Mark 2:1-17

“God whispers to us in our pleasures…but shouts in our
pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world” (C. S.
Lewis, The Problem of Pain). We hate physical illness,
and pray for healing. But what if our ever-loving Lord,
as we pray for physical healing, desires a deeper healing
for us? That’s exactly what Jesus reveals in Mark 2.

Scene 1: A Paralytic Drops In! (1-12)
• Crowd following Jesus – some top theologians, too!

• Jesus tells paralytic: “Your sins are forgiven you!”

• Theological issue: Only God can forgive sins!

• Practical issue: Jesus provides our need, not just our wants!

Scene 2: A Doctor for Those Who Are Sin-Sick (13-17)
• Jesus calls Levi (Matthew), a hated tax-collector.

• Dinner with sinners (with Pharisees lurking)

• “Sick folks need a doctor!” (self-righteousness exposed)

• “I came to call sin-sick people to repentance!”

What Not to Miss: Pointing To the Cross


The great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus…
Your many sins are all forgiv’n,
Oh! Hear the voice of Jesus…
William Hunter, 1859 

For Further Study

1. Read Mark 2:1-17. Put yourself in the crowd that’s following Jesus. It’s a hodgepodge of curiosity seekers, Jewish religious leaders, those who are sick, political leaders, and truth-seekers. Feel the contempt of the scribes and Pharisees. Sense the hope of the sick and their families. Imagine the questions of those on the fringes. Is it any different to today? Do we sometimes resemble the Pharisees today? How can we imitate Christ in the way we meet and confront unbelievers?

2. Focus on Jesus’ words in v5: “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Since Jesus never misspoke, His statement is intentional. Why did He say these words? What does He want us to understand?

3. Now climb into the skin of the paralytic for a moment: How do you feel when you hear Jesus say that your sins are forgiven? Disappointed? Happy? Confused? Is there a lesson here for us in the way we pray? Is there a lesson for how we trust God?

4. Responding to the scribes, Jesus poses a question: Which is easier – to tell the paralytic his sins are forgiven, or to tell him to get up and walk? Which is harder to say (and mean)? Which is harder to do?

5. Jesus’ selection of Levi (Matthew) to be His disciple (v14) is significant. The religious leaders despised Jews who collected taxes for Rome. Furthermore, they were dishonest thieves who took extra for themselves. What might have drawn so many of them to follow Jesus (v15)?

6. Lewis Sperry Chafer once said, “Pure grace is neither treating a person as he deserves, nor treating a person better than he deserves, but treating a person without the slightest reference to what he deserves.” How does Jesus’ association with the tax collectors reflect this? How can we exhibit this in the way we associate with unsaved today? What did Jesus focus on? What should we?

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