Mark 2:1-12
Jesus
had two primary missions in His life. The first was the preaching of the
message of God. God had intervened in history in a very personal way, in the
person of Jesus. The second mission was to bring reconciliation between God and
humanity through his own sacrifice on the Cross. Without both of these
elements, the proclamation of the Truth and His reconciling death and
resurrection, Jesus’ mission would have been incomplete.
Jesus
is continuing His itinerate preaching ministry. He has returned again to
Capernaum, his home base for much of His life. The word has gotten out. Jesus
is different. His words have power. He heals people. Things happen when He
shows up.
And
so, the house where He is speaking fills up. Houses in those days were typically
much smaller than ours today. The largest rooms would have only been about 18
feet wide at its largest point. There could be several rooms, but most were
single room dwellings. Only the richest had multiple large rooms. There would
have been window openings to let in air in this hot climate, and perhaps a
couple door openings, one to the street side, and one to a rear courtyard,
perhaps where a few animals would be kept.
Picture
the room packed, shoulder to shoulder, uncomfortably packed, people leaning in
the window openings, trying to listen in and be part of the action. The area
around the house contained a large crowd, an overflow area. People are
straining toward the house, trying to listen and look.
Do
you have this picture in your mind? When was the last time you had this type of
yearning to hear God’s Word taught? When was the last time you strained to get
into God’s presence?
The
song writer in Psalm 42 records this kind of longing. He likens his longing for
God to that of a thirsty deer longing for water to drink. This longing is a
deep, thirst which can only be truly satisfied when we are intimately connected
to God through Jesus Christ. Rice might satisfy your stomach’ hunger for a
time, but you can’t live on rice alone. You need vegetables, protein, liquid, and
of course chocolate! Well, maybe not the chocolate, but I had to try to get it
in somehow.
In
the same way our soul will not be truly satisfied until we drink deeply and
repeatedly from the LORD. A music concert might raise your endorphins; an
inspiring speaker might lift your gaze for a few hours, but Jesus will satisfy
in a way like no other. God’s Word will bring satisfaction.