Jesus Can Forgive Sins

– Mark Two –

 

   Mark chapter two begins a look at Jesus as he faced controversies with the opposing Pharisees. It was difficult for the Jews to accept the fact that it was God's plan trough Christ for Christianity to replace Judaism.

 

   After His temptation Jesus returned to a house in Capernaum. There Jesus was swamped with a host of people desiring to have healing and to hear Him preach. Jesus healed a man that was let down through the roof. He forgave the man's sins. If God is the only one with authority to forgive sins, then by this action Jesus shows Himself to be God in the flesh.

 

   A multitude gathered with Jesus. As He passed by He called Levi (Matthew) to follow Him. He went into the house of Levi and ate with many publicans and sinners. The Pharisees criticized saying, "How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?" Jesus replied, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

 

   Jesus was upsetting to the norm in every way. The people could not understand why His disciples did not fast. Jesus explained by identifying Himself as the bridegroom that was still present with them. Jesus also disturbed religious tradition  by the  manner  in which  He observed the Sabbath. God had commanded Sabbath keeping. Therefore, it was holy. If Jesus failed to properly keep the Sabbath His claims about Himself and His mission could be questioned.

 

   Jesus healed a crippled man – Mark 2:1-12: Jesus did not remain in the desert after Satan tempted Him. He returned to Capernaum. Word quickly passed that He was in a certain house and a large crowd gathered. Such a large crowd gathered that no one else could not get into the house. There was standing room only around the outside of the house.

 

   A palsied man was brought to Jesus by four men. They carried him on a bed or mat. When they could not get to Jesus because of the great number of people they made a hole in the room above him and lowered the man in front of everyone. Please observe that "when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Nothing is said about the faith of the crippled man. The faith was on the part of those that brought him to Jesus.

 

   Jesus said to the man, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." This started the criticism of the religious leaders. They said, "He must think he is God! Only God can forgive sins." Jesus knew what they were thinking in their heart and he knows what you are thinking in your heart! He wanted these religious leaders to under-stand that His authority was from God so He asked "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'?" Jesus demonstrated that He is the Son of God by this great miracle. The result was immediate and the people were amazed.

 

   Jesus chose Levi, a tax collector – Mark 2:13-17: Next we observe Jesus by the Sea of Galilee. Crowds always came, many to be healed and some to hear and learn. As He walked along He saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus. Levi (Matthew) was a tax collector. When Jesus called him he rose and followed Him. He would become an apostle and write a gospel that bears his name. Jesus was invited into Levi's house for a meal. Many tax collectors and other sinners that had become followers of Jesus were also guests at the dinner.

 

   The Pharisees saw this and continued their criticism of Jesus. They asked, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" These self-righteous people felt that the Lord should not lower Himself to the social rank of eating with such people. If these critics were as righteous as they claimed they would have realized that "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick." It is the sinner that needs the Savior. These people knew that they were sinners. The Pharisees were blind to the fact that they also were lost.

 

   People ask about fasting – Mark 2:18-22: Some of the Pharisees asked Jesus, "Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" Fasting was not a commanded by God as a general religious practice. John the Baptist was dead and his disciples were fasting in his memory. Jesus identified Himself as the bridegroom and He said His disciples would fast after the wedding. It would be appropriate for His special friends to lament after He was gone.

 

   Jesus gave the illustration of the new cloth on the old garment. He was doing the right thing at the right time. He did not come to patch up Judaism with the new teachings of Christianity. Christianity was a new and better way. The new wine in old wineskins also teaches the lesson of doing the right thing at the right time. Jesus' new teachings could not be subordinated to Jewish customs. They simply would not fit. Something would break.

 

   What about fasting today? Christians are not commanded to fast under the New Testament. When Christ spoke of fasting He spoke of it as a matter of private devotion to God. (Matthew 6:16-18) Fasting can provide strength and encouragement for the Christian. However, since we find neither a certain time nor required observance for fasting in the New Testament, we conclude that fasting is an individual activity determined by each Christian.

 

   A question about the Sabbath – Mark 2:23-28: Jesus and His disciples were condemned by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath. They were not condemned for taking the grain. Deuteronomy 23:24-25 gave the right for personal use of the grain. They just could not take any away. The Pharisees said, "Why are your disciples picking grain on the Sabbath? They are not supposed to do that!" The Pharisees objection was because they did this on the Sabbath.

 

   Jesus asked them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him." Jesus wanted them to know that they had read this account and that they were just being inconsistent about their reactions to the two situations. During the days of Abiathar the high priest David and his men ate the bread that had been on the table in the tabernacle.  It had served its religious purpose and therefore it was no desecration of it for David to eat it. Jesus concluded by saying, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." He wanted it understood that "the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath." Law is no greater than the authority behind it. Jesus and His Father had given the Sabbath Law.

