Jesus Came To Make Us Whole

Mark 2

​Looking to our first parents, Adam and Eve, in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament, we see that they tried to hide and cover their sin with garments they made, as their sin brought guilt, shame and ultimately death. Their eyes were opened, as they chose to follow their own path and desire, rather than choosing God’s perfect plan in and on God’s perfect creation.

Humanity has been born with the seed of sin since that time. Adam and Eve were confronted, convicted by, and ashamed of their choice to pursue their own path, and they sought to cover their nakedness; but God would not accept their coverings. Instead, He clothed them with skins from animals, meaning blood had to be shed; a sacrifice had to be offered or made.

There is a cost for the sin of mankind. There are consequences for our actions and our choices. A payment must be made. An innocent, unblemished, sacrificial lamb must be offered for sin—meaning everything that misses the mark that God established, anything that does not honor Him or His perfect plan your life.

“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Hebrews 9:22 (ESV)

According to Warren Wiersbe, “Jesus did not come to do a simplified patchwork job on our lives; He came to make us whole.”

In Christ’s death and burial, a perfect sacrifice has been offered, and in His resurrection, hope and eternal life restored. We have been raised from the dead; and like Lazarus, we must take off the old garments of death and put on the garments of new life.

“When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:44 (ESV)
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1 (ESV)

Wiersbe says in With the Word Bible Commentary that in Mark 2 we must “consider the unique ministries of God’s Servant, Jesus Christ— He forgives our sins; He fellowships with “sinners,” and He frees us from bondage.”

In the first 12 verses of Mark 2, we see that Jesus forgives sin, our sin, more specifically, a paralytic sin in this passage. Imagine a servant having such authority! That was the thoughts of the religious leaders that witness this forgiving and healing incident. “That’s blasphemy!”

​“And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” Mark 2:8-12 (ESV)

The healing of the body is a great miracle, but it does not last. The forgiveness of sin is God’s greatest miracle, for it lasts forever and accomplishes the greatest good. The Servant forgives us and pays the price for sin by His torcher and death on the Cross at Calvary.

Mark also includes Jesus’ fellowship with “sinners” in his documentation of the life of Jesus. Why? Why would Jesus, who is 100% God and 100% man, who is perfect in every way hangout with those who are the worst of the worst? Because, they are sick, and He is the only Physician who can heal them. They are hungry and lonely, and He is the Bridegroom who asks them to His wedding feast. Their lives are in tatters, and He wants to give them a new robe of righteousness.

​“And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:16-17 (ESV)

“Others may be able to patch up life, but Jesus alone can give new life.” Warren Wiersbe
Finally, John Mark pens the hope and joy of Christ in the explanation that Jesus frees us from bondage.

“One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:23-28 (ESV)

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, the Giver of rest according to Matthew 11:28–30.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV)

Man’s religious traditions and preferences can be a terrible yoke of bondage on anyone; but when you follow the Lord Jesus Christ, when you surrender your life to a life of following Jesus, when you believe in the miraculous birth of Jesus, His perfect life, His death on the Cross as a sacrifice for your sin, the burial in a borrowed tomb, the resurrection from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the ascension into Heaven to prepare a place for all those who repent and receive Him, you experience freedom and rest.

​Today, will you repent of your sin? Will you unashamedly walk away from your present path to follow Jesus on His perfect path for you? Will you believe that He is the God’s Perfect Son, the sin Sacrifice that freely shed His blood for your sin? Will you confess your sin to Him, and seek forgiveness and freedom from Him? Know, He waits for you to accept Him. For He desires to forgive you, to heal you, to accept you, to dine with you, to restore you, and to free you from sin and bondage for all eternity. Will you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?

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