Mark 2: Jesus Forgives Sin

                Jesus goes to Capernaum and enters into a house, the word gets out that He is there and people show up in droves! So many that there was not enough room for them in the house, Jesus preaches to them from the house and evil heals a man with Palsy. When the people wanted to get closer to Jesus, they actually broke through the roof of the house and lowered a man sick with Palsy through the roof. When Jesus saw the faith of the people he tells the man who is sick that his sins are forgiven.

Some of the scribes who were there began questioning to themselves; “Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only? …immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves… said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether it is easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins…” (Mark 2:7-10) The man with Palsy is healed and takes his bed and leaves.

Jesus departs to the seaside and finds Levi, sitting idle outside of the tax office and Jesus tells him to follow him, and he does. Jesus goes in to eat with publicans and sinners, but the scribes were confused and ask why Jesus would eat with sinners. Jesus responds; “…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.” (Mark 2:17)

                Jesus explains that while the Apostles are with Him, they have no need for fasting. Jesus also explains that “…The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.” (Mark 2:27), in other words we need to honor the Sabbath day!