Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no room to receive them, not even at the door.… Immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they so reasoned … immediately he rose, picked up the bed, and went out in front of them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this (Mark 2:2,8,12)!”
Mark: The gospel’s author wrote the following when telling us about Jesus’ words and actions, “Look over here, oh wow!” Then, wide-eyed and immediately asking questions, “Now look what He’s doing over here! Did you just hear what He said?” Now where’d He go? I don’t want to miss His next move!
A kid in a candy store: “Look, can I have this?” Then, wide-eyed, “Wow, what about this one? Mom, please! PLEASE! as the child tugs on her coat. Mom, MOM! How are Jesus’ miracles like candy? Read on to find out what this author is expressing.
Mark Witnessed Jesus Performing Miracles
The author of the second gospel, Mark, wasn’t one of the original disciples of Jesus. But he was an eyewitness to some of Jesus’ words and actions. Mark received other eyewitness information from stories he heard from Jesus’ disciple Peter, who was a close acquaintance. Mark was several years younger than Jesus and His disciples; and was probably a teenager. His youth contributed to his writing style.
In one example of something he personally witnessed, Mark makes a cameo appearance in a culturally embarrassing scene during Jesus’ arrest:
““Jesus said to them (His arresters), “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would a thief? … A young man (Mark) followed Him (Jesus), wearing a linen cloth around himself. And the young men (Jesus’ arresters) laid hold of him (Mark), so he left the linen cloth, and fled (naked) (Mark 14:48, 51-52).”
On the night Jesus was arrested, Jesus and His disciples had spent the evening in the upper room of Mark’s house. They celebrated the Passover, which we now celebrate as the Lord’s Supper. Mark’s curiosity was aroused as he surveyed the scene; he sensed the volatile nature of this fateful evening. He noticed when Peter sought out and sheathed the sword he carefully concealed under his garments. Whatever happened, he didn’t want to miss it!
How are Jesus’ Miracles like Candy?
But all of this is just background information. What does any of this have to do with our question?
Mark wrote distinctively. He used the word “immediately” over forty times in his gospel! For example, after Mark recorded that John the Baptist baptized Jesus, he wrote:
“The Spirit immediately drove Him into the wilderness (Mark 1:12).” Look over here! Look over there!
Jesus did and said so many astonishing things that Mark couldn’t contain himself. Reading his gospel gives us a sense of Mark’s wonder.
Jesus did wonders no one else had ever done
- He cast out demons without spells, incantations, or aids.
- He healed men born blind, born paralyzed, and born deaf.
- He relieved the symptoms of those bound by sin and Satan.
- He taught morality as arising from inner purity while discarding rituals that only appeared spiritual.
- He promoted humility while disposing of pride.
- He came not to serve but to be served and to give His life as a ransom for many.
If we don’t read Mark’s gospel and react like a kid in a candy store, we’re not reading carefully. It’s part of his story. We won’t learn what we’re supposed to.
And we’re not doing Jesus justice.
“We never saw anything like this (Mark 2:12)!”
Want to read about what happened when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit? Don’t miss it! Click here.
