New Testament in a Year – Mark 2

By Ron

February 11, 2025

Mark, New Testament

Jesus Heals a Paralytic - Mark 2:1-12

Where did the events of this story take place? (2:1-2)
What exactly was Jesus doing when the events of this story took place? (2:2)
What dilemma did the paralytic man and his friends face? (2:2-4)
What do the details of the story tell you about the paralytic man, his friends, and Jesus’ reputation? (2:3-4)
How did the paralytic man’s friends solve the dilemma that they faced? (2:4)
How did the paralytic man’s friends get Jesus’ attention? (2:4-5)
How did Jesus evaluate the faith of the paralytic man and his friends? (2:5)
What motivated Jesus to respond to the paralytic man’s plight? (2:5)
Why did the Pharisees accuse Jesus of blasphemy? (2:6-7)
How did Jesus respond to the thoughts of the Pharisees? (2:8-9)
How did Jesus show that He had authority to forgive sins? (2:9)
What did Jesus mean by "Son of Man"? (2:10)
Why did Jesus heal the paralytic man? (2:10-12)
Until now, Jesus had been preaching but not performing miracles; why did He heal this particular man? (2:10-12)

What specific steps can you take this week to show faith in Christ?
What broken area of your life will you ask God to heal?
Following the example of the paralytic man’s friends, how could you go out of your way to help another believer who is experiencing pain or suffering?

In what setting did the events of this story take place? (2:13)
What was Levi’s status among his neighbors? (2:14)
What did Jesus want when He spoke to Levi? (2:14)
What was Levi’s response to Jesus’ words? (2:14)
What did Levi stand to lose by leaving his work to follow Jesus? (2:14)
Why is it significant that Jesus went to Levi’s house for dinner? (2:14-15)
Who were the other dinner guests at Levi’s house when Jesus had dinner with him? (2:15)
How did the Pharisees respond to Jesus’ actions? (2:16)
What was Jesus’ response to the Pharisees? (2:17)
What was it about Jesus’ life-style and attitude that made the Pharisees so uncomfortable? (2:15-17)

In what specific way can you honor or recognize a person of "lower status" this week?
What can you do to listen to Christ as He calls you?

What dilemma puzzled the people who came to Jesus? (2:18)
Why did the people come to Jesus? (2:18)
What did John’s disciples and the Pharisees have in common? (2:18)
Looking at Jesus and the Pharisees in this story, how were their attitudes different? (2:18-22)
How did Jesus respond to the question that was put to Him? (2:19)
To whom was Jesus referring when He spoke of the "guests" and the "bridegroom"? (2:19)
Why did Jesus suddenly start speaking about a wedding feast? (2:19-20)
How did Jesus’ story of the wedding feast answer the people’s question about why His disciples did not fast? (2:19-20)
Why did Jesus tell two short stories? (2:21-22)
What do the old garment and the old wineskins stand for? (2:21-22)
What do the patch of the unshrunk cloth and the new wine stand for? (2:21-22)
What are "new wineskins," and why are they needed? (2:22)

What steps can you take this week to practice a spiritual discipline (fasting, prayer, Bible study, meditation, solitude, simplicity, etc.)?
Where and how could you learn more about fasting and prayer over the next few weeks?

What is the setting of the story, and why is it significant? (2:23)
What did the disciples do that outraged the Pharisees? (2:24)
Why did the Pharisees confront Jesus about the actions of His disciples? (2:24)
What was Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ charges? (2:25-27)
According to Jesus, why were the disciples of both David and Jesus justified in breaking the Sabbath? (2:25-27)
Why did Jesus say He was "Lord even of the Sabbath"? (2:28)
What happened after the confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees? (3:1)
Why were some of the Pharisees watching Jesus so closely? (3:2)
What was notable about the way Jesus performed this miracle? (3:3)
To whom did Jesus address a provocative question about "the Sabbath"? (3:4)
What was it about the Pharisees that so distressed Jesus? (3:5)
What significance do you see in the fact that the Pharisees were willing to plot with their enemies, the Herodians, to kill Jesus? (3:6)
What do Jesus’ actions in this story tell you about His concerns? (2:23-3:6)

In what settings are you able to "do good and save life"? How?
What can you do this week to reflect God’s design for the Sabbath?
What can you use as a reminder to guard against a concern only for the letter of the law?