Mar 2 outline:
Mar 2:1-12, Jesus forgave the sins of a paralytic, and healed him
Mar 2:13-17, Jesus called Matthew the tax collector to follow Him
Mar 2:18-20, Jesus questioned about fasting
Mar 2:21-22, Jesus teaching: new wine for new wineskins
Mar 2:23-28, The Lord of the Sabbath
Mar 1:14-2:22 chiastic structure:
1a) Mar 1:14a, John was put into prison;
1b) Mar 1:14b-15, Jesus preached, The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel;
1c) Mar 1:16-20, Called Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him;
1d) Mar 1:21-22, He entered the synagogue at Capernaum on the Sabbath, and taught them;
1e) Mar 1:23-27, He healed the man with the unclean spirit;
1f) Mar 1:28-33, Immediately His fame spread + entered the house of Simon + whole city gathered at the door;
1g) Mar 1:34-37, He healed many + departed to a solitary place:
1) Mar 1:34, He healed many who were sick + He did not allow the demons to speak;
2) Mar 1:35-37, Jesus departed to a solitary place + everyone was looking for Him;
1h) Mar 1:38a, Let us go into the next towns that I may preach there also;
central axis) Mar 1:38b, Because for this purpose I have come forth;
2h) Mar 1:39, And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee;
2g) Mar 1:40-45, He healed a leper + stayed in deserted places:
1) Mar 1:40-44, Jesus healed a leper + He charged the leper not to speak;
2) Mar 1:45, Jesus stayed outside in deserted places + they came to Him there;
2f) Mar 2:1-2, Entered the house + immediately many gathered together + no room even at the door;
2e) Mar 2:3-12, He healed the paralytic;
2d) Mar 2:13, He went out to the sea, all the multitude came to Him, and He taught;
2c) Mar 2:14, Called Levi to follow Him;
2b) Mar 2:15-17, I came to call sinners to repentance;
2a) Mar 2:18-22, The disciples of John fasting + friends cannot fast when the bridegroom is with them.
The central axis highlights something interesting:
But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. Mar 1:38-39
The Messiah came forth – the Word of God was made flesh, full of grace and truth – so that He might preach. Yes, He cast out demons and healed the sick, but this text makes it sound as if that was just a side activity to His real purpose, which was preaching.
And what did He preach? The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel. He came to call sinners to repentance (the B pair).
To repent, repentance, is Strong’s G3341, to have a change of mind.
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words explains repentance:
Strong’s G3341, metanoia:
“afterthought, change of mind, repentance,” corresponds in meaning to “changing one’s mind or purpose,” and always, in the New Testament, involving a change for the better, an amendment, and always (except in Luk 17:3,4) of “repentance” from sin. Thus the meaning is “repentance” from sin or evil (except in Heb 12:17): (a) the requirement by God on man’s part is set forth, e.g., in Mat 3:8; Luk 3:8; Act 20:21; 26:20; (b) the mercy of God in giving “repentance” or leading men to it is set forth in Act 5:31; 11:18; Rom 2:4; 2 Tim 2:25.
Thus the meaning of “repentance” as a change of mind involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God. The parable of the Prodigal Son is an outstanding illustration of this. Christ began His ministry with a call to “repentance,” Mat 4:17, but the call is addressed, not as in the Old Testament to the nation, but to the individual.”
This distinction of its usage in Greek is important, as can be seen by the English definition of “to repent” from Webster’s:
1 : to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life;
2a : to feel regret or contrition
2b : to change one’s mind
A person can feel sorrow or contrition for sin, and even change their mind about it, but until they change their corresponding actions and turn around, turning away from sin, true repentance in the New Testament sense has not taken place.
For further reading:
mark 2, forgiveness and healing (2011)
mark 2, lord of the sabbath (2009)
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