 

   Will you have enough reverence for Jesus and respect for Him as Lord that you will become a Christian now? To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ as Lord (Acts 8:37), and be baptized to be saved. (1 Peter 3:21). After baptism, continue to follow Jesus and He will lead you home to heaven. (Revelation 2:10)

 

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

 

1. Prayer List:  In Need Of Prayers: Anderson Bagents, Jerry Barr, Dannie Box, Ida “Jean” Brazell (mother-in-law of Felice Kendrick), Gene Buck, Wayne & Viola Corley, Bobby Fullington, Jean Gafford, Roy Goodwin, Judy Green, Cage Harrell, Billy Heartsill, Mary Lawrence, Abigail Matthews, Renny McNaughton (brother of Patricia Gafford), Edith Mosley, Pat Newton, Mary Powell, Don Shirley, Austin Shows, Sarah Stidham, Juanita Turner, Rex Turner Jr.,  Richard Watts, and Mary Williams. Crowne Health Care: Mary Alexander, James Alford, Gladys Childs, Kathy Johnson, Wallace Murry, and Myrtle Perdue. Pine Needle: Mary Lou Phelps. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Helen Autrey, and Doris Pierce. Shut-Ins: Emma Lee Gafford, Jean Hayes, and Doris Taylor.

 

2. Welcome Donald Loveless: Donald Loveless will now be worship with the Walnut Street Church of Christ. He has to work some on Sunday. Pray for him that he can be in all the worship services soon. Please make him feel welcome. (Directory information will be provided next week)

 

3. Please Pray For: Pray for Paul Findley, Ben Newton and Jason Godwin as they serve in Iraq. Also pray for Dennis Phillips Jr. as he will be going to Iraq soon.

 

4. Pray For Permission To Build: Pray that we can obtain permission to build a building in Annai, Guyana, South America. A congregation is needed there.

 

5. Congratulations: Congratulations to Hunter and Courtney Harris on the birth of their daughter, Ava Jewel. She was born August 1^st. She weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and she was 20 inches long. Congratulations to proud grandmother, Betty Ann Harrell.

 

6. Birthday: Celebrating birthdays this week are: August 10^th Marlasia Lett, August 11^th Margaret Munro, August 13^th Margaret Pierce, and August 15^th Timber Black.

 

7. Write To Jason Godwin: His address is: Jason E. Godwin, C Company 1-244^th ASLT BN, APO AE 09391.

 

8.  Web-Site:   Check out our website: http:\\www.walnutstreetchurchofchrist.org. New material is added each week and you can also access many teaching articles and past issues of The Reporter.

 

9. Thank You: Dear Walnut Street, Our family would like to thank all of you for all the concern and love shown to Anderson this week. He has been encouraged with every card, phone call and treat you have given him. We are also thankful for all the prayers in his behalf. Our family is certainly blessed to be a part of such a loving family. In Him, Randy, Lisa Bagents and family

 

10. Put These Dates On Your Calendar: (a) August 10th – 13^th – Gospel Meeting – Georgia Road Church of Christ – Speaker Alan Watkins – Time Sunday Singing 1:00 p.m., Worship 2:00 p.m. and Weeknights 7:30 p.m. (b) August 17^th – Strata Church of Christ – Speaker Jerry Barlow – Time Bible Class 10 a.m., Worship 11 A.m., Singing 2:30 p.m. Service 4 p.m. (c) August 17^th – 3^rd Annual Youth Rally – Ariton Church of Christ – Speaker Kyle Butt – Time 4 until 6. (d) August 17^th–21^st – Gospel Meeting – Gridertown Church of Christ – Theme Walking With Jesus – Speakers see bulletin board – Time Sunday Singing 2:00 p.m., Worship 2:30 p.m. and Weeknights 7:00 p.m. (e) August 21^st-24^th – Gospel Meeting – Geneva Church of Christ – Speaker Charles Williams – Time 7:00 p.m. Thursday – Saturday and 5:30 Sunday (f) September 13^th – Ladies Day – Walnut Street Church of Christ – Speaker Sheila Butt .

 

11. Remember the Wedding of William Phillips and Shana Burnside: Saturday, August 9th at the "Church in the Pines" on Lake Martin. Please pray for them as they begin their life together. Directions from Montgomery: Take Highway 231 North to Wetumpka. Take Highway 170 until it deadends into Highway 63. Take a left onto Highway 63 North and go approximately 12 miles to the Children's Harbor Lake Martin Campus which will be on the right just before you get to the Kowaliga.

 

Lessons From A Crippled Man – Mark 2:1-12

 

   Immediately after Jesus was tempted by Satan he returned to Capernaum. There He healed a crippled man that was let down through the roof. Let us observe:

 

   Faith overcomes difficulties. The four men could have easily said, "Too many people" or "too much trouble." Yet they went up on the roof and removed some tiles and let the man down before Jesus. We must possess this same bold faith that allows us to overcome life's obstacles through Jesus.

 

   Faith brought the Lord's blessings: Saving faith is always obedient faith. And in this case the faith of these four men prompted the Lord to provide an even great blessing than they expected. They desired that the Lord would heal the body of this man. In addition to that the Lord said, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." Obedient faith brings great blessings from God.

 

   Faith brought these men to observe Divine authority: Jesus wanted them to not only believe that He could perform miracles but that He was God in the flesh. It is amazing how the tide of life turns when one's being is given over to the authority of God. A worthless and wasted life can become meaningful and strong through the Christ. God can forgive sins and change lives!

 

   Faith overcomes human criticism. The Devil always finds ways to discourage good works. He especially hurts and hinders Christians and the church through criticism. The critics of Jesus asked, "Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?" Likely with any good work that we try to do there will always be some critic there asking why. Faith fortifies us against the Devil's criticism!

 

   The Bible says, "Many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." These Corinthians had saving faith. Do you have this same kind of faith?

 

- - - - Charles Box

 

 

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

 

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551

(334-382-3001)