In the second chapter of Mark, the scribes and Pharisees are still trying to find out what Jesus is all about, and Jesus is still calling his disciples. In other words, he hasn’t chosen the Twelve yet. Some scholars put the question about fasting (Mark 2:18) after John’s imprisonment, but this is impossible. Jesus and his disciples were baptizing in Judea just prior to John’s imprisonment (cp. John 3:22-24), and those things took place after Jesus and his disciples celebrated their first Passover together (John 2:13-17). Therefore, since Jesus is still choosing his disciples in chapter two of Mark, and the scribes and Pharisees are still making up their minds about him, John couldn’t have been cast into prison by the time the question of fasting arose in Mark 2:18. The fact is these events, which Mark records in this chapter took place approximately seven to eight months prior to John’s imprisonment.
As Mark begins the second chapter of his narrative about Jesus, he tells us that Jesus had returned to Capernaum (Mark 2:1-2). Matthew says that Jesus had entered a ship (Matthew 9:1), no doubt Peter’s and Andrew’s fishing boat, and crossed over the Sea of Galilee, perhaps from Bethsaida to Capernaum. When Jesus returned to his own house, it was found out, and the news spread rapidly that he was back home in Capernaum.
People came from all over the area and swarmed Jesus home, so that there was no room either in the house or in the courtyard before the door. Then Jesus began teaching them about the Gospel (Mark 2:2). At this time four men, perhaps four of Jesus’ original disciples, carrying a paralyzed man, sought entry into the house but found their only access was from the roof at the outside steps (or ladder). Usually, there would be an entry from the roof, but tiles (cp. Luke 6:19) surrounding the entryway would need to be removed in order to let down the man (Mark 2:3-4).
The roof was made of mud and grass laid over tiles and wooden beams, which some authorities claim was replenished during the fall, before the rainy season.[1] So, to conclude as some do, that the four destroyed the roof to get to Jesus, would be going too far. What they did would have been easily repaired, especially by a carpenter, who seemed pleased to see them!
What was important to Jesus was seeing the men’s trust that he both had the power and cared enough to do something for their friend. So, seeing their faith, he said to the man: “Son, your sins are forgiven!” (Mark 2:5). While it is nice to know one’s sins are forgiven, the men brought their friend to Jesus to be healed of his paralysis. It isn’t too difficult to understand they may have been not a little disappointed in Jesus’ response. In fact, James’ warning of a lack of compassion for the needs of one’s brethren: “Be warmed! Be filled” (James 2:16), comes to mind at this point, and may be similar to how the four felt. Nevertheless, it isn’t the four friends’ reaction that Mark dwells upon. He only mentions the reaction of the scribes who were present at that time, but I’ll consider what they thought in the next study.
At this time, however, we need to think about what Jesus was really saying. Is disease the result of sin, and more to the point, was this man’s paralysis the result of his sins? We all know today through the study of medical science and psychoanalysis that fear and / or guilt can do a great deal of harm to one’s body, but I don’t believe this was Jesus’ point. We need to keep in mind the Bible isn’t a science textbook, so we shouldn’t try to make it one. The context of Jesus’ remark was that he was teaching the people about the Kingdom of God (Mark 2:2). During this period of time, rabbis believed and taught that literal, sentient, evil spirit beings invaded men’s bodies:
Isaac says further: If one recites the Shema’ upon his bed, the demons keep away from him. For it is said: And the sons of reshef fly [‘uf] upward. The word ‘uf’ refers only to the Torah… And ‘reshef’ refers only to the demons, as it is said: “They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction…” R. Simeon b. Lakish says: If one studies the Torah, painful sufferings are kept away from him. For it is said: And the sons of ‘reshef’ fly upward. The word ‘uf’ refers only to the Torah… And ‘reshef’ refers only to painful sufferings, as it is said: “They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction…” (quoting Deuteronomy 32:24). R. Johanan said to him: This is known even to school children.[2]
Thus, it was believed evil spirit beings (demons) caused both disease and death. Yet, a close study of the Bible would deny such an understanding. More to Jesus’ point here in Mark, men, especially the scribes, believed and taught that disease was the result of sin:
Samuel b. Nahmani said in the name of R. Johanan: Because of seven things the plague of leprosy is incurred: [These are:] slander, the shedding of blood, vain oath, incest, arrogance, robbery and envy.[3]
Of course, this isn’t so, and it is to this point that Jesus both spoke and performed his miracle. As he often did, during his ministry, Jesus used the language of those who taught what was wrong in order to correct the false doctrine, which in this case was mere superstition born out of pagan thought.
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[1] See The Book of Mark, by H. Walker Evans; page 48.
[2] See: Babylonian Talmud; Berachoth 5a
[3] See Babylonian Talmud; Arachin 16a
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