How do the teachers of the law and the Pharisees view Jesus? They view him as a threat. He threatens their entire religious system. He threatens what they had worked so hard to attain. The social standing. The financial security. They must have thought, I will distinguish myself from the other Pharisees, I will out-compete […]
Mark 3 : "The Queen Bee and the Swarm vs. the Asteroid" (Part 1 of 3)
1Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front […]
Mark 2: Are You Critical of Jesus? (Part 4 of 4)
Fourth, Jesus is criticized by Pharisees for doing work on the Sabbath and breaking Sabbath law — 23One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” […]
Mark 2: Are You Critical of Jesus? (Part 3 of 4)
We talked about how the first group missed Jesus because of their prejudice that God could not take human form. The second group missed Jesus because they thought that their religious performance made them better than “sinners.” Now we have a third group who criticizes Jesus starting in v18. 18Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees […]
Mark 2: Are You Critical of Jesus? (Part 2 of 4)
Second, Jesus is criticized by the Pharisees for having dinner with “sinners” – 15While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” […]
Mark 2: Are You Critical of Jesus? (Part 1 of 4)
Today, I want to continue the theme of seeing and hearing the real Jesus. Do you notice a pattern from this chapter? In one short chapter, Jesus is criticized 4 times by 4 different sets of people and each time he defends himself. I want to begin by pointing out that most, if not all, […]