Mark 2: ☧ Responds to Faith with Love, Curing Sin & Sickness

Rev. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Mark 2.

“The Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” In Mark 2, Jesus ☧ uses the term “Son of Man” for the first time, confusing His opponents more than answering their questions—and they have a lot of them: Why does He presume to forgive sins? Why does He associate with sinners? Why doesn’t He make His disciples fast? Why does He do work on the Sabbath?

As illustrated in the last episode of chapter 1 with the leper, Jesus ☧ is controlling the pace of His gospel mission, revealing Himself slowly and bit by bit. Jesus ☧ continues to show unique aspects of His authority. He wasn’t the first one to connect sin and sickness, but He was the first one who acted like He could cure both at the same time. He didn’t reject scholarship or learning, but He showed that these are all in vain if not applied in love, as He did for us in His preaching ministry and ultimately in His passion.