Step 1

JESUS CAME TO FORGIVE AND CALL SINNERS

 

Mark 2:1-17

Key Verse 2:10

 

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . .

 

Intro: This passage tells us that Jesus came to forgive to our sins.

** TO FORGIVE SINS (1-12)

 

Read verses 1-2. How did the people respond to Jesus’ return? What did Jesus do? Why? 

** So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. (verse 2)

** Verse 2b: He preached the word.

** Jesus cared the people. The way he cared for them was preaching the word. To Jesus what the people needed was to hear the word of God.

(application: Adopting Jesus’ view of the word of God. That is what we need when we go to him.)

Read verses 3-5. Describe the action these men took to bring a paralyzed man to Jesus. What does this show about them? How did Jesus see their actions? What can we learn about faith?

** Verses 3-4. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.

** Made a good effort for their friend. They expected Jesus would do something.

** He saw their faith. 

** Belief with action. Trusting.

Read verse 5 again. What did Jesus say to the paralytic? What might they have expected him to say? What does this show about Jesus? How might this man have sinned?

** “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

** Maybe, “Son, get up and walk.” 

** Jesus is concerned salvation—the sinner. -> Sin is worse than being paralyzed. 

** In his heart, with his mouth, with his eyes…look at Matthew 5, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22).

Read verses 6-12. What did the teachers of the law think about Jesus’ words? How did Jesus demonstrate his power to forgive sins (10-11)? What can we learn from Jesus who said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home” (11)?

** 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

** He healed the paralyzed man. He healed by his word.

** This shows us that Jesus has the power to forgive sins. The miracle was used to demonstrate his authority and power. 

 

**         TO CALL SINNERS (13-17)

 

Read verse 13. Where did Jesus go next? What does Levi’s occupation tell about his life’s situation (Luke 3:12-13; 19:2,7)? What did he have in common with the paralytic? 

** Out to the lake (13)

** He may have been wealthy and thieving like many other tax collectors of Jesus’ day. Tax Collectors were despised and known to take from the people. 

** Sin.

Read verses 14-15. How did Jesus call Levi (14)? How did Levi respond to Jesus’ invitation? (14b) How did Levi celebrate his new life? 

** As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, 

** and Levi got up and followed him. (14)

** Invited Jesus to dinner. 

=> This shows us that Levi had faith. He trusted Jesus. He left everything and followed Jesus. He believed that Jesus was more valuable than his wealth. Then Levi invited others to come to know Jesus.

Read verses 16-17. What question did the Pharisees have? What does this question show about them? What was Jesus’ response? What does it reveal about him and sinners?

** When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” (16)

** They had already condemned Jesus for doing that. To them, he should not be doing that. To them, righteous people should not associate with sinners.

** On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (17)

** Shows he had a mission: to save sinners. Sinners are sick. He came to heal them. Healing is sin forgiveness.