Mark in the previous chapter established the virtues of Jesus. He was strong yet kind, regal yet generous and patient, friendly but not foolish, really knew what He was talking about, yet showed Himself reasonable in all things. He was the model of manhood. This obviously put Him at odds with the corrupt mainstream officials of His day, the Pharisees.
Keeping in mind we are reading second hand the story told by Peter, we find ourselves back at the apostle's home in Capernaum. That he and his family were engaged in a fishing partnership would naturally make Peter somewhat middle class. Thus, his home would include an inner courtyard with an outer wall or fence, accessed by a gate out on the street. After being home from their preaching tour a few days, word got out Jesus was back in town. The house was packed, as well as the courtyard, and the crowd spilled out into the street.
A group brought a paralyzed man. Most likely he was carried in a hammock like affair suspended by the four corners. These could hardly approach Jesus with their burden, so they climbed the outside stairs found on almost all houses in that part of the world. The roof would be flat with a parapet, a good place to catch the breeze and to place things for drying in the sun. The structure of the roofing varied, but most of them had clay or tiles laying over a framework woven in with long thin sticks and stiff grasses. It would be a simple matter to break away the covering, dismantle some of the lath, and drop this paralyzed fellow between the frame members. By the time this was done, everyone below would have become focused on the source of noise and the odd sight.
The first conflict with His opponents came in Jesus' response to the faith of the man and his friends. Jesus pronounced his sins forgiven. Most people in this world would tend to think such an affliction was related to some sin. This resolved that issue for the man, but immediately raised one for the Pharisees. If Jesus were just another man, this would be blasphemy. However, Jesus claimed to speak for God. He argued with their unvoiced thoughts. Anyone can say a man's sins are forgiven, and it proves nothing. But to prove Jesus had the full authority from God to forgive sins, He told the man to get up on his feet. The authority to forgive is demonstrated by the authority to heal; the man got up and walked out in view of all. Had the man not been able to respond thus, Jesus could fairly be viewed as a fake. The people watching were beside themselves with amazement.
On another of His walks by the sea, Jesus stopped at the toll booth and called out Levi (Matthew) to join the group and become a full time disciple. The Roman audience would see this as vindicating Roman authority, since Jesus didn't see anything disqualifying in Levi's occupation. This was quite the contrary to the Pharisees' view of things. Levi celebrated this new status in the Kingdom by hosting a feast. It's natural he would invite those in his social circle. As an outcast among Jews, that left only other outcasts from mainstream Jewish society. The Pharisees referred to a broad swath of folks as "sinners." How could a rabbi eat with such, since it was illegal by the Talmudic standards, the same as eating with Gentiles? Mark's Roman audience would chuckle at the arrogance so typical of Pharisees. Jesus replied He had come to call sinners to repentance. Since the Pharisees were self-righteous, they would not acknowledge any need of a Savior. The outcasts of Jewish society were eager to be saved, and welcomed Jesus as a spiritual physician.
More than likely, this celebration fell on one of the fast days declared by the rabbinical teachings (Monday or Thursday). When the Pharisees commented how John's disciples joined in this observance, they wanted to know how Jesus did not. Jesus made out like the celebration was a wedding feast, which was exempt from the fasting rules. Further, it was a royal wedding feast, for Jesus was the heir of the Kingdom, a wholly new thing. The old ways of the Pharisees were about to pass away, and new ways were needed. This new Kingdom and teaching was not a patch to fix the old, but something altogether different. Nor could it's joyful fullness of life fit in the old forms, but needed its own new forms.
At some point later, Jesus was strolling with His disciples through a field of ripe grain. It was perfectly lawful for them to graze as they passed, eating what they could without carrying any away. What the Pharisees regarded unlawful was considered "labor": harvesting, threshing, etc. This was a petty, nit-picking expansion of Sabbath law. Jesus reminded them human need trumped ritual observances. David and his bodyguard were allowed to eat the ritual bread which had been set before the Lord. When the day was ended, the old bread was set aside for the priests only to eat. Yet David and his friends were allowed to take it. The priest of that day knew full well there was a common-sense exemption. Thus, Jesus reminded them the Sabbath was a gift from God to mankind, to prevent the rich and powerful from abusing their servants and employees. Ordinary people got a break on the Sabbath; that was the purpose of the Law. Jesus then bluntly claimed He was Lord over such Law, that He had authority to declare the true meaning of things.
Thus, we see an image of Jesus as one who authoritatively corrects a very corrupt regime, one which arose to enslave men. This brought Him into open conflict with the legal authorities of His day. By no means did this conflict intimidate Him. He feared no man.
Return to Mark Index
[<-- Previous]
[Next -->]
By Ed Hurst
16 February 2008
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: People of honor need no copyright laws; they are only too happy to give credit where credit is due. Others will ignore copyright laws whenever they please. If you are of the latter, please note what Moses said about dishonorable behavior -- "be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23)