Jesus Faces Opposition

JESUS came to be the light of the world, and as we learned from last week’s lesson, the light of divine truth radiated from him both through the Gospel message which he proclaimed and by the miracles which he performed—miracles which bore eloquent testimony to the fact that the power of God would be abundantly able to fulfill all his good promises when his due time arrives. The perfection of the Master’s character, and his charming manner, pleased the people. The Gospel of the kingdom was also appreciated by many, but the leaders of the people were aroused in opposition against the message and against him who proclaimed it.

In this we have evidence that the darkness hateth the light, that those who sit in darkness are ready to persecute those who are faithful in proclaiming the truth. It is well to remember this, for as Jesus told his disciples, if they called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household—the household of faith. In this connection it is also, well to realize that Jesus was persecuted only when he began to let his light shine—the light of the Gospel, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.

MARK 2:3-8—This is a well-known story in the life of Jesus. It is cited as a part of today’s lesson in order to call attention to the rising tide of opposition which developed against Jesus by the religious rulers. It is the account of that marvelous miracle by which the Master healed a man afflicted with palsy. It is not difficult to imagine the excitement which must have been manifested by the people in connection with the many miracles which Jesus performed. On this occasion the crowd forced its way into the home, preventing those who were carrying the sick man from entering and it became necessary to break a hole in the roof through which he could be let down into the presence of the Master.

Jesus was impressed with the faith which they thus manifested, and “said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” It was this statement which gave the scribes present an opportunity to find fault with the Master. They reasoned in their hearts, the account says, and concluded that a statement of this sort should be construed as blasphemy, and blasphemy was a serious offense in Israel. They were simply plotting against the life of the Master.

The scribes were taken quite off guard when they discovered that Jesus knew what they were thinking about. “Why reason ye these things in your hearts?” he asked. And then, before they had a chance to accuse him of blasphemy before the assembled crowd, he silenced them with a question, asking if it were easier to say to a sick man that his sins were forgiven, or to tell him to rise from his bed of sickness.

Up to this point, although Jesus had said to the man sick of the palsy that his sins were forgiven, apparently there was no evidence that he had been healed, so to demonstrate his authority, Jesus said, “Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” He arose immediately, and Jesus’ authority was proved before all those present, including the scribes. Naturally they realized that it would be useless to raise the issue of blasphemy under such circumstances.

In this account Jesus indicates that the forgiveness of sin and the healing of the sick are very closely related, and this is in harmony with what the Scriptures elsewhere reveal. Death entered into the world as a result of sin. “The sting of death is sin,” states the Apostle Paul. (I Cor. 15:56) This does not mean, of course, that extreme forms of sickness are due to special sins on the part of the sufferers. It does mean that sickness of all kinds is due to the fact that we are members of a sinful and dying race. This means, in turn, that when the sins of all mankind are blotted out the result will be “times of restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:19-21) See also Isaiah 33:24

MARK 2:16, 17—Here we have another evidence of how the scribes and Pharisees were endeavoring to prejudice the minds of the people against Jesus. Apparently to them it was a serious offense for one who claimed to be righteous to eat with publicans and sinners. But Jesus quickly pointed out to them the weakness of their position. “They that are whole,” he said, “have no need of a physician.”

Actually, of course, there were none that could be considered “whole” in the full sense of the word. This may have been a reference to the claims of holiness made by the scribes and Pharisees. In any case, Jesus explained that he had come to call sinners to repentance, and doubtless he felt that among the publicans and sinners he would be more likely to find those ready to repent than among those who were self-righteous.

MARK 3:1-6—Once again we find the Pharisees on the alert to find an opportunity to charge Jesus with breaking the Law. This time it had to do with the law of the sabbath. Would they find the Master guilty of working on this rest day provided by God? The occasion was in a synagogue on the sabbath day. A man was present who was afflicted with a withered hand, and Jesus’ enemies “watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.”

Jesus, as always, was ready for the attack, and asked them, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?” Apparently the Master gave his opposers no opportunity to answer this question, and probably they had no answer. His question made it clear to those whose hearts were right that healing the sick on the sabbath day was by no means breaking God’s law.

But the Pharisees, foiled again in their effort to trump up a charge against Jesus with which the people generally would agree, began to work along other lines. The account states that they “went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.” But it was not yet “due time” for him to be sacrificed for the sins of the world, so he “withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea,” where he continued his ministry of love. No harm could come to Jesus, and so it is with all those who put their trust in the Lord.

QUESTIONS

Why did the religious leaders of Israel oppose Jesus and finally put him to death?

Is all sickness due to sin?

Did Jesus manifest unfaithfulness by withdrawing from the scene of opposition in Galilee?

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