Bible Study for Today
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
Mark 2:12 (KJV).
Jesus provides healing for both body and soul.
The Lesson Outline
1. Faith of a Paralytic's Friends
Mark 2:1-12
A. Jesus Demonstrates His
Divinity
B. Jesus Has Authority to Heal
2. Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
Mark 31-7
A. To Heal or not to Heal
B. Mercy on the Sabbath
3. Healing a Lame Man
John 5:1-16
A. Rise Up and Walk
B. Spiritual Healing
Teaching Goals
1. Impart and Reinforce Knowledge: Examine what
three of Jesus' miracles teach us about His power to heal, as well as why healing occurs.
2. Influence Attitudes: Encourage students to believe God for physical and spiritual healing.
3. Influence Behaviour: Challenge students to find
opportunities to minister to the
needy, responding to the Spirit's
leading by proclaiming the gospel of Christ.
Introducing the Lesson
Begin by discussing this question: "Why did Jesus heal people?" Note that mercy and compassion were clearly part of the reason. Certainly God wants good things for those who trust in Him, as well. However, as we move through
this lesson on healing, we discover that there was also a higher purpose at work. Healing demonstrated that Jesus is who He claims to be: Messiah and Saviour of the world.
Such realities can change how we view healing, as well as how often we seek God for the miraculous.
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.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
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?
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.
Mark 3:1
And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.note
4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched itout: and his hand was restored whole as the other. note
6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,
John 5:1
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed
Commentary and Application
1. Faith of a Paralytic's Friends
A. Jesus Demonstrates His Divinity-Mark 2:1-7
The account recorded in Mark 2:1-7 was early in Jesus' ministry. Yet His popularity was growing rapidly. And it is important to recognise the reason: Jesus was healing people and casting out demons. As word spread He
attracted crowds throughout Galilee (Mark 1:27-28). Galilee was Jesus' "home base," so to speak, where much of His ministry took place. And Capernaum was the city in which He had made His home.
A crowd gathered in Capernaum one day, intent on hearing Jesus teach and preach (verse 2). The
house was so crowded that no one else could get in, especially a paralytic on what was likely a crude pallet covered by a thin mat (the common bed of a poor man). This paralytic was being carried by four friends (verse 3).
Undeterred by the crowd, they likely took a stairway to the roof, a common feature of homes that served as a veranda in Jesus' day. They then removed a section of tiles and lowered the man down to Jesus on his pallet (verse 4). Jesus was the man's only hope; they were doing everything they could to get him to Jesus.
The bold move by the paralytic's friends might have angered some. But moved by faith, these men were persistent, willing to take the steps necessary so their friend could be healed.
Note that verse 5 says Jesus saw "their" faith. All of them, together, engaged in a single-minded effort to reach Him--evidence of great faith.
Yet Jesus did not heal the paralytic immediately. Instead, He pronounced the man forgiven. This introduces us to an important focus of this whole account. Jesus would
not only heal, He would also forgive the man's sins. By doing this, Jesus demonstrated His divinity, for only God can forgive sins. Forgiveness was central to His mission of proclaiming the kingdom of God (see Mark 1:14-15).
Yet these words were shocking and blasphemous to the scribes (or teachers of the Law; 2:7) It was one thing to heal, but forgiving sins was the act of God (see Daniel 9:9). And so, Jesus set up a situation in which he would dmonstrate the
authority by which He healed.
Questions for Application
By declaring the man to be forgiven, Jesus set up a situation where He would be revealed as God, an insane person, or a blasphemer. Why would He do this?
Do you think Jesus' forgiving the man of his sin tells us that sin can be a hindrance to healing? Explain.
B. Jesus Has Authority To Heal- Mark 2:8-12
Jesus discerned what the religious scribes were thinking (Mark 2:8). They saw Him as a fraud and a blasphemer. So Jesus presented a question to challenge their conclusions and affirm His identity: Is it easier to heal a paralytic or to forgive sins? Both were impossible
for a human being. Jesus had claimed to forgive the man, but that could not be proven. So Jesus then healed the man, proving that He could also forgive sins (verses 9-10).
