45 Days To Read The Gospel Challenge – The Gospel of Mark Chapter Two: Jesus Eats With Sinners, Justifies Fasting and Defines Law of the Sabbath.

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ePrayer Circle offers daily posting of scripture and prayers along with a FREE “45 Days To Read the Gospel Challenge”.  In addition, a FREE 24/7 prayer request service is available for your convenience by phone, or email. You are encouraged to complete the course in your own time. 45 Days is a challenge.

 

 

How to Get the Most Out of The Challenge

The Gospel consists of four books in the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—that share the teachings of Jesus Christ. You can start the FREE “45 Day Challenge” at any time by visiting the ePrayer Circle homepage and selecting the “45 Day Challenge” menu option. Feel free to share these lessons and print them for use in your Bible study groups. You can also translate the content into multiple languages using the Google Translate menu bar on the homepage.

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Transcript:  HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS CHALLENGE

Step One.  Start in the order of: the Gospel of John, Luke, Mark and Matthew for understanding.

The instructions are designed for accessibility and ensures the learner is not overwhelmed and confused. Post your questions in the comment section and the author will answer you. Please share your experiences and opinions.

Step Two.  Each lesson takes about 35 minutes to complete: 20 min to study the lesson and take the quiz. 15 minutes to read the Bible resource

It is recommended to read the entire post and then take the quiz before reading or listening to the bible resources. Each lesson is self-contained and includes all resources needed.

Step 3:  You should complete two lessons a day.  5 Days a week in order to complete the “45 Days to Read The Gospel Challenge in 45 days”.

There is no law that says you have to complete these lessons in 45 days. You are free to work at your own pace. Study the lesson and take the quiz in the morning, and later listen to or read the bible resources.

Step 4: Get organize with pen and paper.  Take notes.  Each lesson contains: Header Sections (Table of Contents): (1) chapter summary, (2) objectives, (3) outline, (4) reflection question,  (5) chapter highlights, (6) resources, (7) interactive quiz, and (8) a call to salvation.

Step 5: Enjoy.  The Gospel Changes Lives.  Get active and communicate with others. Share the lessons with friends. No stress. Work at your own pace.

Isaiah 9:6 KJV“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son, is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

 

 

Before Starting this Course: 

 

 

Read the Word in the parking lot while waiting on others.

Read the Word in the morning with coffee and at night for easy rest at bedtime.

Read the Word when you walk for exercise.

Send the Word to your social media platforms.

Text the Word to people to encourage them in the Lord:  children, friends, spouses, acquaintances, or neighbors.

 

Overview of The Gospel of Mark

The Gospel of Mark, written by Mark John (also known as “John” in the Book of Acts), is one of the four Gospels in the New Testament. Mark was a close companion of the disciple Peter, who referred to him as his spiritual son. Although Mark did not walk with Jesus personally, he closely followed Peter and recorded much of what Peter witnessed during Jesus’ ministry. This Gospel is often called the “Memoirs of Peter” because of Mark’s close relationship with him. It was written between A.D. 50-70, before the Book of Acts, and is thought to have been written in Italy.

Mark’s Gospel focuses heavily on the miracles that Jesus performed throughout His ministry in Galilee, showing Jesus’ power over sickness, demons, and nature. Unlike other Gospels, Mark emphasizes Jesus’ human nature, highlighting His emotions and physical limitations. This portrayal of Jesus helps believers understand that He is familiar with the struggles and challenges of being human and can fully sympathize with our problems and situations.

Mark’s work was an important source for the Gospel of Luke, as Luke borrowed many notes from it. Overall, the Gospel of Mark presents a powerful narrative of Jesus’ ministry, filled with miracles and moments that reveal both His divinity and humanity.

Keywords:  The Gospel of Mark, Bible verses, scriptures, ePrayerCircle, 45 Days to Learn the Gospel Challenge, free Bible lessons, eBible study, Mark 1:1, Mark 16:15, Jesus’ miracles, discipleship in Mark, repentance in Mark, John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism, wilderness temptation, healing miracles of Jesus, Mark’s Gospel summary, Peter’s memoirs, Christ’s humanity, Galilee ministry, Mark 10:45, kingdom of God, Jesus’ resurrection, Mark 14:36, parables in Mark, Peter and Mark

 

45 Days To Read The Gospel Challenge – The Gospel of Mark Chapter Two: Eats With Sinners, Justifies Fasting Defines Law of the Sabbath.

 

 

OVERVIEW OF  THE GOSPEL OF MARK  CHAPTER TWO

In this lesson on Mark Chapter 2, we explore Jesus’ miracles, teachings, and how He challenges traditional beliefs. Jesus enters Capernaum, where a large crowd gathers to hear Him preach. A group of friends, determined to help their sick friend with palsy, lower him through the roof to reach Jesus. Admiring their faith, Jesus heals the man, telling him, “Arise, take up thy bed,” and also declares that his sins are forgiven. This act leads to questions from others, as they wonder how Jesus can forgive sins, a power only God has. Jesus makes it clear that He has authority to forgive sins.

Later, while by the sea, Jesus calls Levi to follow Him. Levi invites Jesus to dinner, where Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners, much to the dismay of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus explains His mission, saying, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 

Note:  Salvation is free and for everyone regardless of past and status. Christians are to talk with all in order to spread the word of God and bear fruit (turn sinners into believers). It doesn’t mean believers have to be a sinner’s friend or entertain sinners as a guest in your home.  Convert sinners and you will have made friends for eternity.

