Jesus Meeting Growing Hostility

Mark 2:1-12

JESUS was hated by his enemies, persecuted, and finally crucified. This had been foretold by the prophets, who explained that it was a necessary experience for him ere he could enter into the promised glory of the kingdom. Commenting on this point, the Apostle Paul explained that in bringing many sons to glory it was the divine plan to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through suffering.—Heb. 2:10

However, it is well to observe in this connection that Jesus was not continuously persecuted from the beginning of his ministry. Instead, much of the time he rode on the crest of popularity, at least so far as the common people were concerned. The religious aristocracy of the time were jealous and suspicious of the Master from the first, but they were helpless to interfere materially with the effectiveness of his ministry until the due time in the divine plan came for him to be “cut off” in death for the sins of the world.—Dan. 9:26

It is well to keep this in mind when appraising the meaning of our own experiences as followers of the Master. The terms of discipleship are made very plain in the Bible. We are called to suffer and to die with Jesus, and told that it will only be through much tribulation that we shall enter the kingdom to live and reign with him. Viewing the matter from this standpoint alone, we might well get the thought that we should be experiencing persecution all the time, and become discouraged if this is not the case.—Matt. 16:24,25; I Cor. 15:50; Rev. 3:21; 20:4,6

But this is the wrong viewpoint. Jesus did suffer and die, and if we are faithful to the terms of our calling we will also suffer and finally die—in the likeness of his death, a sacrificial death. But just as he was free to preach the truth to the people much of the time during the short period of his ministry, so we may expect it to be much the same with us. We need not be concerned as to whether or not we are being persecuted today, but let us live so close to the Lord that no matter when he may permit us to be tested by persecution, we will be ready by his grace to meet with fortitude and courage whatever experiences his wisdom may deem best.

The persecution against Jesus stemmed from the fact of his faithfulness in serving others as well as his love of righteousness and hatred of iniquity. In today’s lesson, as the title indicates, we see the beginnings of opposition to the Master on the part of the scribes. It was not because he had condemned them, but because he was able and willing to do something really worthwhile for those in need. They charged him with blasphemy because he announced to the palsied man that his sins were forgiven.

And, significantly enough, the final outburst of hatred against the Master, that which was the immediate cause of his arrest, was occasioned, not by a program of smiting on his part, but because he had raised Lazarus from the dead. (John 11:45-54) Let us follow his example. May we never, in our anxiety to be persecuted, embark upon a campaign of smiting others. Rather, let us proclaim the glorious Gospel of the love of God. Let us exalt the name of him who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

If we are thus faithful as ambassadors of Christ, it may seem for a time as though we were not having many privileges of suffering with him. Nevertheless, in the hearts of those who are enemies of the truth, the fires of hatred will be smoldering, and when the opportune time comes, they will strike out against us. Meanwhile, let us rejoice that the common people are having an opportunity to hear the glad tidings, and that their hearts and minds are being prepared to receive the kingdom blessings now so near.

The incident recorded in our lesson occurred on Jesus’ second visit to Capernaum. His first visit started a wave of popularity which continued and increased until his return to the city. And now the crowds following him became so great that it was impossible to bring a sick man near except by lowering him through the roof of the home where Jesus was staying. Great faith was manifested by this extraordinary effort to reach the Master.

Jesus could read the minds of those about him, and he knew that the scribes took exception to his statement to the palsied man that his sins were forgiven. This is an important consideration in following the example of Jesus. On occasions, when speaking directly to the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus called them hypocrites. He could read their hearts and know that this was true of them. But we cannot do this, so are not privileged to go to this length when addressing enemies of the truth.

There was only one answer to Jesus’ question as to which was the more difficult, to say to a man that his sins were forgiven, or to command him to take up his bed and walk and have the command obeyed. But in addition to the point which Jesus thus impressed upon the minds of the scribes, there is another lesson, for it reminds us that all sickness is the result directly or indirectly of sin. The original sin of our first parents plunged the entire human race into a dying condition, and while all die regardless of their individual sins, many times the suffering involved in the original penalty of death is greatly increased in the case of those who willfully flout the laws of God and of righteousness. We do not know whether this was the case with the palsied man of our lesson; but in any event he received forgiveness of sins by Jesus, and this was followed by his restoration to health.

QUESTIONS

Was Jesus continuously persecuted from the very beginning of his ministry?

Should we, as followers of the Master, be discouraged when we are not persecuted?

What was one of the main causes of Jesus’ persecution?

Should we seek to bring persecution upon ourselves by publicly condemning nominal churchianity?

Explain the manner in which disease and death are related to sin.

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