2:1–12 Up to this point Mark has introduced us to Jesus and given us samples of his ministry, showing us the effect of his teaching (1:21–22, 27) and his powerful works of exorcism (1:23–28, 34) and healing (1:29–34, 40–45). In chapter 2 we have further glimpses of Jesus’ ministry of miracles and teaching, but we should really think of Mark 2:1–3:6 as a single unit of the narrative, for each of the incidents described here involves some controversy between Jesus and various critics. The incidents in Mark 1 indicate how Jesus’ fame grew (1:28, 32–34, 37–39, 45). The stories in 2:1–3:6 show how Jesus encountered opposition; and so a certain somber tone appears in this section of the narrative, culminating in the sinister events mentioned in 3:6. We have, then, in 2:1–3:6, Mark’s description …