Controversial Controversial EncountersEncounters

1. Healing on the Day 1. Healing on the Day of the Sabbathof the Sabbath

Jesus may have been well-loved by Jesus may have been well-loved by ordinary people seeking healing and signs of ordinary people seeking healing and signs of God but critics continued to follow Him – armed God but critics continued to follow Him – armed with suspicion, and accusations to discredit his with suspicion, and accusations to discredit his claims and actions.claims and actions.

The Healing of the Paralytic The Healing of the Paralytic ManMan

• Healing of the Paralytic. Healing of the Paralytic. (Mark 2:3-12)(Mark 2:3-12)

--Jesus healed a Jesus healed a Paralytic man who has been Paralytic man who has been lifted by four people to lifted by four people to Jesus’ home. They cannot Jesus’ home. They cannot get through the crowd, that get through the crowd, that is why they made a hole in is why they made a hole in the roof so that they can the roof so that they can hoist the man inside to hoist the man inside to Jesus. And Jesus said “My Jesus. And Jesus said “My son, your sins are forgiven.” son, your sins are forgiven.” Because of the man’s faith, Because of the man’s faith, he was healed. And the he was healed. And the crowd was amazed.crowd was amazed.

The Cure of a man with a The Cure of a man with a withered hand.withered hand.

• The Man with the The Man with the Paralyzed Hand. (Mark Paralyzed Hand. (Mark 3:1-6)3:1-6)

--Jesus went back to Jesus went back to the synagogue and the synagogue and found a man with a found a man with a paralyzed hand and paralyzed hand and being closely watched being closely watched by the people if He by the people if He would heal the man would heal the man on a Sabbath day. He on a Sabbath day. He asked the people asked the people about the Law and He about the Law and He became angry, but became angry, but still. He healed the still. He healed the man.man.

ExodusExodus (20:8-11) (20:8-11)

• The Law clearly states that: “Observe the Sabbath and keep The Law clearly states that: “Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. You have six days in which to do your work, but the it holy. You have six days in which to do your work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to me. On that day seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to me. On that day no one is to work– neither you, your children, your slaves, no one is to work– neither you, your children, your slaves, your animals, nor the foreigners who live in your country.”your animals, nor the foreigners who live in your country.”

2. Exorcism on 2. Exorcism on the Day of the the Day of the Sabbath, and Sabbath, and the Accusation the Accusation of Being Possessed by of Being Possessed by BeelzebulBeelzebul

• Mark (1:27)Mark (1:27)– ““The people were all amazed that they started saying to The people were all amazed that they started saying to

one another, “What is this? Is it some kind of new one another, “What is this? Is it some kind of new teaching? This man has authority to give orders to the teaching? This man has authority to give orders to the evil spirits, and they obey him!”evil spirits, and they obey him!”

• Mark (3:22-27)Mark (3:22-27)– ““Some teachers of the Law who had come from Some teachers of the Law who had come from

Jerusalem were saying , “He has Beelzebul in him! It is Jerusalem were saying , “He has Beelzebul in him! It is the chief of the demons who gives the power to drive the chief of the demons who gives the power to drive them out.” So Jesus called them to him and spoke to them out.” So Jesus called them to him and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a country divides itself into groups which fight each other, country divides itself into groups which fight each other, that country will fall apart. If a family divides itself into that country will fall apart. If a family divides itself into groups which fight each other, that family will fall groups which fight each other, that family will fall apart…”apart…”

3. Granting of 3. Granting of ForgivenessForgiveness to the Paralytic to the Paralytic

Mark (2:1-5)Mark (2:1-5)

• 1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 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. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 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. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

4. Calling of Levi, 4. Calling of Levi, a Public Sinner, a Public Sinner, as Jesus’ Discipleas Jesus’ Disciple

• Matthew (also known as Matthew (also known as Levi) doubtless was one of Levi) doubtless was one of the tax collectors who the tax collectors who responded to John the responded to John the Baptist’s call to repentance. Baptist’s call to repentance. From the place where he From the place where he collected taxes near the Sea collected taxes near the Sea of Galilee (probably on the of Galilee (probably on the outskirts of Capernaum), outskirts of Capernaum), Matthew may often have Matthew may often have heard Jesus speak and must heard Jesus speak and must have known about his many have known about his many miracles. Therefore, when miracles. Therefore, when Jesus called him to follow Jesus called him to follow him while he was seated at him while he was seated at the tax collector’s booth, the tax collector’s booth, Matthew did not hesitate to Matthew did not hesitate to do so. do so.

5. Dispute on 5. Dispute on FastingFasting

Mark (2:18-20)Mark (2:18-20)

• Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast? Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the fast? Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.”day they will fast.”