Mark 2
January Memory Verse: Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34 (NIV)
Read: Mark 2
What do you need today? No, I am not talking about money. I am not talking about time. I am not talking about material things. I am talking about the unseen things. I am talking about the unknown things, at least to everyone else. What do you need today?
What we see about Jesus today is that Jesus always sees past the seen & known need to the unseen & unknown. Jesus meets the needs that maybe even we didn’t know we had.
Mark 2 opens with the story of the paralytic man. Jesus was preaching the Word of God and there was a man. This man was paralyzed. His friends knew that Jesus was his only hope to receive healing… so they did whatever they could to get him there. They cut out a hole in the ceiling and lowered him down. Jesus looks down to him, seeing their faith, and says “Son, your sins are forgiven…” (v. 5) What? Jesus, didn't we come for healing? Jesus saw past the physical need and saw his ultimate need. And Jesus acted. Though he had come for one thing, he had been given another on top of Jesus healing his paralysis. Jesus took care of the need he didn’t know that he had.
Jesus then goes on to call Levi the tax collector to be a disciple. The people, and the pharisees, just don’t understand. Why call the unrighteous? Look at what Jesus says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous but the sinners.” Jesus came for those in NEED. Often, we don’t even know what we need… Jesus does. We didn’t know we were spiritually sick until Jesus showed us. He sees our needs.
Then Jesus in verses 18-27 just comes out and says it… “I am what you need. I am here to meet your ultimate need. Rejoice. Rest. Hope has come”
Do you have deep heartfelt needs today? You are in the right place. Curl up in the arms of your savior who sees you, who knows you, who cares for you.
Write out a prayer to God expressing the needs of your heart. Rest in Him.
By: Nick Parsons
What do you need today? No, I am not talking about money. I am not talking about time. I am not talking about material things. I am talking about the unseen things. I am talking about the unknown things, at least to everyone else. What do you need today?
What we see about Jesus today is that Jesus always sees past the seen & known need to the unseen & unknown. Jesus meets the needs that maybe even we didn’t know we had.
Mark 2 opens with the story of the paralytic man. Jesus was preaching the Word of God and there was a man. This man was paralyzed. His friends knew that Jesus was his only hope to receive healing… so they did whatever they could to get him there. They cut out a hole in the ceiling and lowered him down. Jesus looks down to him, seeing their faith, and says “Son, your sins are forgiven…” (v. 5) What? Jesus, didn't we come for healing? Jesus saw past the physical need and saw his ultimate need. And Jesus acted. Though he had come for one thing, he had been given another on top of Jesus healing his paralysis. Jesus took care of the need he didn’t know that he had.
Jesus then goes on to call Levi the tax collector to be a disciple. The people, and the pharisees, just don’t understand. Why call the unrighteous? Look at what Jesus says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous but the sinners.” Jesus came for those in NEED. Often, we don’t even know what we need… Jesus does. We didn’t know we were spiritually sick until Jesus showed us. He sees our needs.
Then Jesus in verses 18-27 just comes out and says it… “I am what you need. I am here to meet your ultimate need. Rejoice. Rest. Hope has come”
Do you have deep heartfelt needs today? You are in the right place. Curl up in the arms of your savior who sees you, who knows you, who cares for you.
Write out a prayer to God expressing the needs of your heart. Rest in Him.
By: Nick Parsons
18 Comments
Some great perspective today. If sin is our greatest problem in our life, then we should be thankful that God has offered us a solution in Christ!
Amen (Awoman) JK, Graham! Exactly what I was thinking. Good word Nick!
Thank you Mike, I appreciate how inclusive your answer was. 😆
I agree Nick. Great encouragement! I’ll look to God today to meet my need, I’ll move others toward the healing hand of Jesus, I’ll help others discover the call of Jesus in their lives.
A couple great reminders here. Jesus surrounded himself with sinners so he could witness to them. He didn’t care what others thought, he knew they needed a savior. So often we make it a point to hang out with like minded believers, but it is just as important to be around those who need Jesus so we can show them Jesus.
Second, Jesus mentions sabbath. We need to remember to rest in Jesus and let him rejuvenate us rather than push on and risk burnout. God designed sabbath for our good, so that we can be refreshed in Him. Great words today, Nick!
Let us always make room for those who are in need in all aspects because we all need a Savior. The crowd was so focused on wanting what they needed that they missed the opportunity to welcome the paralytic. Praise God that he sees our greatest need better than we can. Mark 2:4 really stood out to me as I was reading. It shows that we need community around us who knows us and points us to Jesus. These friends of the paralytic saw an opportunity to get Him to Jesus no matter what! They went above and beyond measures to ensure that this paralytic received healing and by faith, Jesus saw that and blessed him with the forgiveness of his sins (much more than what he came for). We also see that the Scribes were questioning in their hearts the authority that has been given to Jesus by God. It got me thinking, where in my life do I question or doubt God in my life? Sometimes I feel as though I'm broken beyond all measure to receive the forgiveness of my sins but Jesus doesn't perceive it that way. I need not to think that because Jesus came for sinners not for the righteous. Our main focus is to give glory to God because he is worthy of it all. I need freedom and Jesus is calling me to it... so I must embrace it.
Thanks man! Proud of you!
What stood out to me most in this chapter is how Jesus was introducing an entirely different perspective of life and religious belief, demonstrating in versus 21 and 22 how incompatible and conflicting human and spiritual ways are with each other. Jesus' focus was always on the spiritual first, but He also had compassion for human physical needs. This spoke powerfully to me this morning. Thanks Nick.
Thanks Lindsay! Thanks for participating!
Lord, you are our greatest need. We need you to fill our hearts today. Please start a revival in us that we may rejoice in you. That we may bring our friends who need spiritual to you. That we may show non believers the way of Christ. And that we may rest and worship in you continually. We need you Jesus! amen.
Amen Rasheed! Thanks man!!
Great encouragement for today. Thankful that we can take our needs to the Lord-who cares for us, knows us, and loves us.
Truth. Our all knowing and caring God knows our need better than we need it. Grateful for his faithfulness!
So true! Thanks for joining!
I have to remind myself that my only true need is Jesus! Then I turn my wants over to Him-so that His will can be done! Love the gospels and reading about Jesus’ life-our living example!!!
Yes! So true! So hard to do!
Great job, Nick! I was really drawn in with your writing today! Jesus knows that He’s our only real need! I’m glad he sees past what I think I need and reveals to me what I really need!
Wow! Powerful blog! Jesus sees deep down and meets our spiritual needs! Another amazing thing is that Levi didn't question. Like the other disciples, he just got up and followed Jesus immediately.