We talked about the story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man who was carried by his four friends and lowered from a rooftop. Jesus forgave the man’s sins, which was questioned by the scribes present. However, Jesus demonstrated His authority to forgive sins by telling the man to rise, pick up his bed, and go home, which he did to the amazement of all present.
We also talked about the language used by Jesus and the gospel writers. For instance, Jesus referred to Himself as “the Son of Man,” a title used in Daniel 7:13. Matthew referred to “the kingdom of heaven,” while Mark used “the kingdom of God.” These variations in language offer intriguing insights into the different perspectives of the gospel authors.
Next, we talked about Jesus’s interactions with Levi, also known as Matthew, a tax collector. Despite the criticism of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus dined with Levi, the tax collectors, and the sinners, emphasizing that He came to heal the sick, not the righteous. This interaction challenges our preconceived notions of who deserves God’s grace and who is not.
Lastly, we explored Jesus’s teachings on the Sabbath. Jesus reminded us that the Sabbath was made for man, not the other way around.
