Mark 1:40-2:12 (SS)

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Mark 1:40-2:12

1. OBSERVATION-What do you see?

a. People who are involved in these verses:

b. What is Mark trying to communicate:

c. Where? :

Galilee:

  • Galileans were considered by Judeans to be less biblically pure than those in or near Jerusalem.
  • Their accent of Hebrew and Aramaic was apparently different than of Jews in the south, making them readily distinguishable when they traveled down to Judea. "Galilean" was used in a contemptuous way for early Christians.
  • The Sea of Galilee or Lake Kinneret or Lake Tiberius (Hebrew ים כנרת), is a lake. 209 meters below sea level, it is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake in the world after the Dead Sea, Due to its low-lying position, surrounded by hills, the sea is prone to sudden violent storms.

2. INTERPRETATION-What does it mean? What did it mean to the original reader?

The Jesus I never knew – Philip Yancey ( a must read book)

“Jesus, I found bore little resemblance to the Mister Rogers figure I had met in Sunday school, and was remarkably unlike the person I had studied in Bible college. For one thing, he was far less tame. In my prior image….he remained calm, cool, and collected as he strode like a robot among excitable human beings on spaceship earth. That is not what I found portrayed in the gospels and in the better films. Other people affected Jesus deeply: obstinacy frustrated Him, self-righteousness infuriated him, simple faith thrilled him. Indeed he seemed more emotional and spontaneous than the average person, not less. More passionate, not less… ….His extravagant claims about himself kept him at the centre of controversy, but when he did something truly miraculous he tended to hush it up. As Walter Wink has said, if Jesus had never lived, we would not have been able to invent him. Two words one could never think of applying to the Jesus of the Gospels: boring and predictable.” – from “The Jesus I Thought I Knew”, pg 23.

3. APPLICATION-What does it mean to me? How do we respond to what we have seen of Jesus in these passages ?

  1. Desire to be Clean

Leprosy and sin:

  • It’s significant what the leper says to Jesus. He doesn’t say, “Heal my disease.” He says, “Make me clean.” there’s a subtle but significant difference.
  • There is something spiritually significant about Jesus’ touch because he is our High Priest.
  • Notice that there are two results: Jesus healed the disease and he cleansed the leper.
  • In many ways, leprosy is like sin. The need to be forgiven is a huge human need.
  • In the second miracle: Which is easier to say? Physical healing can be seen. But forgiveness is felt. Those who have tasted it know it.

  1. Daring to be Different

  • Jesus chose to be Galilean as much as he chose to be born in a manger, identified himself with the poor, the outcasts and ate with tax collectors and sinners.
  • We should not fail to see the significance of him letting the leper approach him and even more noteworthy is when He TOUCHES him. “Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him.” Jesus’ compassion for the man superseded ceremonial considerations
  • Jesus’ words and acts were radically different from those around him. We are called to reach out and be radical like Jesus.

  1. Determination to Pursue Jesus

The miracle of the paralytic draws our attention to the level of determination he and his friends had in pursuing Jesus and getting close to him. Jesus takes notice of their faith that was coupled with their incredible act of faith as well.

What are your hindrances today to getting close to Jesus?

Are you willing to cut through the roof to get to Jesus ?

What are our excuses? How determined are you about pursuing Him? What price are you willing to pay ?

Feel free to add comments, ideas, etc


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