Word on Wednesday: Mark 2:17
I had lunch with a friend last week whom I’d not seen for some time. I knew she was in the midst of some very significant trials, so as I hugged her neck in greeting, I told her our family has been been praying for her and asked how she was holding up.
As she shared the details of what she has endured in the past few months — and what the Lord has been teaching her in the interim — she made a comment (and repeated it several times) that I’ve been thinking about ever since.
“I’m broken,” she confided. “Our whole family is broken. Please keep praying for us, because we can use all the prayer we can get.”
As I reflected on her words, I couldn’t help but recall what our Savior said in Mark 2:17:
“On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)
If you think about it, we all are broken — every last one of us. Some of our cracks are more obvious than others, but we all have them.
The difference is that the present trials my friend is going through have made her more acutely aware of her brokenness than she was before. But that’s a good thing, because once our eyes are opened to what’s broken, we have a more urgent desire to cast ourselves upon the mercy of the only One who can repair it.
Those Pharisees Jesus was talking to? Spiritually speaking, they were every bit as ill as the blind and lame and deaf and dying souls Christ healed at every turn — the Pharisees just didn’t recognize that fact. They were blind to their own brokenness, oblivious to the cancer that consumed them. Though their hearts were full of sin, they denied it, and in so doing, missed the opportunity to have their sin forgiven and their hearts and lives made whole.
Be sure you don’t make that same mistake.
This week’s verse — Mark 2:17 — can be found in the fifth set of our Scripture Memory Flashcards:
And for extra practice, I’ve made more handwriting printables, as well:
Plus, in case you missed them, here are links to the first four sets of flashcards and practice sheets, too:
- Scripture Memory Cards – Set 1
- Scripture Memory Cards – Set 2
- Scripture Memory Cards – Set 3
- Scripture Memory Cards – Set 4
- Memory Verse Copywork – Set 1
- Memory Verse Copywork – Set 2
- Memory Verse Copywork – Set 3
- Memory Verse Copywork – Set 4
And I’ve also uploaded a progress chart to help you keep track of which verses your child has already memorized (some of the verses listed are from sets of flashcards that will be published in the future).
May God honor your efforts to hide His Word in your heart!
Mark 2: 17 reads in it’s entirety: “When Jesus heard it, He said to them “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Praise God for His call to sinners, to repentance. This repentance is “metanoia” translated from Mark 2: 17. It’s compunction (misgivings, worries, uneasiness, doubts, reluctance, reservations, regret, contrition and self-reproach) for guilt, including reformation. By implication, reversal (of another’s decision)–repentance. Contrite and contrition is a beautiful word. See what the Lord has to say about contrite in Psalm 51:7 and Isaiah 66:2. Metanoia comes from the Greek word to think differently or afterwards, reconsider. Repent. Reformation. Think differently. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12: 2)
That’s a great word study, Elsie. Thanks for sharing!
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground…..The Lord take pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.” (Psalm 146: 3-6)
Amen!
Broken. Yesterday, conversation came about the road we lived on in a bungalow back in the late 80’s. The name of the road? It’s an odd name to speak to people: “Broken Second Road.” “Beautifully Broken” came to my heart as we conversed. Those two words are posted on one of the walls of our current home. Yes, beautifully broken.