More Public Healings

7Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; 8hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. 9He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; 10for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, “You are the Son of God!” 12But he sternly ordered them not to make him known. (Mark 3:7-12, NRSV)

Why do you follow Jesus?

The people here were following because they heard what Jesus had done. They knew what He had done and they wanted Him to do the same or better for them and their loved ones. They followed Jesus because they wanted something?

Why do you follow Jesus?

Today people say if you say you believe in Jesus then you are saved and won’t go to Hell. Is that why you follow Jesus? If so you follow Jesus to get something.

We should follow Jesus because He loves us as we are and to show the world they are loved by Him.

Why do you follow Jesus?

A Sabbath Healing

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” 4Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. (Mark 3:1-6, NRSV)

Is it wrong to heal on the Sabbath?

If you see the law as black and white then yes. Healing is working and working is wrong on the Sabbath. But was the law made so we can follow rules or we know better how to love each other and God?

The Law should point us to love. Not to keep people in bondage.

Love freely as God freely loves you.

Grain on the Sabbath

23One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” 25And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? 26He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” 27Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; 28so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” (Mark 2:23-28, NRSV)

The law says you can’t do work on the Sabbath, but if you are hungry and need to eat then you need to work. The day of rest was made for man because God rested. So if there is a need greater than rest that need trumps the day.

We need to remember the reason the law was given, to help us grow closer with God. So grow in your relationship not in the amount of rules you keep.

Jesus Forgives Sins

18Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. 21“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.” (Mark 2:18-22, NRSV)

There is a time and place for everything. Do not hold others as wrong when they do things differently than you.

We use old wine skins for old wine and put new wine in new wine skins so that things will not cause issues. Because things have an order and way and that can be different for others.

Love God as God loves you and share that love with the world.

Tax Collectors and Sinners

13Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. 14As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 15And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. 16When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” (Mark 2:13-17, NRSV)

Jesus calls all of us to follow as He called the first disciples. And He doesn’t need for us to have our lives perfect in the eyes of the world before we come.

Jesus ate and hung out with the people the world said were not a part of the community, the outcasts and sinners.

But Jesus knows we were all created by God perfect just the way we are. So follow Jesus and know you are loved as you are.

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2So 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. 3Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4And 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. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6Now 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?” 8At 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? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? 10But 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.” 12And 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!” (Mark 2:1-12, NRSV)

These 4 friends had to get their friend into see Jesus and the house was full and the door was blocked so they carried him to the roof on his mat and dug a hole in the roof and lowered him down to Jesus. Now the man didn’t ask for this as far as we know. His friends just took him and when Jesus saw all his friends went through he forgave the man. And when the legalalistic people saw it they grumbled and questioned it. So Jesus told him to get up and walk.

Jesus forgave him and healed him and restored him, because of the faith of his friends.

What has Jesus done for your friends because of your faith?

Dinner at Simon’s House

36One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. 37And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” 40Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “Speak.” 41“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” 43Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50, NRSV)

I have a picture of this verse. It was hanging on the wall in my office but now is in a box as I await a new call and a new place for it to hang. It was painted by a dear friend. It shows the devotion this woman had for Jesus.

But why is she crying over Jesus’ feet? All we know is she is a sinner and she knows Jesus is at the house. She came uninvited to this home where she wasn’t welcomed and cried over Jesus’ feet. She had an emotional connection to Jesus. Maybe she met Jesus earlier and He treated her as a human with worth rather than how she is normally treated. She knew He would forgive her. That is the love that Jesus has for all of us. He doesn’t love us if we follow the rules. He loves us because God made us.

Love deeply and share that love with the world.

Signs of the Kingdom

18The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples 19and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 20When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’” 21Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. 22And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. 23And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” (Luke 7:18-23, NRSV)

What do we expect from Jesus? John had seen and heard all of the things that Jesus did and still questioned if Jesus was the one coming or if there was another.

So what do we expect from Jesus?

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son

11Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. 12As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. 13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” 15The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorably on his people!” 17This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. (Luke 7:11-17, NRSV)

Why did Jesus heal this man? He was the only son of a widow. He was the only way the widow would be taken care of.

Jesus knows the needs of those around Him and does what He can to take care of those needs. Be that by Himself or through others.

Allow Jesus to use you to care for others.

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. 3When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy of having you do this for him, 5for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.” 6And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. 8For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” 9When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health. (Luke 7:1-10, NRSV)

Faith is knowing it will happen because we have been told it will happen. Jesus has promised us life abundantly. Do you believe that promise?

How do we live out our faith everyday?

3 men from the east followed stars to arrive this day at the home of Mary and Joseph to see Jesus. They had faith in what they had read and seen to find the king.

How do you show your faith to the world?