This settled an important point.
Because Jesus could perform a
miracle they could see, healing a paralytic, then he could also forgive sins, even though they could not see that happen. This healing served to assert the divine authority of Jesu as God.
To reinforce His claim Jesus called Himself "the Son of
Man" (verse 10, KJV), a messianic title from Daniel 7:13. In Daniel 7:13-14, the Son of Man is portrayed as a figure to whom the Father gives authority, glory, and sovereign
power. Jesus' claim to deity was validated when the paralytic responded to His command, "got up" and walked (Mark 2:12). Mark offered an important detail in stating that the man stood and walked out "in full view of them all" (verse 12 NlV). This emphasises that the miracle was clearly, seen by both the crowd and the scribes who had challenged Jesus.
In response, the people glorified God (verse 12 KJV), an appropriate response to a dramatic healing. What they had seen could not have occurred without divine intervention. And Jesus' authority to heal and the forgive sins has not changed. People still must seek Him in faith to receive the forgiveness and healing they need.
Questions for Application
How do you think the scribes felt when the man was healed? Explain.
Why is it important to recognise and respect the authority of Jesus as well as His power?
Response to the Word
Miracles are important, and we must seek them today, just as believers did in the Bible times. Yet we must not neglect to also recognize the authority and glory of the One who does miracles. The proper response to a miracle includes joy, worship, and humble submission to the Lord.
2. Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
To Heal or Not To Heal
Mark 3:1-4
Mark 3 records another account of healing, with an important factor: Jesus healed on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-4). Once again, He was in the synagogue, along with a man who suffered from a withered hand (Mark 3:1).
The attendees that day included men looking for a reason to accuse or discredit Him (probably the Pharisees mentioned in verse 6).
Because it was the Sabbath, these men watched closely for a chance to accuse Jesus.
The Sabbath was sacred to the The Law decreed that no work was to be done on that day (Exodus20:8-11) Sabbath observance was rooted in Creation, when God rested (Genesis 2:2). By Jesus' day, teachers of the law had added numerous restrictions as to what constituted work. For example according to tradition, medical treatment and healing could only take place in life threatening situations.
Jesus treated the Sabbath as a time to meet the needs of others (Mark 3:3-4). Sadly, the religious leaders were more focused on keeping traditions. They saw the Sabbath as having been created for man.
Note also that it was not a matter of whether Jesus "could" heal. The Pharisees knew He had the power to perform miracles. But they knew that if Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath, they could accuse Him of breaking the Sabbath.
Jesus responded with a question about doing good on the Sabbath (verse 4). He explained that doing good by healing someone captures the intended spirit of the law. Keeping traditions while ignoring human needs is a misuse of God's commands.
Questions for Application
What are some traditions or wrong thinking that might prevent us from believing God for miracles?
What do Jesus' words and actions in Mark 3:1-4 tell us about why God performs the miraculous?
B. Mercy on the Sabbath Mark 3:5-7
Jesus was both angry and deeply grieved at the hardness of heart among His accusers (Mark 3:5). The reason for His anger is partly explained by the emotions of grief. The accusers were unwilling to understand the will and purpose of God. They did not seem to grasp the love of God, and as a result, they could not recognise that a demonstration of His love would be away of making the Sabbath holy.
Moved by love and mercy then, Jesus healed the man (verse 5). Not surprisingly, this provoked the ire of the Pharisees (Verse. 6). That Jesus' enemies would react to a miracle not with compassion or rejoicing, but enmity, shows their character and motivation. The miraculous work of God will always provoke a negative response from those who oppose or reject Him and His message.
The Herodians mentioned in verse 6 were probably a political group associated with Herod, making them a strange ally with some Pharisees. Perhaps they were conspiring together to have Jesus arrested by Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee at that time. (Note, however, that it was a group of Pharisees who warned Jesus of Herod's desire to arrest Him, in Luke 13:31).
