Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
this is what stuck out upon first reading:
the “whys”dom of the pharisees.
“why does this man speak that way?”
“why is he eating and drinking with tax-gatherers and sinners?”
“why do john’s disciples and the disciples of the pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?”
“why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?”
so many questions about why jesus does not line up with them and their traditions. were they genuinely curious? or were they employing the classic technique of asking a person for their reasoning, not to understand, but to rip apart and destroy?
this is what stuck out upon first reading:
the “whys”dom of the pharisees.
“why does this man speak that way?”
“why is he eating and drinking with tax-gatherers and sinners?”
“why do john’s disciples and the disciples of the pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?”
“why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?”
so many questions about why jesus does not line up with them and their traditions. were they genuinely curious? or were they employing the classic technique of asking a person for their reasoning, not to understand, but to rip apart and destroy?
Be back soon … just dropping off some strawberries and whipped cream …
Going to get some ice water … it is hotter than Hades here in Ontario.
31C or for you Americanos 92F and all the humidity to go with it … (what do you Aussielanders use for measurement?)
gotta love it though. 🙂
Be back soon … just dropping off some strawberries and whipped cream …
Going to get some ice water … it is hotter than Hades here in Ontario.
31C or for you Americanos 92F and all the humidity to go with it … (what do you Aussielanders use for measurement?)
gotta love it though. 🙂
Here in Oz it has been about 12C during the day, 2C or 3C overnight so everyone’s complaining about the cold! (when I was a kid it was in F’s but now it is C’s)
Getting back to Mark 2 the “whys” are very interesting, with the benefit of hindsight it is easy to say that the Pharisees were generally not interested in understanding.
v.24 The use of the word, “Look” sounds like an attack not curiousity.
Interestingly Jesus often answered their questions with a rhetoric question. I think that says he wasn’t trying to defend himself but rather he was trying to make them think.
Here in Oz it has been about 12C during the day, 2C or 3C overnight so everyone’s complaining about the cold! (when I was a kid it was in F’s but now it is C’s)
Getting back to Mark 2 the “whys” are very interesting, with the benefit of hindsight it is easy to say that the Pharisees were generally not interested in understanding.
v.24 The use of the word, “Look” sounds like an attack not curiousity.
Interestingly Jesus often answered their questions with a rhetoric question. I think that says he wasn’t trying to defend himself but rather he was trying to make them think.
Sorry guys, I’m still back at Mark 1 re: the fact that the demons were silenced by Jesus … don’t you find it interesting that the one to cause the kafuffle? (sp I haven’t got a clue how to spell that word. Is it even a word ??? LOL)
Anyway the one who did not obey Christ was a “man” who was healed of leprosy… he and he alone disobeyed and changed the way Christ … God … had to do things. Christ silenced the demons but did not silence the man with a command … the man was given stern instructions but did not “obey” the King of Kings … the demons have no choice but to obey? and we have the choice to obey or not to obey and change the course of the way God has to do things for us? The choice of the healed man to be quiet or not … changed the way Christ had to see the people … when He entered a city from then on He could not do so publicly … He had to sneak in.
Sorry guys, I’m still back at Mark 1 re: the fact that the demons were silenced by Jesus … don’t you find it interesting that the one to cause the kafuffle? (sp I haven’t got a clue how to spell that word. Is it even a word ??? LOL)
Anyway the one who did not obey Christ was a “man” who was healed of leprosy… he and he alone disobeyed and changed the way Christ … God … had to do things. Christ silenced the demons but did not silence the man with a command … the man was given stern instructions but did not “obey” the King of Kings … the demons have no choice but to obey? and we have the choice to obey or not to obey and change the course of the way God has to do things for us? The choice of the healed man to be quiet or not … changed the way Christ had to see the people … when He entered a city from then on He could not do so publicly … He had to sneak in.
Yes Wendy I do find that very interesting. Our disobedience may cause God to change the way He does things. v.45 the word “yet” suggests ultimately though God’s plans cannot be thwarted (Job 42:2).
It reminds of a story I heard of a pastor’s daughter who became a drug addict. Years later she became a Christian and became involved in a ministry to drug addicts. Her father made the comment it was never God’s intention for her to become a drug addict but having chosen that path God was still able to use her wrong choices.
I also like the idea that God has given us a free will so we can obey/disobey Him whereas the demons do not have this choice – at least not to the same extent.
Yes Wendy I do find that very interesting. Our disobedience may cause God to change the way He does things. v.45 the word “yet” suggests ultimately though God’s plans cannot be thwarted (Job 42:2).
