Re:Verse reading–Mark 2:1-12 (day one)
“And many gathered together, so many that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door.” v 2.
In his gospel, Mark skips most of the first year of Christ’s public ministry “The year of obscurity” scholars call it. So too, he omits the nativity narratives. Other gospels teach us these facts.
Mark’s preference is to plunge “immediately” into the “year of popularity” and the “year of opposition”–years two and three.
Chapter 2 is an illustration of both. Throngs of people. Intense public interest. Crowds seeking Jesus wherever He goes. But, the opposition is also growing. The rulers are shocked by his reception of sinners, angered by his teaching re Sabbath. Early in his account, Mark wants us to notice these two themes. People loved Him. People hated Him. People wanted to be near Him. People wanted Him gone.
Hmmmmm. Sounds like our day. He is the same. So are we.
