Ministering in Mark 2

The story in Mark 2:1-12 is one that I believe teaches us a lot about ministering.  We see the Savior first and foremost teaching the people.  He was “in the house” (or “at home” according to the alternate translation), and apparently it was simply packed with people who all wanted to hear Him teach.  Despite the likely uncomfortable and hot environment, He was there preaching the word of God to the people of Capernaum.  The place was so crowded that four people got on the roof and lowered down a man on a bed who was “sick of the palsy.”  Jesus performed two acts that showed two important parts of His ministry: He forgave the man of his sins and thus healed him spiritually, and He told him to “arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house,” healing him physically.  The Savior also showed in this experience that He was keenly aware of the people around Him; despite the packed house, He recognized that there were some there who were criticizing Him in their hearts.  The text suggested that they did not actually speak the words “why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?” but He knew their thoughts and called them out for it.  He showed that in His ministering He was aware of even the individual members of a large group, what they were thinking, and what they needed.  In this case, they needed a rebuke.  In this experience symbolic of His whole ministry He taught the gospel, helped someone to heal spiritually and physically, and recognized the individual thoughts needs of those around Him.  As we seek to emulate Him in ministering, surely we would do well to try to follow this same pattern in helping those around us. 

               I think this story can also teach us about ministering from the perspective of the others involved.  There were two groups who acted as opposites: the four who brought the man with the palsy, and the scribes who were criticizing the Master.  We don’t know the names of those four, but we do know that they were determined to help their friend who was sick get the healing that He needed from the Savior.  They didn’t give up when the room was full; they simply found another way in through the roof.  And clearly they had great faith that the Savior could heal their friend, for we read, “When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”  Their faith had a major role in helping this man obtain forgiveness of His sins and be healed.  In contrast to these four who were actively helping lead someone to Christ, the scribes sat there and criticized what was happening around them.  Instead of trying to be of service to those in their reach, they simply derided what was going on and made no contribution to the healing process.  In our own ministering we have to choose which group we will be like—will we work to help heal and bring others to Christ, or will we only find place to criticize those around us?