2. 3. Who Needs a Doctor?
Mark 1:40 – 2:17 p

3. An Enigma Kingdom counter to human intuition & expectation
Turn towards centre of the story: Jesus (an enigma)
Know almost nothing about him personally
Who establishes a Kingdom by being killed?
A clash of Kingdoms & A devastating weapon

4. 1. A Clash of Kingdoms Demon: “Have you come to destroy us? (1:24)
Have limited knowledge and power
“Yes. I have come to destroy the principalities
The story of the Leper
If you are willing, you can make me clean”

5. 1. A Clash of Kingdoms . . . Jesus’ response: “Fury”
Scribes soon changed it to “had compassion”
Jesus was flaming mad. He was livid.
... at the Leper’s suffering !!!
Lepers were driven out. (Lev 13:45-46)
They were unclean. (Lev 13 – 14)
They could make others unclean (Num 19:22)

6. 1. A Clash of Kingdoms . . . Jesus’ response: A major reversal:
Jesus touched the man “I am willing. Be clean” (v 41)
A major reversal:
The touch of the King works the opposite way
He spreads cleanness.
“Have you come to destroy us?” YES !

7. 2. The Secret Anti-Weapon
The paralytic: lowered through the roof
Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven” (2:5)
ONLY GOD CAN FORGIVE SINS !
Which is easier to say ... You’re forgiven” , or, “Walk”
“You’re forgiven” because no-one can tell if it’s true
BUT so that you know I have authority to forgive sins – WALK !

8. 2. The Secret Anti-Weapon…
Authority over demons
Authority over disease and disability
Authority to forgive sins
A triple barreled, rocket-launching, anti-weapon !
“Have you come to destroy us?” YES !!!

9. 3. Sinner at the Centre Levi (Matthew) the tax-collector.
Awful, sinful, heartless
“Follow me”
“Your sins are forgiven”
Why does he eat with tax-collectors & sinners?
Because they are sinners.

10. 3. Sinner at the Centre . . . God is Holy, Good, Righteous
He is also a Seeking, Saving, Forgiving God.
Jesus is the doctor (Healer). We are the patients.

11. Who Needs a Doctor? We need his touch to spread his cleanness to us.
Jesus can set us free:
“I am willing. Be clean”
My child, your sins are forgiven”
“I have come to rescue you”
“Follow me”