Mark 2:1-17

Mark 2:1-17, Jesus heals the paralyzed man & Jesus calls Levi to follow him. Why does Jesus forgive the paralyzed man before healing him? What is Jesus' argument with the Pharisees? Why does Jesus call Levi and eat with sinners? Additional Questions to ask while reading 1. Jesus easily recognizes the faith of the group who came to see him, how can someone recognize your confidence in Jesus’ authority? How could your confidence grow?

2. Levi was a wealthy and potentially influential man, but, socially and religiously he was looked down on, what does it say that Jesus wanted this man with him, that Levi wanted to travel with Jesus, and how do you suppose the other disciples reacted to Levi, how would you?

3. The Pharisees fail to love a group of people they think wants nothing to do with God, Jesus loves and transforms one of this number into his disciple, what groups do you have trouble loving, and can you think of ways you might try to love them more?

4. In both stories we are left without knowing how the opponents of Jesus reacted to his words, while Mark is more concerned with telling us who Jesus is, what do you think were the reactions of these opponents, what do you think the rumors about Jesus said, and how would you react to these events?

5. Both of these stories point toward a relationship between spiritual healing and physical healing, what does this relationship mean for Christians what should we expect from God in spiritual, emotional, and physical healing?