Introduction

Hello, everyone. We continue our study of Chapter 2 of the Gospel of Mark. This chapter speaks of “the Son of Man as Lord and Savior.”

The Son of Man Has Authority to Forgive Sins

A few days later, Jesus entered Capernaum again. The people heard that he was at home, and so many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door. And he preached the word to them. (Mark 2:1-2)

Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above where Jesus was. Having broken through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. (Mark 2:3-4)

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:5-7)

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? (Mark 2:8-9)

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” (Mark 2:10-11)

He got up, took his mat, and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:12)

This was a most extraordinary event. Many came to hear Jesus preach. Yet, strictly speaking, the teachings of Jesus Christ may not sound more eloquent than those of Confucius or Laozi. Zhouzi could speak very well too. Northerners are particularly good at stringing words together. Since childhood, I have known a saying: “A two-cent teapot—nothing good about it except its spout.” What is a teapot if all that remains is the spout? It is merely a good spout.

Do not underestimate this. Many people who do well in this world do so because they talk well. But you must understand this: talking well is of little use. The crucial question is whether one can truly solve problems. Jesus preached with authority. That is formidable. When He spoke, it was not like others. Others would talk at length, merely explaining the problem.

It is like going to a hospital. Whether the doctor can cure your illness is another matter. But he will certainly explain that your condition came from eating too much of something, exposure to pollution, heredity, and so on. He may finish explaining it all, yet the problem remains unresolved.

If we are speaking merely of eloquence, Jesus may not even match some of these people. They are very persuasive. They can sell a course for 680,000 yuan, and many will pay to attend. Could Jesus’ preaching fetch such a price? Try selling Jesus for 680,000 yuan. Nobody would buy it. In other words, Jesus’ eloquence may not be as impressive as theirs.

But there is one thing: what Jesus did was without precedent and without successor. He is Lord. He has the authority to forgive sins. That is tremendous. The paralytic could later walk, carrying his own mat. But how had he entered the house?

The gospel of Jesus Christ is accompanied by signs and wonders. Let me tell you plainly: if there are no signs and wonders accompanying it, then it is just a two-cent teapot with a good spout. What use is the spout? It cannot even pour out tea. When the teapot is broken, only the spout remains. If you can sell it for two cents, you should count yourself fortunate.

But here is the point: the Lord Jesus did not rely on His mouth. I can tell you boldly: if someone preaches a gospel that is not the gospel preached by Jesus Christ, would you still believe it? It does not matter how orthodox he claims to be. If he is unlike Jesus, forget it. If only his mouth resembles Jesus’, then he is merely a two-cent teapot.

Brothers and sisters, our Lord Jesus never changes. He still has the authority to forgive sins today. Therefore, the precious blood of Jesus was not shed in vain, and His wounds from the scourging were not suffered in vain. He intends to accomplish this for us. This is what I believe.

Do you know how deeply the Gospel of Mark affects us? It says, “These signs will accompany those who believe.” A few years ago, I told some brothers and sisters, “Kazuo Inamori wrote books such as The Way of Living, The Way of Working, and The Way of the Heart. He was quite remarkable, truly capable.” After hearing me speak about these books, some became fascinated with what Kazuo Inamori said. They bought several of his books and studied them every day.

There must still be people among us who are studying hard and cultivating themselves. You need not tell me. Whether it is Wang Yangming or Kazuo Inamori, neither is the Lord. When you truly have a problem, try going to them. They may know how to make money, but they cannot save people or save lives.

Let me tell you: Kazuo Inamori died of cancer. If you want to imitate them, that is your choice. One Kazuo Inamori and one Wang Yangming have misled many people, and many are still being misled today.

If it is a contest of talking, you may not even surpass them. Chinese Mingding Doctrine was never about training one’s mouth. I am not one of those dull-witted, clumsy speakers. I may not be exceptionally eloquent, but neither am I tongue-tied. I do not make my living by talking. I rely on the mighty power of Jesus Christ, because He is Lord.

Brothers and sisters, if nothing is wrong with you, you may read whatever you like. But when trouble comes, then try it out. If Kazuo Inamori and Wang Yangming can save you, then I wish you good luck.

There are many doctrines today. I have read them too. Yet only our Lord Jesus is Lord—without predecessor and without successor. When a child had died, He prayed, and the child was restored. The lame and the paralysed—Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven,” and they were healed. Everyone knows these things. If He is not God, then who can forgive sins?

