He taught them

Mar 2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
Mar 2:2 And 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.


He preached the word unto them.


The word.


Do you suppose the majority were there to hear Jesus speak or to be healed by Him? Do you imagine those who had no illness, no possession by unclean spirits, were just as interested in listening to Jesus speak? Jesus wasn't known as just *The Healer*, Jesus had a message to give, Jesus was first and foremost a teacher- a preacher- with more God-given authority to teach the Scriptures than all the scribes in existence. The way Jesus taught was captivating to His listeners because He taught them differently than others. In imagining this we can only think of the best teacher we've ever had and then think of how it would be if another teacher came along that was a hundred times better.


People make jokes of enlightenment. If you say you've been enlightened you'll get a *knowing* glance from people, perhaps a smirk and a chuckle, people will either outright mock your enlightenment or play along, very few would ask to be enlightened along with you because few believe in enlightenment they equate it with going a bit off your rocker. Of course it all depends on how you've been enlightened- if you've been enlightened to the joys of cooking, heh, people love that. If you've been enlightened to the joy of the mundane that's fine- we all have our passions, right? But if you've been spiritually enlightened then things are just a bit wrong with you. However, if a group of people are enlightened, sometimes that's called mass hypnosis of some sort. Jesus wasn't beyond being called a deceiver, a devil, there were many who were outraged at His ability to *fool* people, to *control* people, to *deceive* people. And we get a glimpse of this sort of belief when we hear of cult leaders and we are the scoffers. Of course we're scoffing with justifiable reason because we know that Jesus alone is our *leader* and no man can take His place. But there were many during Jesus' ministry that scoffed at Him, scoffed at the newly enlightened.


For a long time though Jesus would continue to bring enlightenment to people, lots and lots of people. These people would be so changed by Jesus- not just those healed but those enlightened spiritually and they tell others and if the others scoffed they quickly changed their minds if they went to listen to Him for themselves. This was a MIRACULOUS time! Yet for all that it was a miraculous time - the scoffers existed and would continue to exist growing stronger in their opposition the stronger Jesus became. They saw Him as a threat refusing to all themselves to be enlightened or in their minds- deceived.


Jesus preached and crowds and crowds of people wanted to hear His every word.


Here is yet another instance of His miraculous healing...


Mar 2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
Mar 2:4 And 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.
Mar 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.


Jesus saw their faith- their belief in Him- and Jesus said… 'Thy sins be forgiven thee.'


What powerful words! Words probably seldom uttered outside of a sacrificial ceremony, as GOD giving forgiveness when people ask for it and offer a sacrifice, when an atonement is made for their sins. No man EVER dared tell another that their *sins* were forgiven them. People could offer forgiveness and tell another that they forgive them for something, some harm committed against them personally, but a person cannot forgive the sins of another that have nothing to do with them personally. I can forgive someone for hurting me, but I can't forgive anything else, any other sin they may have committed in their lives. For me to tell another 'Thy sins be forgiven thee.' would be ludicrous. I have no power to forgive sins another has committed. I can't give you forgiveness for stealing something from a store, I can't forgive you for cursing at your mother, I can't forgive you for coveting your neighbor's house. I can be understanding - one sinning human to another but only God can forgive you- absolve you of your guilt, of my guilt.


To hear this man, albeit a wonderful amazing man- a preacher, a miracle worker, a prophet say those words- 'Thy sins be forgiven thee.'- had to be shocking to those who were not enlightened spiritually by our Savior.


Mar 2:6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
Mar 2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?


Unenlightened these scribes could not understand that the man working miracles right in front of them had power from God to perform these miracles. They'd read about prophets, they'd read about miracles being performed in the past by God's holy men, but they couldn't let themselves believe that Jesus was from God, that Jesus was the Messiah, that Jesus was God's Son on earth.


Mar 2:8 And 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?


Jesus knew their hearts, their thoughts, He didn't have to hear them aloud. Jesus knew right away that they were shocked by His words. He was revealing more of Himself, revealing more of the new covenant and they would either accept it or deny it.


Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
Mar 2:9 Whether 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?


The power from God gave Jesus the ability to heal. The power from God would heal people of their illnesses- freeing them from the bondage of sickness. Jesus was to free them from the power of sin as well, forgiving them their sins so He could heal them. When He healed them physically He was healing them spiritually. Free from the oppression of sickness, from the weight of sin. Later on we read Him tell one He'd healed- 'Go and sin no more'. Freed from sin, but still a sinner needing the forgiveness of a Savior daily. We need our Savior, we cannot live without our Savior, He died for us because we could not save ourselves.


Mar 2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
Mar 2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
Mar 2:12 And 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.


They were ALL amazed!
They glorified God!
They'd never seen anything like it before!


Miracles, forgiveness- and what a miracle forgiveness is! Praise God!


Mar 2:13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.


He taught them.


Praise God!