HOME with GOD

So what is the Servant’s mission?...to heal everybody?      

Is it to uphold the might of the Roman Empire?                 

No, it’s to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God. (1:15&38)

Meanwhile back in Capernaum...                                                                                                  
You can read Mark 2 for yourself, but notice there are 3 houses mentioned:                                  

• Jesus’ own home, maybe lodging with Simon and Andrew
• A tax collector’s home - Jesus accepts the hospitality of Matthew
• The House of God where David once ate showbread 

Also notice how this Servant has been identified so far: the Messiah, the Son of God, the Holy One of God, and now....the Son of Man with power on Earth, and even Lord of the Sabbath.  No Roman Caesar could ace that!

So what’s happening here?...                    

Four guys lift a paralysed man onto a roof, dig thru and then lower him... into whose home?                                              

Here Mark resorts to using the word ‘laleo’:  Jesus is home, simply TALKING to His visitors.                             

They glorify God without realizing they are actually in God’s house!                                                                                    

In search of more space, He then leads them down to the sea-side and teaches them there.                                                 

The Lord of Sabbath has work to do, making time for people: forgiving, healing, talking with, teaching, eating and drinking....yes, the Sabbath is made for Man.

 “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”

This is something totally new – no need to stay paralysed by sin...

Wow!!

The HANDS-ON MESSIAH

We open Mark’s gospel where the Roman Empire is watching out for this long-promised Jewish Messiah to appear - in fact, God has promised to come Himself!   

Let’s watch closely too...

A rough hobo called John claims he’s a messenger but not even worthy to do a slave’s job of undoing the sandals of the Messiah who is coming... but when He finally arrives, has to dunk Him in the river!                                                                                                             

Don’t miss the fast pace of events – Mark will use ‘euthos’ some 36 times for immediate results, beginning with... heaven cannot resist suddenly splitting open (schizo) to endorse this Man publicly:

                                                                                                

“Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased"                                                              

...then the Spirit drives Him into the wilderness to be tested by Satan for 40 days!

Instead of heading to Jerusalem to be crowned King, this Messiah is acting like the Servant with urgent work to do - He goes preaching in despised Galilee!

His authority is undeniable though - it cannot be hidden. Unlike typical disciples who choose which rabbi they will follow, fishermen walk from their businesses to obey Jesus’ call, Jews in the synagogue are amazed at His teaching, demons are forced to recognize Him as ‘the Holy One of God’...

Okay He takes the hand of Simon’s mother-in-law to heal her fever, but just how hands-on will this Servant be?  Would He dare touch a leper?                               

Moved with compassion, Jesus freely handles (haptomai) this leper and healing is immediate from Messiah... 

‘as soon as He had spoken’                           

Of course!