Bible ReadingMark 2:1-12 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
[24:08] [27:19] [30:27]Mark 1:29-34 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
[12:54] [14:47]Mark 1:40-45 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
[17:37]Mark 1:35-39 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
[15:49]Observation questions- In Mark 1:29-34, what happens to Simon’s mother-in-law after Jesus takes her by the hand and lifts her up, and what happens later that evening at the door of the house? [12:54]
- In Mark 1:35-39, what does Jesus do early in the morning, and how does his answer to Simon show what he intends to do next? [15:49]
- In Mark 1:40-45, what does the leper believe about Jesus, and what surprising thing does Jesus do before healing him? [17:37]
- In Mark 2:1-12, what do the friends of the paralytic expect Jesus to do, what does Jesus say first instead, and how do the scribes respond in their hearts? [24:08]
Interpretation questions- Jesus heals many people, yet he refuses to stay where “everyone is looking” for him. What does that suggest about the difference between compassion and mission in Jesus’ ministry? [16:49]
- The leper does not question Jesus’ power, only his willingness. What does Jesus’ response, “I will; be clean,” show about the kind of authority Jesus has? [17:42]
- Jesus tells the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,” before telling him to walk. What does that reveal about the deeper problem Jesus came to address in people? [25:17]
- The scribes are right that only God can forgive sins. When Jesus heals the paralytic to prove his authority to forgive, what is Mark showing about who Jesus is? [30:27]
Application questions- Jesus is worth getting out of bed for. When purpose feels thin or life feels like routine, what are the things most likely to get a person up and going? What tends to function as that motive in daily life right now? [09:29]
- The open door of Jesus’ compassion is real, but the clinic is not the kingdom. Is there a tendency to come to Jesus mainly wanting one problem fixed? What might it look like to come to him not only for relief, but also for forgiveness, surrender, and restored fellowship with God? [38:42]
- Jesus rose early to pray and to align with his Father’s purpose. What usually sets the agenda for the day: urgency, need, other people’s expectations, or communion with God? What small change might help make prayer less accidental and more deliberate? [15:33]
- The contagion runs the other way with Jesus: uncleanness does not make him dirty; his cleanness restores the unclean. Where is there a temptation to assume that Jesus is reluctant to draw near because of shame, sin, or long-term mess? How does this passage challenge that assumption? [18:06]
- Jesus says the deepest fracture is not first in the body or circumstances, but in relationship with God and neighbor. When something painful dominates life, is there room to ask whether a deeper spiritual wound also needs attention? What might that deeper need be? [32:44]
- Forgiveness is free to the sinner but costly to Jesus. How does seeing forgiveness as something paid for at the cross change the way a believer receives it? Does it make forgiveness feel more personal, more humbling, or more secure? [33:31]
- Jesus comes with authority not to crush and cast out, but to be crushed and cast out so others may be brought in. If that is really true, where is there resistance to letting him lead with full authority? What would trusting that authority look like in one concrete area this week? [41:00]