It reminds of a story I heard of a pastor’s daughter who became a drug addict. Years later she became a Christian and became involved in a ministry to drug addicts. Her father made the comment it was never God’s intention for her to become a drug addict but having chosen that path God was still able to use her wrong choices.
I also like the idea that God has given us a free will so we can obey/disobey Him whereas the demons do not have this choice – at least not to the same extent.
then if demons have no choice but to obey, do they cause the havoc they cause because that is what god told them to do?
then if demons have no choice but to obey, do they cause the havoc they cause because that is what god told them to do?
Jon, I deliberately qualified my comment by adding “at least not to the same extent” meaning I think they do have some choice.
I think Job 1 & 2 tell us exactly how much choice or lack of choice Satan and demons really have. God didn’t tell Satan to attack Job however Satan did need God’s permission. Interestingly Satan chose not to directly bother Job’s wife.
Jon, I deliberately qualified my comment by adding “at least not to the same extent” meaning I think they do have some choice.
I think Job 1 & 2 tell us exactly how much choice or lack of choice Satan and demons really have. God didn’t tell Satan to attack Job however Satan did need God’s permission. Interestingly Satan chose not to directly bother Job’s wife.
Here’s a couple of things that I found interesting:
v.1 tells us that Capernaum was now Jesus’ home. I had this idea after Jesus left Nazareth he sort of just wander around the countryside for three years. I hadn’t really thought about Capernaum being Jesus’ home.
v.3 the paralytic must have missed out on being healed the previous time Jesus was in Capernaum (1:33). Perhaps it was the events of Jesus’ previous visit that convinced his friends that they needed to get the paralytic to Jesus.
Here’s a couple of things that I found interesting:
v.1 tells us that Capernaum was now Jesus’ home. I had this idea after Jesus left Nazareth he sort of just wander around the countryside for three years. I hadn’t really thought about Capernaum being Jesus’ home.
v.3 the paralytic must have missed out on being healed the previous time Jesus was in Capernaum (1:33). Perhaps it was the events of Jesus’ previous visit that convinced his friends that they needed to get the paralytic to Jesus.
Yea I have a question about the obedience of demons to God … they seem to obey in the presence of God and only act when the hand of God is removed to allow them to wreak havoc and/or act according to their nature with those who are not sheep. The misery loves company sort of thing. But there seems to be some choice as there was war in heaven and Satan was cast out … there was choice to love their creator …or hit the road. It seems that the Lord keeps a tight rein on them.
Yea I have a question about the obedience of demons to God … they seem to obey in the presence of God and only act when the hand of God is removed to allow them to wreak havoc and/or act according to their nature with those who are not sheep. The misery loves company sort of thing. But there seems to be some choice as there was war in heaven and Satan was cast out … there was choice to love their creator …or hit the road. It seems that the Lord keeps a tight rein on them.
well, susan, i’m not sure if this is what you had in mind when you started this study… hopefully you have a “take it as it comes attitude” because we are a long way from mark right now!!! so, if this is disappointing in any way, i’m sorry. i’m sure we’ll get back on track before long. i’m just really appreciating a little give and take on some questions that it can be difficult to get answered in other places where people actually have knowledge of their bibles.
a couple of verses to throw in this demon mix while i contemplate the things you two have said. these have always skewed what once was a tidy and neat “demonology” i had growing up.
1SA 16:14-15 “Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an EVIL SPIRIT FROM THE LORD terrorized him. Saul’s servants then said to him, ‘Behold now, an EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD is terrorizing you.'”
an evil spirit from the lord? terrorizing? for me the issue is not one of whether or not saul deserved this. but rather what catches my attention is that the plain language used here tells us that the spirit is evil, it is from god, and it terrorizes. this just rocked my world a little the first time i read it. nothing we ever chatted about in sunday school, you know?
Isa. 45:6b-7 “I am the LORD, and there is no other, The One forming light and CREATING DARKNESS, causing well-being and CREATING CALAMITY; I am the LORD who does all these.”
which also rocked my world upon first reading.
and yes, this “satan” in Job had to get permission before he could touch Job. and satan also had to ask permission to “sift” peter “like wheat”.
but yet again, in the book of acts, the little girl who has a demon follows paul and his companions around calling behind them like a beacon shouting, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” and sure, i can see why paul was annoyed. this went on for days. but this is also the same man who once proclaimed, “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.” and once again, the demon in question was pointing people to the truth of jesus’ person.
it definitely leaves me with more questions about the true dynamics of the spiritual realm and how it genuinely works.
well, susan, i’m not sure if this is what you had in mind when you started this study… hopefully you have a “take it as it comes attitude” because we are a long way from mark right now!!! so, if this is disappointing in any way, i’m sorry. i’m sure we’ll get back on track before long. i’m just really appreciating a little give and take on some questions that it can be difficult to get answered in other places where people actually have knowledge of their bibles.
a couple of verses to throw in this demon mix while i contemplate the things you two have said. these have always skewed what once was a tidy and neat “demonology” i had growing up.