Whatever the specifics, it is clear that a group of religious leaders conspired against Jesus, and were unmoved even by His miraculous manifestations of love and compassion. This threat from the authorities led Jesus to change His location (verse 7). Yet the growing crowds continued to follow Him. It is a good reminder that no matter how gloriously God is working around and among us, there will be opposition against the gospel.
Questions for Application
What does Jesus' grief over the hardness of His accusers tell us about Him, as well as what He desires to see in us?
Why do you think people reject Jesus and become antagonistic to the gospel does great things in peoples lives?
Response to the Word
We must believe for miracles today. They, demonstrate divine mercy, and also affirm Jesus to be exactly who He says He is. However, we must also be prepared for opposition and even persecution as we trust Him for the miraculous. Think about how you might prepare for such opposition.
3. Healing a Lame Man
A. Rise Up and Walk
John 5:1-9
The healing found in John 5:1-16 took place in Jerusalem, and is notable in that the one healed does not ask Jesus to heal him. As events unfold, we see again that Jesus used
the merciful act of healing to confirm His divinity.
The man who was healed had been paralysed for thirty-eight years.
He and many others gathered beside the pool of Bethsaida (John 5:1-5). Jesus approached him with what seems like an odd question (verse 6). Obviously he wanted to be healed. But he had a problem He could not get into the water. Verse 7 indicates that at times the water would stir. It seems that whoever was ill and could get to the water first would receive divine healing. The Old Testament does speak repeatedly of God healing His people (see Psalm 107:20, Isaiah 53:5).
The man's faith was focused on the pool. Jesus changed his perspective however, with a threefold instruction. First, He told the man to stand, which was impossible. Then He told the man to pick up his mat, an abiding symbol of his affliction. And finally, Jesus told the him to walk. This was the culmination of the miracle, calling him to go forth as one who Had been made whole
again.
Note that this did not take place gradually. Instead he walked
immediately. Jesus had done a miracle in his life. Yet verse 9 ends with a statement revealing that there is more to this story. It was the Sabbath.
Questions for Application
What can you learn about healing from Jesus' instructions to the man?
What steps of faith might we need to take as we seek God for healing?
B. Spiritual Healing
Johns 5:10-16
Once again, some religious leaders were not happy with a miracle having been performed on the Sabbath (John 5:10-13).
Because the paralytic was regularly at the pool, he would have been easily recognised. Despite this great scene, they confronted him about carrying his mat on that holy day. Upon further questioning, he was unable to identify his healer. It seems he had no idea who Jesus was.
However, Jesus later saw the former paralytic at the Temple. Note Jesus' words to him: "Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you". (John 5:14, NIV). Scripture had previously said nothing about the man sinning. Also, this phrase might be transleted "do not continue sinning." So in confronting the man's spiritual need, Jesus was likely teaching about the true nature of His message - eternal life and transformation--which is a greater blessing than even healing.
The story ends as the man informs Jewish leaders about who had healed him. Threats and Persecution against Jesus were building (verses 15-16). We see in this the contrast between embracing and rejecting Him, a reminder that He is more than our Healer and Life-giver. He is also our Lord, worthy of our full commitment.
Questions for Application
Why is it important to see spiritual needs even when we seek miracles for temporal problems?
What do you think Jesus meant in saying to the man, "something worse may happen to you"?
Response to the Word
The warning to the paralytic in verse 14 stands in contrast to the "greater work" of everlasting life we read of later, in verse 21. lt is a warning of judgement for sin, and a good reminder to us. As we pray for the needy, we must keep in focus their spiritual needs as well. Let us endeavour to present the full gospel that changes lives today and for eternity.
Call to Discipleship
The preaching of the gospel will naturally elicit hostility from those who oppose our message. We may be mocked for believing in miracles and condemned for proclaiming the necessity of a new, transformed life in Christ. As we prepare to preach the gospel and pray for the needy, we are wise to recognise and prepare for challenges by rehearsing God's promises in scripture regularly and praying for stfength no matter the opposition
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