not havebeen healed. He didn’thavethisauthority, themanwould had theauthoritytoforgive sinsbecause,if usedthehealingas evidence thatHe to tellwhetherapersonhas beenhealed. has beenforgivenofsins,whereas itiseasy no immediate,obviousproof thataperson or healing?Heaskedthisbecausethereis the scribes:isiteasiertograntforgiveness puzzled byJesus’questioninresponseto God canforgivesins.Atfirstwemaybe giveness oftheman’ssins,becauseonly considered tobeJesus’blasphemousfor- their ,andhealedtheman. floor. Jesuswaspleasedby and loweredtheirfriendtothe opening intheroofofhouse friend toJesus,createdan perate tobringtheirparalyzed so crowdedthatfourmen,des- mother-in-law). Thehousewas Jesus healedSt.Peter’s this isstillthehouseinwhich stayed (mostscholarsbelieve mobbed thehousewhereJesus (1:45): peoplewantinghealing healed fromleprosytellingeveryoneabouthishealing The scribeswereshockedbywhatthey Chapter twobeginsbyshowingtheresultofman MARK 2:1-12 LESSON FOUR:THEGOSPELACCORDINGTOST.MARK2 FAST FACTSFACTS l (in HisAscension). them; Heprophesiedthattheywouldfastwhenleft l sinners torepentance. thrown byLevi,demonstratingthatHecametocall l collector whenhewascalledbyJesus. l first usedinDaniel7:13. l through theroofofhousewhereHewasstaying. l prophesying Hisgloriousreturnandrule(8:38;14:62). dicting Hissufferinganddeath(8:31;9:31;10:33), His activityandauthorityonearth(2:10,28;10:45),pre- to Himselfasthe“SonofMan”inthreeways:describing rule. Asweshallsee,inSt.Mark’sGospelJesusrefers messianic figurecomesdownfromGodtoexerciseHis The title“SonofMan”comesfromDaniel7:13,wherea IT’S INTHEBIBLE... IT’S INTHEBIBLE... IT’S INTHEBIBLE... IT’S INTHEBIBLE... Jesus’ disciplesdidn’tfastbecauseHewaswith Levi (St.Matthew),oneofthedisciples,wasatax Jesus atewithtaxcollectorsandsinnersataparty Jesus referstoHimselfasthe“SonofMan,”atitle Jesus healedaparalyzedmanwhowaslowered Jesus istheLordofSabbath. OUR FAITHTEACHES OUR FAITHTEACHES divine scripturesandwhichwereadbutdonotunder- that Heisfullyhuman,justasHisbeingtheSonofGod OUR FAITHTEACHES OUR FAITHTEACHES The factthatJesusistheSonofManemphasizes in God’(Colossians3:3). it aswecryout:‘Ourlifeis hidden withChrist the hopeofenteringhere; we reallypossess within us.Wethereforehave morethanjust He givesusthegracetohave thiskingdom leads usintothekingdomof ;orrather, high intheHolySpirit,andthenstraightway He isbynature.givesbirthtousfromon of God.BygraceHeliftsupourracetowhat Son ofManinordertomakeusmenthesons in whatwasHis.TheSonofGodbecamethe He hassharedinwhatwasourstoletusshare stand, issurelysummedupbysayingthat which isproclaimedbyallthe economy ofGodtheWord, The purposeoftheincarnate plains: Orthodox spirituality,ex- century saintwhodefended the NewTheologian,atenth us ashumans,St.Symeon manity isveryimportantfor He isfullyGod.Jesus’fullhu- (John 20:31)emphasizesthat MAP MARK 2:13-22 OUROUR FAITHFAITH TEACHESTEACHES St. John of Kronstadt explains the reasons for : The story of the calling of Levi (St. Matthew) shows that Jesus can not only conquer evil and heal sick bod- Fasting is a good teacher: (1) It soon makes everybody ies — He can also heal sick souls. Levi was a tax collec- who fasts understand that man needs very little food and tor — a group of people who not only made their livings drink, and that in general we are greedy and eat a great by overcharging the people on their taxes, but did so on deal more than is necessary. (2) Fasting clearly discloses behalf of the pagan Romans who occupied . Levi, all the and defects, all the weaknesses and diseases, however, not only immediately left behind this sinful life of our soul, just as when one begins to clean out muddy and followed Jesus, but he also celebrated by throwing a stagnant water the reptiles and dirt that lurk in it are re- party and inviting his friends so that they could vealed. (3) It shows us the necessity of turning to God with the whole heart, and of seeking his , help and have the opportunity to meet Jesus. saving grace. (4) Fasting shows us all the craftiness, cun- The scribes were shocked that Jesus ate ning and malice of the bodiless spirits, whom we have with tax collectors and other sinners, because hitherto unwittingly served, and who now malignantly per- pious kept their distance from people secute us for having ceased to follow them. who were unclean. The scribes even called the tax collectors hamartolos, which means more than simply sinners — it means the worst type of sinners, which one MARK 2:23-28 paraphrase vividly translates as The later criticized Jesus and His disciples “scum.” Jesus corrected the for plucking grain on the Sabbath (violating the law scribes, saying that He came to against working on the Sabbath). Jesus reminded them earth specifically to reach sinners that and his men ate showbread that had been and bring them to and offered to God (1 Samuel 21:1-6); this is important be- relationship with Him. cause David eating the showbread was a greater viola- Both Pharisees and disciples tion of the Law than plucking grain on the Sabbath, and of St. confronted yet David was not condemned for His action. Likewise, Jesus about fasting: since faithful Jews fasted, why didn’t the Sabbath was not created simply to be a religious rule Jesus’ disciples? Jesus answered that it would that must be imposed on life, but instead was created by be inappropriate for His followers to fast God to meet the physical and spiritual needs of humans. while He is with them (just as nobody fasts at a wedding feast), but that they will fast after He leaves (in His Ascen- sion to heaven). Jesus’ presence, in the LOOKLOOK ATAT YOURSELFYOURSELF words of St. Gregory the Theologian, was Everyone needs time for rest, to meditate on our a time for gladness, rather than mournful lives and our relationship with God, and to pray with- fasting. Metropolitan Isaiah of Den- out worrying about school or work. Bishop Mitrophan ver further explains that, in the con- Znosko gives an excellent suggestion about observ- text of Jesus’ words here and in ing Sunday as a Sabbath: “Sunday, the day of the Res- :15, Christian fasting urrection, is not a day to spend sitting around the home is partially intended to remind mesmerized in front of the television or going shop- Christians that Jesus Christ will ping; it is the day to go to church, to pray, and to rein- one day return in glory. vigorate our lives. Sunday is intended to be an active commemoration of the Lord.” What can you do on Sun- day to grow in communion with God?

WHAT DID I LEARN ABOUT FOLLOWING JESUS?

l What does it mean for me that Jesus Christ is fully human? l What did Jesus tell the scribes at Levi’s party was the reason for which He came? l St. Mark relates several of the things Jesus said about fasting and the Sabbath. How can I engage in fasting and observing a day of worship to deepen my relationship with God?