1SA 16:14-15 “Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an EVIL SPIRIT FROM THE LORD terrorized him. Saul’s servants then said to him, ‘Behold now, an EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD is terrorizing you.'”
an evil spirit from the lord? terrorizing? for me the issue is not one of whether or not saul deserved this. but rather what catches my attention is that the plain language used here tells us that the spirit is evil, it is from god, and it terrorizes. this just rocked my world a little the first time i read it. nothing we ever chatted about in sunday school, you know?
Isa. 45:6b-7 “I am the LORD, and there is no other, The One forming light and CREATING DARKNESS, causing well-being and CREATING CALAMITY; I am the LORD who does all these.”
which also rocked my world upon first reading.
and yes, this “satan” in Job had to get permission before he could touch Job. and satan also had to ask permission to “sift” peter “like wheat”.
but yet again, in the book of acts, the little girl who has a demon follows paul and his companions around calling behind them like a beacon shouting, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” and sure, i can see why paul was annoyed. this went on for days. but this is also the same man who once proclaimed, “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.” and once again, the demon in question was pointing people to the truth of jesus’ person.
it definitely leaves me with more questions about the true dynamics of the spiritual realm and how it genuinely works.
I don’t mind getting off track for a while if it is being beneficial.
I think I have mentioned this before, but anyway in 2 Samuel 41:1 it says that the Lord incited David to take a census whereas in I Chronicles 21:1 it says about the same incident that Satan incited David. My understanding is that from the Jewish point of view it didn’t matter to them whether God initiated it or whether God allowed Satan to do it. Ultimately they felt God was responsibile.
From my Western point of view it does matter to me so I like to make the distinction and say that God doesn’t initiate evil but rather he gives Satan permission. Nevertheless I understand the difficulty in wondering why God would give permission and what is Satan doing in the presence of God anyway?
One of the chapters in the book I am writing is about this issue. I call it, He doesn’t tell me why. There is a whole lot going on in the spiritual realm that we are largely unaware of. However at the end of the day I believe God is good and He is charge.
I don’t mind getting off track for a while if it is being beneficial.
I think I have mentioned this before, but anyway in 2 Samuel 41:1 it says that the Lord incited David to take a census whereas in I Chronicles 21:1 it says about the same incident that Satan incited David. My understanding is that from the Jewish point of view it didn’t matter to them whether God initiated it or whether God allowed Satan to do it. Ultimately they felt God was responsibile.
From my Western point of view it does matter to me so I like to make the distinction and say that God doesn’t initiate evil but rather he gives Satan permission. Nevertheless I understand the difficulty in wondering why God would give permission and what is Satan doing in the presence of God anyway?
One of the chapters in the book I am writing is about this issue. I call it, He doesn’t tell me why. There is a whole lot going on in the spiritual realm that we are largely unaware of. However at the end of the day I believe God is good and He is charge.
Getting back to Mark 2 I was hoping someone might comment on v.21-22. Any thoughts?
Getting back to Mark 2 I was hoping someone might comment on v.21-22. Any thoughts?
“Ultimately they felt God was responsibile.”
That’s about it … He is responsible always whether He raises His hand to allow or He closes His wings around us to protect.
I’m sooo tired …
back to MARK 2 soon 🙂
“Ultimately they felt God was responsibile.”
That’s about it … He is responsible always whether He raises His hand to allow or He closes His wings around us to protect.
I’m sooo tired …
back to MARK 2 soon 🙂
Insallah. As the Muslims say. I like it alot. It is in Gods Hands. Everything is.
Insallah. As the Muslims say. I like it alot. It is in Gods Hands. Everything is.
sorry for not commenting on v.21-22 sooner. i have been trying to contemplate them more fully and get my thoughts together. but, in reality, i have been thinking about this for a couple of years now and have not reached a definitive thought. (me? really? no!)
what i wonder about this statement is what jesus intention was here. what is a new garment? what is a new wineskin? if, as is the common interpretation, we are speaking of a “new life”, what does that mean for people like myself who have been raised in “the church”?
not saying that i don’t agree. i very much agree. you can’t try to cram a new paradigm inside an old paradigm. the two cannot coexist peacefully. both will ruin the other. no, you need an old life in an old paradigm and a new life in a new paradigm. this much i agree with.
