Mark 2

I never used to read the Bible too much. It just seemed too cumbersome, too boring. About a year ago, I was sitting in church and the pastor said to start reading the Bible - every day. Every day. You have to be kidding me. Well, I decided to give it a shot. And to be quite honest, there are definitely some days that it is pretty much going through the motion with eyes glazed over. However, even this creates a habit and provides the opportunity for deeper exploration. In my Wisconsin Recap, I shared that Pastor Marvin talked about, "Jesus in the house" in reference to Mark 2:1-12. So this passage has been in my thoughts for a month now. For some reason, I just keep turning back to it and learning more with each review. Tonight, it is late again and I'm tired but still want to write a post and read the Bible - so I'm going to do both.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul asks

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" (3:16)

So when I think of God's temple, I think of God's house.

So this is almost like Paul was talking to me and asking,

"Dude, what is up with you? Don't you know that you are God's house and that God's Spirit lives in you."

Now that is pretty scary stuff. Well, what would this look like?

Back to Mark 2. I asked the question, what is it like when Jesus is in the house?

Mark 2:1-12 (New International Version)

1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7"Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

So here's a quick summary of words/phrases I think match up with the red words/phrases.

Contagious - so many gathered
Teaching - preaching
Helping others - carried by four of them
Bold - they made an opening
Faith-filled - faith
Forgiving - your sins are forgiven
Facing opposition - Why does this fellow talk like that?
Healing - take your mat and go home
In awe - amazed
Praising - praised

These are some of the characteristics of what is it like when Jesus is home. Those of you who know me, know that there are some significant gaps. However, I have the hope, and faith, that in time these gaps will diminish.

What are other characteristics of what it is like when Jesus is in the house?

Out.