Mark 2

Mark 2
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Image of page from the 7th century Book of Durrow, from The Gospel of Mark. Trinity College Dublin
Book	Gospel of Mark
Bible part	New Testament
Order in the Bible part	2
Category	Gospel

Mark 2 is the second chapter of the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It has the first argument in Mark between Jesus and other Jewish religious teachers. He heals a paralyzed man and forgives his sins, meets with the disreputable Levi and his friends, argues over the need to fast, and whether or not one can harvest food on Sabbath.

A couple of men bring a paralyzed man to see Jesus but can not get past the crowd. Four of the men are carrying the paralytic but it is not specific who the men are, though it is implied that some of them have faith in Jesus. Since Mark has so far listed four disciples some speculate Mark might be indicating it is them doing the carrying, but there is no general agreement on this.

They then dig a hole in the roof of the house and lower the man in to see Jesus. That they dug through the roof indicates this is a poor house, with the roof made of leaves, bark, and dirt. It might also have had wooden beams for more sturdy support. This was the ordinary type of house in Palestine at the time.

Jesus is impressed by his effort, praising all the men's faith, and he tells the paralytic that his sins are forgiven. He calls the man "Son" a term of affection.

Some of the teachers of the law (belonging to the sect of the Pharisees) there are disturbed by this. "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (2:7). Mark says Jesus "...knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts..." (2:8) and knows that they doubt his ability to forgive sins. He thus seems to have an ability to feel or know what other people are thinking, which might be seen as omniscience or telepathy.