Read Mark 1:40-2:12
Questions from the Scripture text: What does the leper believe about Jesus (Mark 1:40)? What does Jesus feel, when the leper bows before Him (Mark 1:41)? What does Jesus do to heal the leper? What does Jesus tell the leper not to do (Mark 1:43-44)? What does the leper do anyway (Mark 1:45)? Why can’t Jesus enter the city for several days? When Jesus does enter a house in the city (Mark 2:1), what happens (Mark 2:2)? How does the paralytic get to Jesus (Mark 2:3-4)? What does Mark 2:5 say that Jesus sees? What does Jesus first say to the paralytic? What do the scribes reason in their hearts (Mark 2:6-7)? What does Jesus call Himself in Mark 2:10? What does He claim to have power to do? What does Jesus then say to the paralytic (Mark 2:11)? How do people respond to the paralytic’s healing (Mark 2:12)?
What does the text emphasize about Jesus, in healing the leper and the paralytic? Mark 1:40–2:12 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the gospel emphasizes Jesus’s compassion and power.
In next week’s reading, the Lord Jesus twice displays His compassion and His power.
First, with the Leper, we read that Jesus is “moved with compassion” (Mark 1:41). What glory! Our Savior’s heart is moved by compassion. Compassion for the weak. Compassion for the sinful. Compassion for people like we are. But here we also see His power. All Jesus has to do is be willing (verse 41). His will is powerful to save. His Word is powerful to save.
Shouldn’t we respond like the crowds who came from every direction (Mark 1:45, Mark 2:2)? They heard about His love and power, and they all started coming to Him with everything. How small must our faith be, for us do not do the same? Let us come to Him with everything! He is no longer humbled and limited in the cities and hills of Galilee. Now, He is sitting on the throne of glory and will not be wearied. We may all come to Him at once!
Next, with the paralytic, look at Jesus’ compassion: He calls the man “son” in Mark 2:5, just before He refers to Himself, for the first time in the book, as the “Son of Man.” Not only does He raise the paralytic up, but He also lowers Himself down to the same level: a son. This is exactly what our Lord Jesus has done for us! These are not just facts of how our redemption came about. This is what the personality of our Savior is like: He is unashamed to call us His brethren (cf. Hebrews 2:11)!
But what’s really wonderful is the power that He demonstrates with the paralytic. No, I don’t mean the power to heal paralysis. That was the more difficult thing to say (Hebrews 2:9), but not at all the more difficult thing to do (Hebrews 2:5). The real power that He demonstrates is the power to forgive sins. The scribes were right. No one can forgive sins but God alone (Hebrews 2:7)! The One who reduced Himself to our level is God Himself!
The crowd only saw the power to heal a paralytic, and they still were amazed and glorified God. How much more should we be amazed and glorify God, when we see the real power—the power to forgive sins!
What situation have you felt alone or neglected in? Where does this passage direct you for compassion and care? What situation have you felt powerless in? Where does this passage direct you for help? What has your prayer life been like recently? When will you have your regular time of daily prayer? How will you remind yourself to take all troubles immediately to Christ? Whenever you come to Christ for forgiveness, will you do so with confidence? And, knowing that you are in fact forgiven, won’t you respond with amazement and praise? How will you express that amazement and praise? What place will being forgiven have in your personal, family, and congregational worship?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for Your compassion upon us. Forgive us for when we do not feel our need for Your compassion. Forgive us for when we do not perceive Your compassion to us. And forgive us for when we are not like You, in compassion to others. And thank You for demonstrating Your great power by forgiving us. We confess that we often see other forms of healing as the great displays of Your power. But Your humbling Yourself to add humanity to Yourself, and Your making atonement for the forgiveness of our sins, and Your giving us life and faith to believe into You—this is the great display of Your power. So, forgive us, and help us to see You rightly, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH151 “Lord of the Sabbath, Hear Us Pray”
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