There is more than one way to respond to the claims and work of Jesus. Mark gives us three options. We can respond by calling him a crazy eccentric, an evil demon, or Lord.

Mark begins to document the opposition that builds against Jesus, ultimately leading to his execution. Why did the religious leaders, who were experts of the law, fail to understand the signficance of Jesus and his kingdom? How do we avoid similar error?

At the beginning of chapter 2, Mark reveals new dimensions of Jesus?s identity and mission. Mark?s stories show that Jesus has the unique ability to forgive sins, and that this is precisely what he came here to do. The only question, then, is whether you will come to Jesus for forgiveness.

In this passage Mark tells a group of stories designed to show that Jesus came preaching the kingdom with a remarkably distinctive authority. But these stories also reveal a paradoxical truth: submission to Jesus?s loving authority sets you free.

If we are to understand why Mark labels his story about Jesus as ?good news,? we must first see how he answers the three questions at the heart of his story: Who is Jesus? What did Jesus come here to do? And what does that require of us?