I do not believe in a doctrine. If what you believe in is merely a doctrine, then I wish you good luck. There are countless doctrines in this world. Many people have been misled by doctrines because they do not want to solve problems.

The book you bought may be by Confucius, Mencius, Zhuangzi, or someone else. If you one day encounter a paralytic, will these doctrines be of any use? Let us not talk about anything else. In this life, to truly solve problems, we must rely on the Lord Jesus.

When we can no longer pass stool, cannot urinate, cannot breathe, or cannot eat, pray in the name of Zhuangzi, Confucius, or anyone else. Try it. I have actually tried it. Only the name of Jesus Christ works.

In heaven and on earth, no other name has been given by which we may be saved. Only the name of Jesus Christ. So if you do not want to solve problems and merely wish to split hairs over words, then I wish you good luck.

Why could the Son of Man make this paralytic rise and walk? Because this man’s sins were laid upon Jesus Christ. Think about it. At that moment, Jesus Christ bore the paralytic’s sins. Therefore, his sins were forgiven, because Jesus Christ was going to shed His blood and sacrifice Himself. Although He had not yet shed His blood at that time, He could forgive sins because He is Lord, the Word made flesh.

Brothers and sisters, you may like any doctrine you wish. I too think that many of them sound good and reasonable. But who can forgive our sins? Only the name of Jesus Christ. Only through the precious blood of Jesus Christ can our sins be forgiven.

But Jesus Christ cannot resolve one matter for you: whether you will believe in Him. If you do not believe, that is your own fate. Jesus forgives sins not for any other reason, but because He came to accomplish redemption. Jesus Christ has accomplished redemption. He is Lord. The Word became flesh and became our Savior. He died for us on the cross, so that our sins might be laid upon Him. That is why forgiveness is possible.

Do you think sin simply disappears into thin air? No. It was laid upon Jesus. He has indeed borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. By His wounds we are healed; by His precious blood we are redeemed; by His punishment we have peace. I truly encourage everyone not to play around with doctrines. You will play yourself to death. Which doctrine was established by the Lord who became flesh? None.

This Is Something People Have Never Seen Before

When have you ever seen such a thing? A paralytic was lowered through the roof. Jesus forgave his sins, and he rose, picked up his mat, and walked away. Though I was not there, I can imagine how it felt. Thank the Lord. I have performed many, many miracles that people do not often see.

A Japanese student studying overseas came to know us online. Her grandfather returned to his hometown in Zhejiang, became bedridden, and was unable to get up. His health was very poor. Although her whole family were Christians, and the preacher from their village was even staying in their home, she contacted me and hoped that I could do something.

Because the Jesus Christ I believe in is Lord and Savior, I believed. So I led her grandfather in prayer. Two hours later, he was completely restored. He could even get out of bed and work. I was happy, and she was happy. But the two preachers standing nearby were unhappy, just as the Pharisees in Jesus’ day were unhappy. Why? Because this was, in effect, smashing their rice bowls.

There is an old saying. It is not God’s word, but it is revealing: “To block a man’s path to wealth is like killing his parents.” Three hours later, this sister blocked me. The preachers had worked hard on her, telling her that I was dangerous and possibly a heretic. I thought to myself: if one who is like Jesus is a heretic, then how can one who is unlike Jesus be orthodox?

Is this something people have never seen before? No. These things still happen among us today. Brothers and sisters, the miracles we see among us may not equal those performed by Jesus Christ, but Jesus Christ has already risen and ascended into heaven. He sits at the right hand of God, hears our prayers, and accomplishes things for us. Therefore, what we do today is also what Jesus Christ did in those days.

What I preach and say now does not rest on persuasive words of human wisdom, but on the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Brothers and sisters, you have received the gospel and benefited from it. Many brothers and sisters have said to me, “Teacher, before I came to our church, my medical insurance card was emptied out. I even had to pay additional money out of pocket. Since coming among us, I hardly use my medical insurance card at all.”

Are there not many such testimonies? Then why do people still refuse to believe? Why do they treat “Jesus bore our curses and carried our sorrows” as something ordinary? Why do they turn instead to the Tao Te Ching or Wang Yangming, even if Wang Yangming and the Tao Te Ching may indeed say some good things?

Some time ago, I had some exchanges with a man who did not really believe in the Lord. After he fell ill, his daughter also suffered from depression. So he brought his daughter to us. Her depression was healed. But we do not morally coerce people. They may go wherever they wish. Thankfully, his daughter remains healthy to this day.

A few days ago, he called me and said, “Teacher, many of my medical indicators are abnormal again. This is high, that is high.”

