Mark: The People Rejoice

1. Additional Scriptural readings suggested: Mark 3:190-30; 190-30.

2. A short reading:

"Father, I love You Whom I do not know, and I embrace You Whom I cannot see, and I abandon myself to You Whom I have offended, because You love me in You only begotten Son. You see Him in me, because He has willed to identify Himself completely with me by that love which brought Him to death, for me, on the Cross." (Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, 66-67)

3. Text for meditation (in Italics):

¹ When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. ² So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. ³ Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. ⁴ And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." ⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ⁷ "Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" ⁸ At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'? ¹⁰ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he said to the paralytic ¹¹ "I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home." ¹² And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and -went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" ¹³ Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them.

4. Reflections: Jesus told the man to stand up and he did. Jesus told the man to take his mat (perhaps roll it up) and he did. Jesus then told him to go home, which presumably was Capernaum where this miracle happened, and he did. The man "went out before all of them." Peter Chrysologus, spiritual father of the 5th century AD, says "Take up your bed. Carry the very mat that once carried you.. ..Your bed of pain becomes the sign of healing, its very weight the measure of strength that has been restored to you." (ACC. 29.) Everyone saw it; everyone was shocked! Did you notice that Jesus gave a command and the man did what Jesus said. If the man had stayed on the mat, nothing would have happened. If you think these people were beside themselves, imagine the cheers in heaven!

Like this people, there have been times when I too said, "I have never seen anything like this!" In southern California the child of a friend was healed of a fatal disease. In small town church in Waller, Texas, a drunken man stood outside the church windows on a dare and listened to a revival service I was preaching; years later in Houston, at another revival, he introduced himself to me, not as a drunk but now as a Methodist preacher! I have also seen the miraculous power of God at work in my own immediate family. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!" Israel witnessed to the power of God in delivering the nation, first from the Egyptians at the Red Sea and then from exile in Babylon. Now there is this man from Galilee who delivers demon-possessed people and heals the paralyzed. The "crowd" was starved for God. They saw God at work through Jesus and were amazed.

Verse 13 is not included in the printed lesson in the Adult Student Book, but it should be. Following this uncanny miracle, the crowds sought Jesus out and listened to Him teach. The verbs in the sentence are in the imperfect tense and can be translated as follows: "the crowds "kept gathering" around Jesus and He "kept teaching" them, probably by the sea. One group after another, coming to the Rabbi of Galilee, hungry to leam about God from Him. His authority was established, now they needed to listen. The scribes needed to listen but, unfortunately, there is no indication that the miracle changed their minds about the Lord. Sometimes we need to doubt our doubts.

5. Questions raised today for personal reflection:

What was Jesus teaching the crowds? What do you think He was teaching groups of Jews? Taking a cue from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus was surely teaching them about what the prophets said, especially the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah, as you remember, talked a great deal about the "suffering servant" of God, a Messiah figure that anticipated Jesus' death (see Isaiah 53 as an example). He also taught the crowds about what pleases God, about justice, and about faith. The people accepted Him as an important rabbi (teacher) and listened to what He said, that is, all except some in the prominent religious parties. What would you like to have Jesus teach you?

Do miracles happen today? Yes, in a certain sense you are a miracle yourself, although I know you are thinking about miracles of healing. Two things are beyond dispute. First, miracles continue in the church and, second, they point beyond themselves to something greater, to Jesus who heals our souls. To me, a forgiven heart is of considerably more significance than a healed body. Sometimes we get both, other times we don't. It is up to God and we praise Him for His graciousness, however it is expressed.

6. Suggestions for prayer: We have a choice whether to be doubters or believers. Let us thank God for the faith He has given us to believe. As Merton's prayer above reminds us, we should praise God that Jesus has identified Himself with you and me. Jesus died and rose for you.. .and me. Mediate on that great truth and let your prayer flow naturally from what you sense. We live among doubters. Think of specific people who have trouble believing and pray for them by name. Always pray good prayers.