One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and as His disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

Then He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

*******

The Pharisees were so consumed with the Sabbath law that they were missing the Messiah right in front of them. I think that’s a lesson on and of itself. What in this world…whether in the church or outside the church, is distracting you from seeing Jesus?

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”

Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wine skins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wine skins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wine skins.

*******

Jesus is questioned why His disciples weren’t fasting like the rest. His response is to start talking about putting new with old. You don’t put new with old because it will make things worse. Jesus is basically saying that He is the new thing. He is bringing a new way…separate from the traditional religious obligations of the law. Sometimes we get so caught up in the religious that we forget who we are supposed to be serving. We spend so much of our fine trying fulfill the religious requirements that we fail to get to know Jesus. Don’t get so caught up in church/religious tradition that you forget to spend time with Him.

Once again Jesus went out beside the Lake. A large crowd came to Him, and He began to teach them. As He walked along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples: “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

*******

Jesus is confronted as to why He was socializing and eating with sinners. He declares that it’s the sick that need Him…the sinners. If we are to be followers of Jesus…should we not be doing the same? Purposefully spending time with those who do not yet know Jesus? Too often we are only around those who are just like us because it’s what is most comfortable for us. Jesus desires us to be around the least of these…which could include anyone who is struggling. Examine your heart…do you desire to bring the lost to Him? If not…maybe it’s time to focus on getting to know Jesus again. There are so many people who need a doctor…and we have the answer.

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that He had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and He preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to Him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Immediately Jesus knew in His spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and He said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk?’ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So He said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

*******

Jesus saw their faith…you see faith requires action. It requires us moving…not waiting for Jesus to show up. He already has…now it’s our turn to pursue Him through faith. Faith is not just saying I believe, but allowing your lifestyle and actions to speak for you. Faith is belief put into action. How’s your faith walk? Are you sitting around waiting for Jesus to move? Or are you actively moving in faith?

A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus was indignant. He reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

*******

What I find interesting here is that Jesus is more concerned with the man’s heart. He tells him that he needs to offer the sacrifices, but instead the man is satisfied with the outward cleansing. So many times we live the same. We are satisfied with being clean on the outside, when inside we are stained by sin. We should be more concerned about how we look to God on the inside when He examines our heart…not on looking clean as others examine us outwardly. Today, focus on cleaning up your heart and soul…because if we do that…we will be clean from the inside out.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else-to the nearby villages-so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So He traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.”

*******

After an evening of healing and driving out demons, Jesus got some rest and then went off alone to pray. This wasn’t because He was just exhausted from His work…but because He knew how important it was to keep His eyes on the Father. To keep His focus on the mission at hand. I also believe it broke His heart to see His people suffering as they were. His response was prayer…so should it be with our response. When we have had a rough day, we should pray. When we are upset, mad, frustrated, irritated, we should pray. Jesus models the plan of action for us. Knee your eyes on the things above…pray.

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So He went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but He would not let the demons speak because they knew who He was.

*******

The heart of Jesus is evident here. He is being asked to heal many…and the whole town was there watching. Sometimes we get so caught up in ourselves that we can’t even help one…we are too busy…our mind is somewhere else…etc etc. what would it look like for each member of the church to just help one? It would be world-changing. Follow in the steps of Jesus…be available and willing to help others no matter the day or the hour.

They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at His teaching, because He taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching-and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey Him.” News about Him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

*******

Jesus taught with authority…in other words He taught as one who had wrote the book himself. He was different and the people knew it. Even the impure spirit knew it. If we truly surrendered to Him…letting go of everything else…how much more evident would He be in our lives? I believe sometimes we can’t feel Him near because we have walked away from Him…we have put up barriers between us as well. Maybe it’s time to truly and wholeheartedly give Him a chance to show you have life changing it would be if we just let go. Jesus wants to lead…maybe it’s time we start letting Him.

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed Him.

When He had gone a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.

*******

I love the wording Mark uses here. He writes that Jesus will SEND THEM OUT to fish for men. I think a lot of Christians are going by a different approach. They think, hey, if I can lure them in I will catch them. We have to have nice buildings, great music, dynamic preaching, awesome kids ministries, great programs, etc…if we have these things we can lure them and catch them. Jesus never said wait for the people to come to you…He said He will send them OUT to fish for men. As a disciple…we must go to the people and stop waiting to let something entice them. Go to your friends, family, co-workers and share the Gospel. Sure you can have all of those other things…but they should be tools used to worship God. We should be the tool used to share the Gospel.

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” He said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

*******

Jesus proclaimed the good news! He follows the good news with a plan of action. The plan is to believe…and repent. I believe Jesus makes it clear the plan of salvation which is to believe, repent, confess, be baptized, and live faithfully. However, those first two steps…belief and repentance…those are daily steps. These are decisions and actions we must take daily in our walk with Jesus. To believe not just in knowledge of Him but with your life. To repent daily of your failures and flaws to remain fixed on following Him. So today…truly believe in Jesus to the point that your life reflects it. Repent of your wrongs and be made new in Him.