Searched- Mark 1:36
Mark used an intensive form of the verb that is translated
searched. It almost has the sense of
hunted down. There was an urgency to their actions.
Resisted temptation to please crowds - Mark 1:38
The disciples found Jesus and tried to get him to go back into town. Jesus refused. He resisted the temptation to please the crowds who seemed only to want healings and exorcisms. He wanted to move on to other towns where he could
preach the good news of God. (Compare 1:14.)
Leprosy - Mark 1:40-42
This story is an example of Jesus' ministry as he traveled through Galilee preaching and healing. In Jesus' day leprosy was the most dreaded of diseases. The
leper was ceremonially unclean (Lev. 13: 45-46). He was a social outcast. In most cases he was a living dead man. Jesus' heart was
moved with compassion by the man's condition and by his faith. See note at 7:34 regarding Jesus' emotional life. He
touched him. He touched the leper. Instead of that touch making Jesus unclean (Lev. 22:4-6), it made the leper whole again. The power of the kingdom of God in Jesus transcended the Old Testament rules of ritual uncleanness. Jesus had the power to heal even the worst of diseases.
Go to the priests - Mark 1:43-44
Mark used a very strong word
warned to report Jesus' seriousness and concern. He commanded the man not to tell anyone else how he was healed. Jesus was afraid that the crowds seeking healing would be overwhelming if they learned that he could heal even a leper. Jesus also demanded that the man obey the laws of purification by going to the priests (Lev. 14:1-32).
Command to keep healing a secret - Mark 1:45
Mark did not report whether the man ever went to the priests. But the man ignored Jesus' command to keep his healing a secret. He
began to spread the news about the power of Jesus. Jesus' fears became reality. It became more and more difficult for Jesus to carry out his ministry of preaching the gospel with the crowds pressing him for healing.
Early Opposition to the Messiah - Mark 2:1–3:6
In this section of the Gospel Mark recorded five stories of Jesus' conflict with the religious leaders of Judaism. The crowds had been amazed at Jesus' teaching and healing. In contrast with the crowds the Jewish leaders charged him with blasphemy. They condemned him for associating with sinners. They accused him of breaking religious laws and customs.
He had come home - Mark 2:1
Capernaum was a city on the Northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee. From both archaeological remains and the narratives of the gospels it seems that Capernaum was a prosperous city of some importance. It was the hometown of Peter. Jesus grew up in Nazareth, but seemed to have adopted Capernaum (about 20 miles away) as his home during this part of his ministry.The paralyzed man - Mark 2:4
Most Palestinian houses were single story structures with flat roofs. The roof was usually made out of leaves, branches, and clay. Many had an outside stairway which led to the roof that could be used as an extra work area. The friends of the paralyzed man were so committed to getting him to Jesus that they broke through the roof from above.Evidence of faith - Mark 2:5-7
The actions of the paralyzed man and his friends were evidence of their faith in Jesus' ability to heal him. When Jesus told the man that his sins were forgiven he shocked some in the crowd. Originally the scribes were simply copyists. Their task was to make copies of the Old Testament scriptures. By Jesus' day they had become authorities in the subjects of the scriptures they copied. Most of the scribes were Pharisees. They knew that in the Old Testament no one except God could ever forgive sin. For them the conclusion was obvious. Jesus was guilty of blasphemy because he claimed to forgive sins.
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