Blogs

January 16, 2025

Who Is Jesus to You?

In this episode, Whit Casey look at Mark chapter 2 and what it looks like to truly pursue Jesus.

Check it Out:

Who Is Jesus to You, Truly?

The question Mark’s gospel invites us to wrestle with is profound: Who is Jesus to you?

This might seem easy to answer, but the real challenge lies deeper. How does Jesus function in your life? Does He occupy the space you claim He does? Do your decisions about money, relationships, and priorities align with the belief that He is Lord?

Mark’s gospel doesn’t let us stay in the theoretical; it forces us to confront these questions head-on and brings to our attention the ways we can tend to fall into three groups: the religious leaders, the crowd, or the paralytic and his friends.

The Religious Leaders

In Mark 2, the religious leaders find themselves in constant conflict with Jesus. Why? Because Jesus threatens their authority, power, and position. They view Him as a disruptive force, circumventing their established systems and challenging their understanding of God’s law.

Consider their reaction to Jesus forgiving the sins of the paralytic. “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” From their perspective, Jesus is making a divine claim, one that overturns their entire framework of religious authority.

It’s easy to read about the religious leaders and judge them, but their struggle reveals something about the human heart. We all have a tendency to cling to our own sense of control and certainty. When Jesus challenges our assumptions, it can feel threatening.

Are there areas in your life where Jesus’ authority feels uncomfortable? Do you resist His call to surrender your control?

The Crowd

The crowds in Mark’s gospel gather around Jesus, eager to witness His miracles and hear His teaching. Yet, their engagement often stops there.

They experience Jesus—but they don’t let Him confront the deeper issues in their lives. They’re content to stay at the surface, avoiding the discomfort of real transformation.

Are you part of the crowd? Do you observe Jesus from a distance, intrigued but hesitant to let Him disrupt your life? The crowd’s response to Jesus is a warning to all of us. Faith is not a spectator sport. It demands a willingness to be challenged and changed.

The Paralytic and His Friends

The story of the paralytic and his friends is one of the most powerful moments in Mark 2. The friends’ determination to bring the paralytic to Jesus—even breaking through the roof—demonstrates a faith that refuses to be deterred. Their belief in action captures Jesus’ attention.

When Jesus sees their faith, He doesn’t immediately address the paralytic’s physical need. Instead, He says, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” This reveals a profound truth: Jesus is unwilling to treat symptoms and leave the disease untouched. The man’s greatest need was not physical healing but spiritual restoration.

We often come to Jesus with presenting problems: a broken relationship, financial strain, or health concerns. But Jesus uses these moments to address the deeper issues in our hearts. Like the paralytic, we need to recognize that our ultimate healing comes from Jesus addressing our sin and brokenness.

What About You?

Mark’s gospel invites us to see ourselves in these groups. Are you like the religious leaders, resistant to Jesus’ authority? Like the crowd, hesitant to let Him confront you? Or like the paralytic and his friends, willing to press through every barrier to get to Jesus?

Faith is not about having all the answers or living perfectly. It’s about a willingness to be transformed by the One who has the authority to forgive sins and make us whole. Jesus doesn’t just want to be an addition to your life; He wants to be the center of it.

The question remains: Who is Jesus to you?

 

Show Notes:

Check Out the Message: Become a Follower Vs a Fan of Jesus

In this episode, Whit mentions Jesus’ teachings on marriage & divorce. Find content on this subject here: https://churchonthemove.com/marriage

 

 

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