(in the language of a common saying) i know the need to keep the “baby” but just how much “bath water” do you throw out? i am beginning to lean more towards all of it, but i am still not 100% sure.
sorry for not commenting on v.21-22 sooner. i have been trying to contemplate them more fully and get my thoughts together. but, in reality, i have been thinking about this for a couple of years now and have not reached a definitive thought. (me? really? no!)
what i wonder about this statement is what jesus intention was here. what is a new garment? what is a new wineskin? if, as is the common interpretation, we are speaking of a “new life”, what does that mean for people like myself who have been raised in “the church”?
not saying that i don’t agree. i very much agree. you can’t try to cram a new paradigm inside an old paradigm. the two cannot coexist peacefully. both will ruin the other. no, you need an old life in an old paradigm and a new life in a new paradigm. this much i agree with.
(in the language of a common saying) i know the need to keep the “baby” but just how much “bath water” do you throw out? i am beginning to lean more towards all of it, but i am still not 100% sure.
Does it bother you that Jesus breaks the law at the end of this chapter? 🙂
Does it bother you that Jesus breaks the law at the end of this chapter? 🙂
Currently I’m not at home and today when I was down the street, accessing the internet I forgot to bring a Bible with me! Tomorrow I will. So I can’t actually remember what Jesus did at the end of Chapter 2. I’ll get back to you.
The difficult I have with the new wineskins is the one you mention, Jon. It can be applied to several different things and I wonder which one Jesus meant. Or perhaps he meant several things.
Currently I’m not at home and today when I was down the street, accessing the internet I forgot to bring a Bible with me! Tomorrow I will. So I can’t actually remember what Jesus did at the end of Chapter 2. I’ll get back to you.
The difficult I have with the new wineskins is the one you mention, Jon. It can be applied to several different things and I wonder which one Jesus meant. Or perhaps he meant several things.
Chapter 2 ends and chapter 3 starts with Jesus doing what is “unlawful on the Sabbath”. I wrote about the same story in Matthew 12:13-14 here.
The Pharisees thought it was wrong to heal on the Sabbath but OK to plot murder! That sort of crazy thinking happens when we mindlessly obey the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law.
Chapter 2 ends and chapter 3 starts with Jesus doing what is “unlawful on the Sabbath”. I wrote about the same story in Matthew 12:13-14 here.
The Pharisees thought it was wrong to heal on the Sabbath but OK to plot murder! That sort of crazy thinking happens when we mindlessly obey the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law.
“No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.”
Jesus was letting them know that a new thing was happening.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12
“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
“I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.
See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”
Isaiah 42
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43
“No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.”
Jesus was letting them know that a new thing was happening.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12
“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
“I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.
See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”
Isaiah 42
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43
Trav …. I don’t think they were breaking the the law when they fed themselves from the grain field … that kind of thing must have been allowed … the pharisees were upset about them doing work on the Sabath. Jesus told them the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath … in other words it was made as a guide for us to rest not as an iron rule over us .. He said He was Lord of the Sabbath. It was always ok to do good on the Sabbath.
“Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
The Lord answered him,
“You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. Luke 13
Trav …. I don’t think they were breaking the the law when they fed themselves from the grain field … that kind of thing must have been allowed … the pharisees were upset about them doing work on the Sabath. Jesus told them the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath … in other words it was made as a guide for us to rest not as an iron rule over us .. He said He was Lord of the Sabbath. It was always ok to do good on the Sabbath.
“Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
The Lord answered him,
“You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. Luke 13
v.1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
Perhaps we don’t think about Jesus having a home because he said, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). However this was in the context of discipleship and not that he had literally no where to lay his head. We must be willing to leave our homes for the sake of the gospel.
v.1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
Perhaps we don’t think about Jesus having a home because he said, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). However this was in the context of discipleship and not that he had literally no where to lay his head. We must be willing to leave our homes for the sake of the gospel.
v.5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
It wasn’t their determination or their tenacity that Jesus saw but rather their motivation, that is, their faith. Jesus saw that in the spiritual realm their actions had made a difference which released God’s healing power to heal this man.
v.5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
It wasn’t their determination or their tenacity that Jesus saw but rather their motivation, that is, their faith. Jesus saw that in the spiritual realm their actions had made a difference which released God’s healing power to heal this man.