Mark 2:19   The Pharisees should remember John the Baptist calling Jesus the bridegroom. If these men had believed in Christ as the Messiah, this question would not have been asked. Note how Jesus says this, ‘they cannot’ fast. It would be wrong for them to do so at the time because fasting shows our patience…

Mark 2:18   There were likely those among the Pharisees that were truly searching out the truth. Some of them came to belief in Christ, though precious few. The majority were concerned with discrediting Christ and justifying themselves. A question like this makes that obvious. They were going through their list of requirements and found Jesus…

Mark 2:17   This answer on the part of Christ is really not all that radical when compared to the thinking of the scribes and Pharisees. However, it required the acceptance of his ministry as legitimate. This these Jewish leaders were not prepared to do. Their problem was not understanding the needs of the sinner, but…

Mark 2:16   And why did they ask the disciples and not Christ himself? Well, it may very well be that they had not the opportunity, or they did not want to get too close to him with these ‘sinners’ around. How then did they have access to his disciples? Maybe they caught a couple of…

Mark 2:15   It has always been the case that hardened sinners will be drawn to the truth. Though they may be seem the last to be expected to convert, this is not always the case. And why is this? Well, the ravages of sin do take their toll on a person. Hardened sinners begin to…

Mark 2:14   This is Matthew, who may well have been the brother of the second James among the disciples. There were James and John the sons of Zebedee. But, also there was James the son of Alphaeus (see Matthew 10:3). So, it seems probable that they were indeed brothers. Bible Reading: John 3:1-4:54 Scripture Memory: James 5:15…

Mark 2:13   At this point these people would have primarily been coming to hear the teaching rather than just for healing and such. The interest in his teaching was then quite high at this point. And this serves as a reminder that the doctrine of God’s Word is important for our lives. Bible Reading: John 1:1-2:25…

Mark 2:12   They had never seen healing performed like this before. The forgiveness of sin was new, to be sure. But, then also, Jesus simply tells the man to get up and go home. It was quite sudden. Jesus didn’t have to work up to it. Indeed, the man may very well have been healed…

Mark 2:11   Why does Jesus tell this man to go home? That is, more or less, the point of this statement. What was the reason for that? Could not this man stay and hear the teaching just like everyone else? Well, Jesus knew that the Jewish leaders in attendance were perturbed. They were not going…

Mark 2:10   Jesus could not have made it any more plain than this. His explains exactly why he said what he said, and exactly what it means. He was not just some supposed miracle-worker. He was not just a good teacher. He was not just a holy man. He was and is the Eternal Son…