Mark 2

1 After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that he was back home.2 A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word.3 They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men.4 When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher.5 Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.”6 Some religion scholars sitting there started whispering among themselves,7 “He can’t talk that way! That’s blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins.”8 Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, “Why are you so skeptical?9 Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or say, ‘Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking’?10 Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both . . .” (he looked now at the paraplegic),11 “Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home.”

12 And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised God, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!”
The Tax Collector13 Then Jesus went again to walk alongside the lake. Again a crowd came to him, and he taught them.14 Strolling along, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, at his work collecting taxes. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” He came.15 Later Jesus and his disciples were at home having supper with a collection of disreputable guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers.16 The religion scholars and Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company and lit into his disciples: “What kind of example is this, acting cozy with the riff-raff?”

17 Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.”
Feasting or Fasting?18 The disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees made a practice of fasting. Some people confronted Jesus: “Why do the followers of John and the Pharisees take on the discipline of fasting, but your followers don’t?”19 Jesus said, “When you’re celebrating a wedding, you don’t skimp on the cake and wine. You feast. Later you may need to pull in your belt, but not now. As long as the bride and groom are with you, you have a good time. No one throws cold water on a friendly bonfire. This is Kingdom Come!”21 He went on, “No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match.22 And you don’t put your wine in cracked bottles.”23 One Sabbath day he was walking through a field of ripe grain.24 As his disciples made a path, they pulled off heads of grain. The Pharisees told on them to Jesus: “Look, your disciples are breaking Sabbath rules!”25 Jesus said, “Really? Haven’t you ever read what David did when he was hungry, along with those who were with him?26 How he entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, with the Chief Priest Abiathar right there watching—holy bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat—and handed it out to his companions?”27 Then Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren’t made to serve the Sabbath.

28 The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath. He’s in charge!”
Doing Good on the Sabbath

Mark 3

1 Then he went back in the meeting place where he found a man with a crippled hand.2 The Pharisees had their eyes on Jesus to see if he would heal him, hoping to catch him in a Sabbath infraction.3 He said to the man with the crippled hand, “Stand here where we can see you.”4 Then he spoke to the people: “What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?” No one said a word.5 He looked them in the eye, one after another, angry now, furious at their hard-nosed religion. He said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out—it was as good as new!

6 The Pharisees got out as fast as they could, sputtering about how they would join forces with Herod’s followers and ruin him.
The Twelve Apostles7 Jesus went off with his disciples to the sea to get away. But a huge crowd from Galilee trailed after them—8 also from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, across the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon—swarms of people who had heard the reports and had come to see for themselves.9 He told his disciples to get a boat ready so he wouldn’t be trampled by the crowd.10 He had healed many people, and now everyone who had something wrong was pushing and shoving to get near and touch him.11 Evil spirits, when they recognized him, fell down and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”12 But Jesus would have none of it. He shut them up, forbidding them to identify him in public.13 He climbed a mountain and invited those he wanted with him. They climbed together.14 He settled on twelve, and designated them apostles. The plan was that they would be with him, and he would send them out to proclaim the Word15 and give them authority to banish demons.

16 These are the Twelve:
Simon (Jesus later named him Peter, meaning “Rock”),

17 James, son of Zebedee,
John, brother of James (Jesus nicknamed the Zebedee
brothers Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”),

18 Andrew,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Matthew,
Thomas,
James, son of Alphaeus,
Thaddaeus,
Simon the Canaanite,

19 Judas Iscariot (who betrayed him).
Satan Fighting Satan?20 Jesus came home and, as usual, a crowd gathered—so many making demands on him that there wasn’t even time to eat.21 His friends heard what was going on and went to rescue him, by force if necessary. They suspected he was getting carried away with himself.22 The religion scholars from Jerusalem came down spreading rumors that he was working black magic, using devil tricks to impress them with spiritual power.23 Jesus confronted their slander with a story: “Does it make sense to send a devil to catch a devil, to use Satan to get rid of Satan?24 A constantly squabbling family disintegrates. If Satan were fighting Satan, there soon wouldn’t be any Satan left.27 Do you think it’s possible in broad daylight to enter the house of an awake, able-bodied man, and walk off with his possessions unless you tie him up first? Tie him up, though, and you can clean him out.28 “Listen to this carefully. I’m warning you. There’s nothing done or said that can’t be forgiven.29 But if you persist in your slanders against God’s Holy Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives, sawing off the branch on which you’re sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives.”

30 He gave this warning because they were accusing him of being in league with Evil.
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers31 Just then his mother and brothers showed up. Standing outside, they relayed a message that they wanted a word with him.32 He was surrounded by the crowd when he was given the message, “Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside looking for you.”33 Jesus responded, “Who do you think are my mother and brothers?”34 Looking around, taking in everyone seated around him, he said, “Right here, right in front of you—my mother and my brothers.

35 Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
The Story of the Scattered Seed

Mark 4

1 He went back to teaching by the sea. A crowd built up to such a great size that he had to get into an offshore boat, using the boat as a pulpit as the people pushed to the water’s edge.2 He taught by using stories, many stories.3 “Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed.4 As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road and birds ate it.5 Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots,6 so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly.7 Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it.8 Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.9 “Are you listening to this? Really listening?”10 When they were off by themselves, those who were close to him, along with the Twelve, asked about the stories.11 He told them, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom—you know how it works. But to those who can’t see it yet, everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive insight.

12 These are people—
Whose eyes are open but don’t see a thing,
Whose ears are open but don’t understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.”13 He continued, “Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way.14 “The farmer plants the Word.15 Some people are like the seed that falls on the hardened soil of the road. No sooner do they hear the Word than Satan snatches away what has been planted in them.16 “And some are like the seed that lands in the gravel. When they first hear the Word, they respond with great enthusiasm.17 But there is such shallow soil of character that when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.18 “The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news19 but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.

20 “But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it, and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams.”
Giving, Not Getting21 Jesus went on: “Does anyone bring a lamp home and put it under a washtub or beneath the bed? Don’t you put it up on a table or on the mantel?22 We’re not keeping secrets, we’re telling them; we’re not hiding things, we’re bringing them out into the open.23 “Are you listening to this? Really listening?24 “Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way.

25 Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.”
Never Without a Story26 Then Jesus said, “God’s kingdom is like seed thrown on a field by a man27 who then goes to bed and forgets about it. The seed sprouts and grows—he has no idea how it happens.28 The earth does it all without his help: first a green stem of grass, then a bud, then the ripened grain.29 When the grain is fully formed, he reaps—harvest time!30 “How can we picture God’s kingdom? What kind of story can we use?31 It’s like a pine nut. When it lands on the ground it is quite small as seeds go,32 yet once it is planted it grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches. Eagles nest in it.”33 With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity.

34 He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots.
The Wind Ran Out of Breath35 Late that day he said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side.”36 They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along.37 A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it.38 And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, “Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?”39 Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass.40 Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith at all?”

41 They were in absolute awe, staggered. “Who is this, anyway?” they asked. “Wind and sea at his beck and call!”
The Madman