WHY JESUS MATTERS NOW
    Episode 4 of 30    Play Audio
Jesus Forgives Sins and Heals in Capernaum

Mark 2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was told that he was in the house. 2 And straightway many were gathered together so that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come near unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’
6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 ‘Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?’

8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, ‘Why do you reason these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier to say to the sick of the palsy, ‘Your sins are forgiven you’; or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (and he said to the sick of the palsy,) 11 ‘I say unto you, arise, and take up your bed, and go your way into your house.’

12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, ‘We’ve never seen anything like this!’

Jesus Calls Matthew

Matthew 9:9-13 - And as Jesus passed forth from there, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, ‘Follow me.’ And he arose, and followed him.
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, ‘Why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners?’
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, ‘They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’

‘New Wine Must Go into New Bottles’

Mark 2:18-22 - And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, ‘Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?’
19 And Jesus said unto them, ‘Can the children of the bride chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

21 No man also sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up takes away from the old, and the rent is made worse; 22 and no man puts new wine into old bottles: else the new wine does burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.’

Jesus Heals the Man at the Pool on the Sabbath

John 5:1-47 - After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he said unto him, ‘Will you be made whole?’

7 The impotent man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, someone else steps down before me.’
8 Jesus said unto him, ‘Rise, take up your bed, and walk.’
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, ‘It is the Sabbath day: it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.’

11 He answered them, ‘He that made me whole, the same said unto me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’
12 Then they asked him, ‘What man is that which said unto you, Take up your bed, and walk?’ 13 And he that was healed did not know who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said unto him, ‘Behold, you are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you.’
15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. 16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day.
17 But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father works on it, and I work.’
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

The Son Can Do Nothing of Himself

19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, ‘Truly, truly, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what things so ever he does, these also does the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself does: and he will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

21 For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens them; even so the Son quickens whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him.

24 Truly, truly, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Truly, truly, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 and has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me.’

The Witness of John the Baptist

John 5:31 – ‘If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32 There is another that bears witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesses of me is true. 33 You sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that you might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and you were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.’ 38 ‘And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he has sent, him you believe not. 39 Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And you will not come to me, that you might have life.

41 I receive not honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father's name, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only?

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?’


Jesus Teaches About the Sabbath

Matthew 12:1-21 - At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, ‘Behold, your disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day.’

3 But he said unto them, ‘Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him; 4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

5 Or have you not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 But I say unto you, that in this place is one greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.’

9 And when he was departed from there, he went into their synagogue: 10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?’ that they might accuse him. 11 And he said unto them, ‘What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.’ 13 Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch forth your hand.’ And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. 15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from there: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; 16 And he charged them that they should not make him known: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, 18 ‘Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my life is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles. 19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.’

Jesus Commissions His Disciples

Mark 3:13-19 - And he went up into a mountain, and called unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

16 And Simon he surnamed Peter; 17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: 18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, 19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:1 - And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 and he taught them, saying, 3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13 You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted; it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say unto you: Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven: but whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you: Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of heaven. 21 You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, ‘You fool!’, shall be in danger of fire.

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you; 24 Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

25 Agree with your adversary quickly, whiles you are in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. 26 Truly I say unto you: You shall by no means come out of there, till you have paid the uttermost farthing.

27 You have heard that it was said by them of old time: You shall not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, that whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if your right eye offend you, pluck it out, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into Gehenna.

30 And if your right hand offend you, cut it off, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into Gehenna.

31 It has been said, whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, that whoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery: and whoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery.

33 Again, you have heard that it has been said by them of old time, You shall not forswear yourself, but shall perform unto the Lord your oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.
Today's Agenda
Jesus Forgives Sins and Heals in Capernaum
Jesus Calls Matthew
‘New Wine Must Go into New Bottles’
Jesus Heals the Man at the Pool on the Sabbath
The Son Can Do Nothing of Himself
The Witness of John the Baptist
Jesus Teaches About the Sabbath
Jesus Commissions His Disciples
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount