1 Jesus Asserts His Authority Mark 2:1-3:12 Message 3 in our 10-part series on The Gospel of Mark. Sunday, May 8, 2011 Speaker: Doug Virgint

2 Jesus asserts his authority Introduction Introduction Jesus authority over: Jesus authority over: 1. forgiveness of sin (2: 1–12) 2. type of sinners Jesus forgives (2: 13–22) 3. laws and ceremonies (2: 23–3:6) 4. sickness and demonic forces (3: 7–12) Conclusion Conclusion

3 Jesus asserts his authority Introduction Introduction Jesus authority over: Jesus authority over: 1. forgiveness of sin (2: 1–12) 2. type of sinners Jesus forgives (2: 13–22) 3. laws and ceremonies (2: 23–3:6) 4. sickness and demonic forces (3: 7–12) Conclusion Conclusion

4 Introduction What is the most important contribution Christianity can make to human kind ? Emergency disaster aid ? Emergency disaster aid ? Education ? Education ? Social transformation ? Social transformation ? The forgiveness of our sins !!

5 Jesus asserts his authority Introduction Introduction Jesus authority over: Jesus authority over: 1. forgiveness of sin (2: 1–12) 2. type of sinners Jesus forgives (2: 13–22) 3. laws and ceremonies (2: 23–3:6) 4. sickness and demonic forces (3: 7–12) Conclusion Conclusion

6 Authority to forgive sin Jesus is at home in Capernaum Jesus is at home in Capernaum Preaching the Word - his greatest priority Preaching the Word - his greatest priority Note that Jesus understands mans hearts : Note that Jesus understands mans hearts : He sees the faith of the paralytic He sees the faith of the paralytic He sees the questioning of the scribes He sees the questioning of the scribes He meets the paralytics greatest need He meets the paralytics greatest need Forgiveness is invisible Forgiveness is invisible Healing proves his authority to forgive Healing proves his authority to forgive

7 Authority to forgive sin The scribes ask a legitimate question : Who can forgive sins but God alone? They are right!!!! When Jesus asserts his authority to forgive sin, he is claiming he is God !

8 Jesus asserts his authority Introduction Introduction Jesus authority over: Jesus authority over: 1. forgiveness of sin (2: 1–12) 2. type of sinners Jesus forgives (2: 13–22) 3. laws and ceremonies (2: 23–3:6) 4. sickness and demonic forces (3: 7–12) Conclusion Conclusion

9 Type of sinners Jesus forgives Difficult for us to understand how much tax collectors were hated by the Jews Difficult for us to understand how much tax collectors were hated by the Jews Auctions held for the right to collect taxes in a Roman province Auctions held for the right to collect taxes in a Roman province The highest bidder sold rights for cities / smaller areas to publicans The highest bidder sold rights for cities / smaller areas to publicans The publicans collected as much as possible - recoup investment + profit The publicans collected as much as possible - recoup investment + profit

10 Type of sinners Jesus forgives Levi was running a toll booth an the main road between interior and the sea Levi was running a toll booth an the main road between interior and the sea So much per person, per donkeys leg, per weight of merchandise So much per person, per donkeys leg, per weight of merchandise Terrible abuse Terrible abuse

11 Type of sinners Jesus forgives The Jewish people hated them The Jewish people hated them Publicans had sold their souls to the enemy – the hated Roman occupation Publicans had sold their souls to the enemy – the hated Roman occupation If a publican touched your house, your whole family was unclean If a publican touched your house, your whole family was unclean The Talmud taught meticulous honesty, but said it was OK to lie to a publican The Talmud taught meticulous honesty, but said it was OK to lie to a publican And Jesus calls Levi as a disciple !! And Jesus calls Levi as a disciple !!

12 Type of sinners Jesus forgives No godly Rabbi would associate with this type of person No godly Rabbi would associate with this type of person The verb tenses used – follow me, rose, followed indicate immediate action The verb tenses used – follow me, rose, followed indicate immediate action And worse still, Jesus eats with Levi and his publican friends! And worse still, Jesus eats with Levi and his publican friends! Eating = acceptance to Jewish mind Eating = acceptance to Jewish mind eat with tax collectors /sinners

13 Type of sinners Jesus forgives Jesus answer analogy: Jesus answer - an analogy: A doctor helps sick people, not the well A doctor helps sick people, not the well Jesus has come to call sinners – not the righteous Jesus has come to call sinners – not the righteous The clear message to the religious leaders : The clear message to the religious leaders : Your self-righteousness makes it impossible for you to receive forgiveness

