REFLECTIONS ON THE GOSPEL OFMARK 2. 12

'And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out thrugh the stunned onlookers.  They were amazed and praised God, exclaiming 'We've never seen anything like this before'.

The scene is a house in Capernium were Jesus was staying.  It is not clear if the crowds written about here are those inside the house, or the crowds standing at the door.   Notice the detail in the man's action - three verbs, he jumped up, he grabbed his mat and he walked through the crowds.  We can see his actions in detail, as if in slow motion so that we see him almost as clearly as the amazed onlookers.  The readers are probably not as amazed as the crowds because we have already read of Jesus' healing.  We are watching the crowds express feelings which may have been dulled for us if we have been brought up in a Christian culture. This brings us back to how we must bring this awe into our praise of Jesus.  

Who are saying the spoken words?  'We have never seen anything like this before'?  Surely not all at once, one or two voices of one or two individuals which are 'heard' above the stunned silence, presumably of the others.  Jesus is temporarily out of focus.  Is he sitting, standing?  Is he preparing to leave, is He taking His leave?  Notice that he does not ask the crowd not to spread the word - He must realize that this would be impossible.  However, His departure is silent, unmarked even by the author showing His humility and desire to continue teaching to the crowds.