Comments on: The Paralytic as Missionary (Mark 2:1-12)

By: C. Wess daniels

C. Wess daniels — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 05:55:35 +0000

Steve – thanks for the comment. I think you're right on about not wanting to stick around, etc. And I particularly like your point about social pressures that this man may have faced.

When I suggested he was sent as a missionary I meant it is strictly in terms of by nature of the fact that this man is now totally reconstituted into the community of Israel and reconstituted in terms of his wholeness his entire being is now a witness to Christ's new work. Missionary can easily have a bad connotation. I don't mean, "he went home and evangelized." But I do mean, that when someone truly encounters Christ and is their "being" is changed because of that event, they cannot help but "go."

Certainly, this isn't the key point of the text, but a postulation or suggestion about the outcome of it. Pondering this passage I found it strange that the movement of the story is that the paralytic comes, disrupts the flow of Jesus' teaching by way of intrusion, and then asked to go home. All the while, everyone else remains seated (or so I assume).

Anyways, this is what I love about these passages in the Gospels, there's so much left unsaid that really opens up for creative thinking about the passage.

By: comosaywhat? » story of the paralytic man

comosaywhat? » story of the paralytic man — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:44:57 +0000

[...] read this post from wess daniel’s blog and started thinking on mark 2. there were a couple of things that [...]

By: Sam Martinez

Sam Martinez — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:59:21 +0000

i’m not sure that jesus was sending him out as a missionary either. mark seems to communicate that jesus was trying to keep somewhat on the down-low: he wouldnt let the demons speak because they knew who he was (mk 1.34), forbade the man with leprosy from telling anyone but the priest (mk 1.44), had to stay outside in the “lonely places” (mk 1.45).

also, it seems that mark is kinda focusing on home. jesus healed simon’s mom-in-law at simon’s home (mk 1.29), came home to capernaum (mk 2.1), said “take your mat and go home” (mk 2.11), had dinner @ levi’s home (mk 2.15).

maybe jesus is concerned about things getting out of hand. if things go mainstream, jesus fears the very people who need him most (its not the health who need the doctor but the sick), will be left out.

i agree about the kingdom agent. cant go wrong with Wright.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 03:45:35 +0000

Maybe Jesus wasn't sending him out be a missionary. Maybe he was sending him home to enjoy his new good health. In my mind I think of Jesus as getting it that someone who can suddenly walk doesn't want to stick around and listen to a sermon but instead wants to get up and walk! I mean the guy could have been in a tough spot. On the one hand he is ready to go dancing but on the other hand Jesus just healed him and it would be rude to just get up and leave. I think of Jesus being so cool that he takes away this social pressure and orders the man to go home.

In my mind the passage shows that Jesus understands us.

Of course the guy is going to go 'viral' and tell the world about what happened to him. Its win, win for everyone.

I really liked your last line… "and Jesus was ushering in a kingdom full of misfits."

Thanks for this!