’t you glad that Jesus came to the sick? Praise God that He steps into our lives and brings the healing we desperately need.
Moving toward action
The news that Jesus willingly steps into our messes and invites us to follow Him is the greatest news we will ever hear. Do you know anyone who needs to hear this news today? Maybe you know someone who believes that there is no way God wants to step into their lives because it would be too messy. Reach out to them today. Invite them to coffee or a meal. Show them how much they are cared for and loved through your actions and words, and be sure to tell them how much they are loved by God right where they are.
Going Deeper
Mark 2:1-17 (NLT)
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