Breaking the Word

 Once again he went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by,  he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.  While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"  Jesus heard this and said to them (that), "Those who are well do not need a physician,  but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners." (Mk 2:13-17)

Jesus had already called four of his disciples from along the sea. Once again he walked along the sea. But it was not his intention to call anyone to be his disciples. He was followed by a crowd and he continued to preach to them. As he passed by he saw Levi (it was not his intention) and he called him.

Jesus needed followers to continue the mission for he had said the harvest is plenty but the labourers are few. However he never went with the intention of calling as he carried on his mission. He met certain individuals and probably he found them to be good to be his disciples and hence he called them. As he called, they followed. The followers did not know that they would be called.

Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishing while they were called. Levi was in the customs house while he was called.  They were not prepared to be called. They were on their duty. But they were ready to follow him as soon as he was called. It was Jesus who called them. (Probably they were aware of his teaching and his miracles and they knew who Jesus was and they appreciated his mission and they would have wanted his mission to continue among them). They knew Jesus to be on the side of the sick and the sinners.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven."  Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth" — he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this." (Mk 2:1-12)

Jesus had a great crowd following him. There were so many people that that there was no place even to enter through the door. The crowd also came in a big number to listen to him and that is the reason why they could not even bring the sick closer to him. His teaching and preaching of the kingdom was, probably, new and encouraging that the people listened to him gladly.

Jesus also had the same idea of sickness like that of the people. Physical sicknesses were due to moral illness. There were links between physical illness and moral standards of the individual. That is the reason why Jesus says that ‘Your sins are forgiven’.  Cure necessary imply forgiveness from sin.

Healing of the sick person proved that Jesus had authority to forgive sins. Jesus himself argued the same way (healing the sick person) by saying that he had authority to forgive sins. Only God could forgive sins. But Jesus taught his disciples to pray saying ‘forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’. Forgiving sins, though a divine quality, should be practiced by men. Forgiveness is one way of healing others and healing the society.