Your friends will meet you at the gates of heaven.  However, be careful in converting sinners because a sinner  may convert you.   2 Corinthians 6:14  “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

Jesus is then questioned about fasting. He explains that while He is with His disciples, they don’t need to fast, but they will once He is gone. This shows the divine nature of Jesus and how His presence sets Him apart from other prophets, like John the Baptist.

Note: Jesus demonstrates the power of his spirit distinguishing his divine nature and spirit that made him greater than the others, especially John the Baptist whom the people respected.  Colossians 2:9  “For in him [Jesus] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” 

Finally, Jesus addresses why His disciples picked corn on the Sabbath. He teaches that “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,” highlighting that the Sabbath should serve people, not punish them.

 In scriptures in later chapters, Jesus said to do good on the Sabbath.  Healing on the Sabbath was considered work and not to be done on the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the last day of the workweek.  Before Jesus’ arrival, not observing the sabbath in the strict law that was given, resulted in death.  Here is a past post that is titled, “Sabbath.”  

  

Key Takeaways:

Jesus performs miracles and forgives sins.

Jesus teaches that salvation is for all, especially sinners.

Jesus explains fasting and the purpose of the Sabbath.

 

 

 

 

Time: 35 minutes to complete lesson: 20 minutes to read the entire post and take the interactive quiz, additional 15 minutes to view video resource and comment on social media

 

Objective Chapter Two-What you will learn:

A.  Explain how Jesus healed a man with palsy and demonstrated His authority to forgive sins.

B. Understand Levi’s call to discipleship and his obedient response.

C. Describe why Jesus ate with publicans and sinners.

D. Explain Jesus’ reasoning for why His disciples did not fast while He was with them.

E. Identify the new understanding Jesus taught about observing the Sabbath.

 

Outline for Chapter Two of the Gospel of  Mark

 1    Jesus Heals a sick man.

 2.  The manner in which Jesus called Levi to discipleship.

 3.  Jesus was accused of eating with sinners.

 4.  Jesus explains his spirit and fasting.

5.   The Sabbath.  

 

Reflection and Discussion: Something to think about.

 

Resources For This Lesson

Click here for the King James Bible version in the text (pdf), mobile viewing on the web (KJV), YouTube audio and video (total time: 8 min. )  Part One, and  Part Two 

 

See “Chapter Two Highlights” below for scriptures and help with the quiz. If needed, refresh the screen to retake the quiz.

 

 

1.  Jesus heals palsy demonstrating his powers to forgive sins  Mark 2: 1-113 KJV

¹And again he entered into Capernaum after some days, and it was noised that he was in the house.

²And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

 ³And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 

⁴And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

 ⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

 ⁶But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 

⁷Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

 ⁸And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 

⁹Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 

¹⁰But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 

¹¹I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 

¹²And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. 

¹³And he went forth again by the seaside, and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

 

2.  Levi is called into discipleship.   Mark 2: 12-14KJV

¹²And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. 

¹³And he went forth again by the seaside, and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

¹⁴And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.  Note: Some of the disciples were fishermen, Levi worked customs.  God can choose anyone and qualify them.  One only needs to be obedient.

 

 

3. The reason Jesus ate with publicans and sinners  Mark 2:13-17KJV

¹⁵And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. 

¹⁶And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eat and drink with publicans and sinners? ¹⁷When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 

Note:  Salvation is free and for everyone regardless of past and status. Christians are to talk with all in order to spread the word of God. It doesn’t mean they have to be your best friend or a guest in your home. It means the gospel is to be told to all that will hear.

 

4.  The reason Jesus justified his disciples in not fasting.  Mark 2: 18-22KJV

¹⁸And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? 

¹⁹And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

²⁰But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. 

²¹No man also sew a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.

²²And no man put new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. 

Note:  Jesus expressing his divine nature with the Holy Spirit, explains as long as he is with them there was no need to fast as the power walked with them.  Jesus is greater than the others and even John the Baptist, who the scribes and Pharisees respected as prophets.  “For in him [Jesus] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”  Colossians 2:9

 

5.  The new law Jesus commands of observing the Sabbath.  Mark 2: 23-27KJV

²³And it came to pass, that he went through the cornfields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.

²⁴And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day do that which is not lawful?

²⁵And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did when he had a need and was an hungered, he, and they that were with him? 

²⁶How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiatha the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? 

²⁷And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 

²⁸Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

 

Note: In scriptures in later chapters, Jesus said to do good on the Sabbath.  Healing on the Sabbath was considered work and not to be done on the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the last day of the workweek.  Before Jesus’ arrival, the people had to observe the sabbath according to strict commands or the punishment was death. 

 

^{Exodus 20:7-11  7}Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. ⁸Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:

¹⁰But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

¹¹For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.

Jesus didn’t say, not to observe the Sabbath but the punishment no longer resulted in death as the sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath. He changed the laws of observance so that it did not result in death. 

Note. John 1:17  “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” 

Jesus fulfilled the law for all believers.  Matthew 5:17  “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”

 

Interactive Quiz.

 

 

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Call to salvation:

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 10:9-10  9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. 

John 3:5-6  5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is the Spirit.