I said, “There is a problem with your system of faith.”

He asked, “What is the problem?”

I said, “You can listen to my Courses 101, 102, and 103. Then reflect on whether your logic is consistent with the Bible.”

He said, “No. I want to do something great. I want to integrate Christianity, Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, and Confucianism.”

After hearing this, I said, “My goodness. Let me tell you the truth. I hope you will not be hurt. Before you attempt this integration, someone else already did it. It is called Yiguandao.”

He was a little saddened after hearing me. He said, “Christianity is not inclusive enough.”

So it was all about playing at inclusiveness. I said, “Only Jesus Christ has the grace to forgive sins.”

What I want to tell everyone is this: what we do today is not something people commonly see either, because the gospel of Jesus Christ is this kind of gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ has the testimony of the Holy Spirit and the Heavenly Father. It has the power to overcome the devil’s temptations. It is the gospel that catches men as fish. It has authority to command unclean spirits. How good this is!

Does it matter whether people have seen it before? A man’s life is not long. How much can you really see? Our experience is in fact very limited. If you enter the gospel of Jesus Christ, yet believe in a powerless gospel, is that not tragic?

People are easily startled by what they rarely see. When they see the paralysed rise and walk, let us analyse it logically. We know that He is Lord and Savior, and that He can forgive sins. What a wonderful grace!

He got up, took his mat, and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:12)

Now you see such things often. In fact, you can not only see them often; you can also do them. The name of Jesus Christ absolutely works.

The Son of Man Is the Lord Who Calls Sinners

Jesus went out again beside 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 tax booth. He said to him, “Follow me.” Levi got up and followed him. (Mark 2:13-14)

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. (Mark 2:15)

When the teachers of the law among the Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this, he 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 2:16-17)

Let me tell you: man’s greatest delusion is self-righteousness. Many people think that they are righteous, and therefore God has no way to help them. You do not become righteous merely because you believe in the Lord. You are righteous only when you become like Jesus Christ. Some are still very indulgent toward the flesh, very self-righteous, very prone to judging good and evil, and yet they think they are doing quite well.

Brothers and sisters, and ministers listening to my Bible study, consider whether this is not so. Observe carefully. I believe many ministers can testify to what I am saying. You say he is a good man. Then why has he developed cancer? Why does he suffer so terribly? Let me tell you the fundamental reason: many people think they are good people and righteous people. They think they possess the truth. They even think they are already saved.

Only a few of us often think that we have not got it quite right. Some say, “Teacher, if even you think you have not got it right, how can you lead us?” But are we not adjusting ourselves toward what is right? If we have not got it right, yet think we are right, is that not misleading people? I do not want to mislead anyone. Chinese Mingding Doctrine has a powerful core value: “Knowing God is without end.”

Brothers and sisters, never think that you have become perfect or that you are already reigning as kings. In truth, I wish you really were reigning as kings. Paul wrote about this in Corinthians. Never think that you are a good person. Repent gradually. Do not stop. Do not look to either side. Do not look back. Run with all your might toward Jesus Christ. Even when I am tired, I do not stop. I will never shrink back to destruction.

The core values of Chinese Mingding Doctrine are excellent. We know, “I am a sinner.” There was an advertisement with great impact. Decades have passed, yet it still echoes in my mind: “We are pests, we are pests...”

We are sinners. We should have been sprayed to death with insecticide. But because Jesus Christ forgave our transgressions, He counts us as righteous. But are you truly righteous? No. You are only counted as righteous. Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord and Savior. The miracles He performed are without precedent and without successor. Yet the people He calls are sinners.

Those Pharisees all thought they were quite good, much like the new Pharisees today. Brothers and sisters, the Son of Man calls sinners. I have summed up a sharp principle: when a person’s mouth is full of “reasons,” he has more reasons than a petrol station has gasoline.

I say, “You should open a reason station. People can come to you to fill up on reasons. You have too many reasons. Everything is justified.” But those are merely reasons flowing out of a two-cent teapot spout. They are nothing. He can do nothing well, except talk. And all that comes out of his mouth is “reasons.”

Let me tell you: people who always think they are justified are very miserable. Brothers and sisters, observe this for yourselves. One day, while I was shepherding someone, I listened to him speak and thought: This is bad. He has so many reasons. There is a reason for everything. It is always someone else’s problem, never his own. He has become the greatest reason station in the world. I did not need to calculate much. Even thinking with my heel, I knew that he would be very miserable, because he believed that everyone else was wrong and only he was right.