14 Jesus asserts his authority Introduction Introduction Jesus authority over: Jesus authority over: 1. forgiveness of sin (2: 1–12) 2. type of sinners Jesus forgives (2: 13–22) 3. laws and ceremonies (2: 23–3:6) 4. sickness and demonic forces (3: 7–12) Conclusion Conclusion

15 Over laws and ceremonies The religious leaders were constantly trying to assert their authority over Jesus The religious leaders were constantly trying to assert their authority over Jesus They wanted him to obey their laws They wanted him to obey their laws And here they want him to fast And here they want him to fast They fasted two days a week – Monday and Thursday They fasted two days a week – Monday and Thursday This is their tradition – no such O.T. law This is their tradition – no such O.T. law

16 Over laws and ceremonies Our Lord gives three analogies to destroy their criticism: No fasting at a wedding feast No fasting at a wedding feast New cloth on an old garment New cloth on an old garment New wine in old wine-skins New wine in old wine-skins

17 Over laws and ceremonies Jesus point with these 3 analogies: You cant mix my Gospel with your old traditions You cant mix my Gospel with your old traditions If you want to follow me, there is no room for religious tradition If you want to follow me, there is no room for religious tradition You must abandon your self-righteous traditions if you want to receive forgiveness for your sins You must abandon your self-righteous traditions if you want to receive forgiveness for your sins

18 Over laws and ceremonies Jesus then deliberately twice attacks their main religious tradition: The Sabbath Sabbath trip - no more than 999 steps Sabbath trip - no more than 999 steps Must not lift more than weight of a dry fig Must not lift more than weight of a dry fig Throw object in the air – catch same hand Throw object in the air – catch same hand 24 chapters on the Sabbath in Talmud 24 chapters on the Sabbath in Talmud One Rabbi spent 3 years on 1 chapter One Rabbi spent 3 years on 1 chapter

19 Over laws and ceremonies The disciples pluck some grain in a field Jesus refers them to David : Jesus refers them to David : If David in his need could violate a divine ordinance … … our Lords disciples in their need could violate human traditions No ceremony persists before human needs No ceremony persists before human needs Mercy triumphs over ceremony and ritual Mercy triumphs over ceremony and ritual

20 Over laws and ceremonies Our Lord heals the withered hand Some principles : Human needs are more important than ceremonial laws Human needs are more important than ceremonial laws Compassion is more important than ceremonial laws Compassion is more important than ceremonial laws The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath Christ is Lord of the Sabbath Christ is Lord of the Sabbath

21 Over laws and ceremonies Remark here : The heart hardness of these religious people The heart hardness of these religious people They loved their religion more than the truth – more than God himself They loved their religion more than the truth – more than God himself The Lord was angry with their attitude The Lord was angry with their attitude His heart was deeply grieved His heart was deeply grieved

22 Over laws and ceremonies The clear demonstration of their hate and hardness : They seek to make a coalition with the hated Herodians to destroy Jesus They seek to make a coalition with the hated Herodians to destroy Jesus

23 Jesus asserts his authority Introduction Introduction Jesus authority over: Jesus authority over: 1. forgiveness of sin (2: 1–12) 2. type of sinners Jesus forgives (2: 13–22) 3. laws and ceremonies (2: 23–3:6) 4. sickness and demonic forces (3: 7–12) Conclusion Conclusion

24 Over sickness - demonic forces The two great human problems of that age: Physical sickness Physical sickness Spiritual bondage Spiritual bondage Our Lord demonstrates his authority over both these problems

25 Over sickness - demonic forces Isnt it sad : The religious leaders did not recognize Jesus for who he is The religious leaders did not recognize Jesus for who he is The very demons from hell did recognize him! The very demons from hell did recognize him!

26 Jesus asserts his authority Introduction Introduction Jesus authority over: Jesus authority over: 1. forgiveness of sin (2: 1–12) 2. type of sinners Jesus forgives (2: 13–22) 3. laws and ceremonies (2: 23–3:6) 4. sickness and demonic forces (3: 7–12) Conclusion Conclusion

27 Conclusion Are we in, our church, allowing our great traditions to interfere with meeting human needs and demonstrating mercy? Are we in, our church, allowing our great traditions to interfere with meeting human needs and demonstrating mercy? Have you recognized who Jesus is? Have you recognized who Jesus is? Are you allowing your self-righteousness to prevent you from receiving forgiveness of your sins. Are you allowing your self-righteousness to prevent you from receiving forgiveness of your sins. Are you allowing your religious traditions to prevent you form turning to Christ? Are you allowing your religious traditions to prevent you form turning to Christ?