David J. Collum

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Day 11: Jesus Creates Tension (Mark 2:1-12)

Today’s Passage: Mark 2:1-12


Tension can physically and emotionally drain you; tension can also energize and motivate.  

Tension can be the force that moves us.

Today’s text is the first of five stories where we begin to hear the religious authorities struggling with Jesus.

The news of Jesus is spreading. People are drawn to Jesus in such a way that I can picture the people running to Him. The text notes that He was teaching and was flooded with a crowd of people.

He, along with His teachings and healings have a “pull” on people. Some people respond to this “pull” by running to Jesus, even if it means tearing apart a roof! Others stay firmly planted, resisting His “pull”. 

One thing is certain, unless you completely walk away and ignore Him, you will feel the “pull” of Christ.

This specific episode presents us with two healings: physical and spiritual. There is a wholistic result in this encounter with Jesus that we should not miss.  

Jesus is always inviting us to wholeness—the deepest part of which is connection with God.

It is not surprising that the religious of the day, those to whom you would go to if you wanted to deepen your connection to God, struggle with Jesus.

Put yourself in their shoes. They have a system. One they have studied. One that makes sense to them. One that requires they have faith. All of that, and more, will be turned on its head if Jesus truly is the Messiah.

Their ‘system’ is turned on its head because Jesus is saying, “Come to God”, whom He addresses as Father. 

Consider one aspect of their system: forgiveness. Forgiveness in their system involves an offering. The Temple Priest carries out a ritual which involves the slaughter of an animal by which God forgives. Yet here is a man offering forgiveness. 

How can He? The answer- He is God. Those in Jesus’ presence are correct that only God can forgive sins—and so He has for this man—whose act of faith in Jesus is the offering.

I understand that at this point in the story Jesus has not yet gone to the Cross to make that sacrifice. Yet what He asks of us after the Cross and Resurrection, is the same that He is asking those who early ran to Him—to believe in Him.

Do you believe that today Jesus can forgive your sins and make you whole? Many people will believe that Jesus lived. That He taught. That He did amazing things. Many people believe in some parts of the Jesus of the past. But what about Jesus of the present? Do you believe?

And if you and I believe, then what tension are you experiencing? For He is never done with us. C.S. Lewis explains that He draws us “further up and further in”. How is He drawing you?