Elon Musk may think he has reasons; at least he has some standing. What standing do you have? What have you accomplished? Never think yourself impressive. Even if a man is impressive, he should not think himself impressive. If you are not impressive and yet think you are, is that not self-deception? I will not stop you. If you want to run a reason station, believe in Kazuo Inamori, Wang Yangming, and a whole host of “masters,” then go ahead. Buy a few more books. I wish you good luck.

In fact, everyone is a sinner. Do you think God does not regard you as a sinner, but counts you as righteous, because of something in you? No. It is because you believe, and that is all. It is not because of you. It is because Jesus Christ truly bore your transgressions. Yet now you take your transgressions back upon yourself. I do not need much calculation to know that one day you will soon be eating pig feed. If pig feed does not work, then eat some dog food. Better still, remain a sinner.

Jesus counts you as righteous. Does that mean you should hold your head high and become arrogant? How can that be? You are only counted as righteous. Compared with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, you are still far behind. Some say, “Teacher, you have talked away all my faith.” If I can talk away your false faith, that is truly a grace.

Fasting Was Not Established for the Lord

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” (Mark 2:18)

Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.” (Mark 2:19-20)

Was fasting prepared for the Lord? No. Fasting was prepared for those who are very carnal. Why fast? To deal with the flesh and prove that man does not live on bread alone.

Did Jesus prove this? Yes, He did. He was tempted by the devil and went without food and drink for forty days and forty nights. If people today went forty days and forty nights without food or water, would they become mummies? Probably not far from it. Yet Jesus Christ overcame.

The devil tempted Him, saying, “Turn these stones into bread and satisfy your hunger.” Jesus replied, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” This statement is powerful. Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights without becoming a mummy. He proved one thing: man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Since Jesus Christ came among us, there have been many differing views on whether we should fast. Even now, I have not fully sorted it out. There is a sister among us who went to church every day to pray for seven hours. Her knees developed calluses from kneeling. Yet outside the church she was deeply in debt, and she forced her children to borrow from loan sharks. If they refused, she became angry and accused them of being unfilial. That was a Christian mother.

So, brothers and sisters, whether one fasts or does not fast, what matters is the thoughts and intentions of the heart. If your heart is filled with rubbish, what is the point of fasting? Are you trying to lose weight? If you are trying to lose weight, fasting can certainly help. But if you want to live as a righteous person, what problem can fasting solve? That is why we fast less and less.

If the Lord Jesus is truly among us, and the Holy Spirit intends to deal with our flesh, you cannot escape it. When the Holy Spirit deals with you, He is not trying to kill you. He is trying to make you alive. Unless your flesh is dealt with, it is difficult to overcome.

How many brothers and sisters still think themselves very capable? Many. Their minds are filled with worldly systems of logic. Their whole idea is to make money, make money, make money. In the end, they make themselves many problems. Then, when the time comes, they will cry to heaven and receive no answer, call to earth and find no help. At that point, I can only wish them good luck. What use is fasting then?

From my practice, I have found that fasting and prayer do not seem to work very well. Perhaps we have not got it right. We need to explore this further. In those years, we fasted and prayed much, but the church did not prevail, because deep within us we still had that drive to judge good and evil. It was exhausting.

Was fasting prepared for the Lord? No. When the Lord Jesus is with you, why fast? The Lord Jesus is right beside you, and you say, “Lord Jesus, I am going to fast and pray.” Jesus would say, “Forget it. I am right beside you. Why are you fasting?” Fasting and prayer are a very low-level truth. I cannot clearly explain the benefits of fasting and prayer.

One person was short-sighted. He fasted and prayed for a week, and his short-sightedness worsened. Another suffered from insomnia. He prayed warfare prayers every day. The more he prayed, the more anxious he became; the more anxious he became, the more he prayed. In the end, it was of no use. Another was in debt and prayed all day. Why was he in debt? Because he wanted to make money to support preachers. Is that not inviting God’s wrath? It is God who supports them. Is it your turn to do so? You may as well try to raise God as well. That is not how it works.

New Wine and New Wineskins

Jesus Christ came, bringing a gospel that is something entirely new. If we are very carnal people and refuse to become new wineskins, then when the Holy Spirit fills us, the old wineskin will be ruined. Many problems will arise.

Let me explain this carefully. If we are filled with worldly systems of logic and then pray warfare prayers desperately, the wineskin will burst, because it is a carnal system of logic.

Fasting and prayer on one hand, and new wine in new wineskins on the other, are two entirely different perspectives. One establishes faith in your own prayers. The other establishes faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That is faith. Of course, you may pray for a long time and skip lunch and dinner because you have not yet been set free. Then let us continue to pray.

With new wine and new wineskins, the key lies in what is in your mind. If your mind is not filled with God’s word—whether it is Wang Yangming or Kazuo Inamori—so long as it is not the logic of the Lord Jesus, you remain an old wineskin. Then you pray every day to be filled with the Holy Spirit. How can trouble not come? One day, as you keep praying, the wineskin will burst.

Therefore, we must tear down the carnal things within us. Let us become new wineskins, and let the Holy Spirit become the new wine. What is new wine? Jesus Christ came, bore our transgressions, and gave us the Holy Spirit. New wine tears down carnality. If you retain an old wineskin and pray desperately, even fasting will not help. Let me read it to you:

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.” (Mark 2:21-22)

A man must change the ideas within him. How? Look at problems with spiritual eyes. Look at them from God’s perspective. Then many things become clear. Whether you use some “way of the heart” or Falun Gong teachings, you will have many confusions. These things lack the work of God’s Spirit in us. God’s Spirit must fill us, and we must become new wineskins. A new wineskin must be founded upon viewing problems through God’s word.

The Son of Man Is Lord of the Sabbath

One Sabbath, Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” (Mark 2:23-24)

He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:25-28)

The Lord of the Sabbath has come. Is keeping the Sabbath merely about keeping the Sabbath? No. Keeping the Sabbath is so that we may find rest and be with God. Brothers and sisters, we need rest so much. The Lord of the Sabbath came among us. At that time, the Lord came among the Israelites, yet they did not know Him.

They did not know why they kept the Sabbath. Keeping the Sabbath and being set apart as holy became mere regulations. They did not know why the Sabbath should be kept. In fact, knowing about the Sabbath itself is not the important thing. What is important is that people are built up. Man was not made for the Sabbath; the Sabbath was made for man, so that man might receive grace. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

If the Lord Jesus were not a mighty and awesome God, able to supply all our needs, then keeping the Sabbath would be in vain. But our Jesus Christ is mighty and awesome. He can sustain us forever. He can forgive sins, heal diseases, and blot out our transgressions. How wonderful!

How much do we need to renew? How much rubbish is there in our minds? We are still old wineskins. Some worry that their daughters will not get married; others worry that their sons will not find wives. It is all such trivial matters. They think these things are very important. But are they really so important? Yet that is how they think.

If a man does not know the Lord, why keep the Sabbath? If he does not believe in God, why fast and pray? A man may carry an old wineskin until he leaves this world, living all the while in a worldly system of logic, deceived by the devil and eating pig feed. If he still cannot wake up, let him eat some dog food. If he still cannot taste the difference, let him try some human yellow. If he still does not understand, then he must have become senile and foolish.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, repent. Look at how much within us is destroying us. If it destroys us, what is the point? Know that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. Look at ourselves. We fight heaven, fight earth, and fight other people all day long. How can we possibly find rest? How can we have days of rest?

Then we feel miserable, others feel miserable, and everyone feels miserable. That is a man’s life. You might as well give yourself the nickname “Miserable.” It does not sound too bad. Someone asks, “What is your surname?” You say, “My surname is Mis.” Then he asks, “What is your name?” You say, “Miserable.” Your mother calls, “Miserable, come here!” What sort of name is that? Brothers and sisters, do you want to be miserable? No. Do you want rest? Yes. We must rest in Jesus Christ.

We must know that the Son of Man is Lord and Savior. This is the core of our faith and the foundation of the gospel. Let us build ourselves upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. “The branch that remains in the vine will bear much fruit.” Look at the fruit we are bearing now. It may look good and taste good, yet we are miserable. Why? Because we judge good and evil. Our relationships are a complete mess, yet we still think ourselves great. Is that not so? Finances are a mess; relationships are a mess.

Then some people get hold of a few worthless books and read them desperately. But this is not the way of the Lord Jesus. It is their own way. Perhaps in the future he may become “Master Li.” Someone surnamed Dog may become “Master Dog”; someone surnamed Cat, “Master Cat”; someone surnamed Liu, “Master Liu.” It sounds awful.

Let us receive the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us be sinners, begin to repent before God, and come before Jesus Christ. Let us not become “Master Dog” or “Master Cat.” Let us become disciples of Jesus Christ. Then we will surely live out God’s glory. Amen!

May God bless everyone!