Mark Chapter 03
Memory verses for
this week: Psa 63:1 A Psalm of David,
when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early
will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for
thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
Introduction:
We continue with our study
of Mark Chapter 3 this week. In the last week’s lesson, we saw Christ
healing the man afflicted with the palsy after his friends lowered him
down into the room from the roof. In the middle of the chapter, we
studied about the call of Levi, a tax collector, into the ministry by
Christ. And at the close, we found Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath.
I. Jesus Heals Man
with Withered Hand on the Sabbath
Mark 3:1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a
man there which had a withered hand.
Mark 3:2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the
sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
Mark 3:3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand,
Stand forth.
Mark 3:4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the
sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held
their peace.
This is the fifth conflict of the Pharisees with Jesus.
Jesus is back in Capernaum at this time and in the synagogue. The
Pharisees hope He would heal the man so that they could get Him into
trouble. Their great desire was to trap Christ in some wrong that
they might accuse him. But Christ turns the tables and asks them a
question which had only one sensible answer. They were not willing
to answer because it would bring affirmation to Christ and they would
not do that. Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days? Absolutely
it is. Christ seemed to show us two things here.
1. The first is that if a man does not do good when he can,
then he thereby does evil or sins.
2. The second part shows how Christ knew that the Pharisees
were plotting to kill him. But he was going to do good and heal the
man on the Sabbath, despite what the Pharisees said or did.
Christ was very plain in his teachings about the Sabbath.
Whatever is good and helpful to humanity is lawful. Things that harm
or hurt is wrong.
Mark 3:5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger,
being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man,
Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was
restored whole as the other.
Mark 3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took
counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
Jesus was moved by the hardness of the Pharisee’s hearts.
Apparently he was in a constant state of grief over the sins of the
people. Jesus hates sin, and if we want to have a close relationship
with God, we should hate sin also. After Jesus heals the man’s hand,
instead of rejoicing, the Pharisees leave and go to the synagogue to
hold council with the Herodians on how they might destroy Christ.
Apparently the things Jesus had told them were totally disregarded and
they learned nothing from his teachings. The Herodians were in favor
of Roman rule. Normally, the Pharisees would have nothing to do with
them since they hated foreign domination. But their hatred for
Christ was so great that they link up with them to have common
opposition to Christ. The Herodians are only named two other times in
the scriptures.
Mat 22:16 And they
sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master,
we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth,
neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of
men.
Mark 12:13 And they
send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch
him in his words.
II. The Popularity
of Jesus
Mark 3:7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea:
and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,
Mark 3:8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond
Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they
had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
In spite of the opposition of the religious and political
leaders, Jesus enjoyed a season of great popularity with the common
people. We see the various areas where Christ was welcomed.
Judaea was far to the south, with its capital, Jerusalem, which was
100 miles from Capernaum. People walked all this distance to come to
Jesus. This is the only place in the New Testament where Idumaea is
named. It is a form of the word “Edom.” People also came from Tyre
and Sidon. These were the two main cities of ancient Phoenicia, the
country we know today as Lebanon.
J. Vernon McGee said this:
You
will notice people are coming from various areas now and are following
Him. Our Lord withdrew tactfully at this time because, as He said, “…
mine hour is not yet come” (John 2:4). Later on He did move into the
face of all the opposition in Jerusalem, but now He withdraws and the
crowd follows Him. If you note these places and look them up on a map,
you will find they cover that entire area. From all these places folk
are coming to hear the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now He is in another danger. This time it is not from the
religious rulers because they are afraid of the crowd. He is in danger
of being overwhelmed by the mob. You know today that a celebrity has
to be protected from the mob—so notice what Jesus does .[i]
Mark 3:9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should
wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
Mark 3:10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon
him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
Mark 3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before
him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
Mark 3:12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make
him known.
The crowds become so great that Jesus has to get into a small
ship to keep from being crushed by the throng. The reason so many
came to him was due to all the healing and miracles that he
performed. We see unclean spirits once again acknowledging Jesus for
who He was, the Son of God.
Matthew Henry in his commentary said this about the throngs
coming to Christ.
What abundance of good he did in his retirement. He did not
withdraw to be idle, nor did he send back those who rudely crowded
after him when he withdrew, but took it kindly, and gave them what
they came for; for he never said to any that sought him diligently,
Seek ye me in vain. (1.) Diseases were effectually cured; He healed
many; divers sorts of patients, ill of divers sorts of diseases;
though numerous, though various, he healed them. (2.) Devils were
effectually conquered; those whom unclean spirits had got possession
of, when they saw him, trembled at his presence, and they also fell
down before him, not to supplicate his favor, but to deprecate his
wrath, and by their own terrors were compelled to own that he was the
Son of God, v. 1.
[ii]
III. The Twelve
Chosen
Mark 3:13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him
whom he would: and they came unto him.
Mark 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him,
and that he might send them forth to preach,
Mark 3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out
devils:
Jesus calls out the twelve. These were the first officers of
the church.
1 Cor 12:28 And God
hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets,
thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
governments, diversities of tongues.
The call of the 12 had a two-fold purpose.
1. They were to be with Him in His public ministry.
2. He sent them forth to preach.
Mark 3:16 And Simon he surnamed Peter;
Mark 3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of
James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
Mark 3:18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew,
and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon
the Canaanite,
Mark 3:19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they
went into an house.
Mark 3:20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they
could not so much as eat bread.
Mark 3:21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay
hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
Note that Simon Peter was named first on the list, while
Judas Iscariot was last. James was the first apostle to become a
martyr.
Acts 12:1 Now about
that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of
the church.
Acts 12:2 And he
killed James the brother of John with the sword.
In verses 20-21, the multitudes come out to Christ, but
apparently his friends began to oppose him.
IV. The Unpardonable
Sin
Mark 3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He
hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
Mark 3:23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in
parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
Mark 3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom
cannot stand.
Mark 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house
cannot stand.
Mark 3:26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he
cannot stand, but hath an end.
Mark 3:27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil
his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will
spoil his house.
The Scribes accuse Jesus of casting out devils in the name of
the prince of devils, Beelzebub. Interesting that they did not
question that he did cast out the devils, just by what power that he
did it. Christ challenges their accusations and shows how flimsy
their position is. If Satan was to cast out Satan, he would be
divided against himself. A divided kingdom can not stand.
Mark 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto
the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall
blaspheme:
Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath
never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Mark 3:30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
The man or woman who commits the unpardonable sin will never
have forgiveness. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is the only sin God
will not forgive. This means that when we are convicted of our sins,
and the Holy Spirit draws us to be saved, and we refuse, there will
never be forgiveness of this sin. All men and women must come to
Christ for salvation. Those who refuse will face eternal damnation.
Acts 4:10 Be it
known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from
the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Acts 4:11 This is
the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the
head of the corner.
Acts 4:12 Neither is
there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
V. The New
Relationship
Mark 3:31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and,
standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
Mark 3:32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him,
Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
Mark 3:33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my
brethren?
Mark 3:34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him,
and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Mark 3:35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my
brother, and my sister, and mother.
Jesus’ earthly family intended to come and lay hold on him
and take him home. He tells them that whosoever does the will of His
heavenly Father is his mother, brother, and sister. Jesus was not
saying that he did not love his earthly family, but was declaring that
the highest relationships we have in life are spiritual and not
physical.
J. Vernon McGee said this about our relationship with the
Lord.
The half brothers of Jesus—James and Jude—both wrote
Epistles, and they never mention that Jesus was their half brother.
You see, anyone who is in Christ Jesus is closer to Him than His
physical mother and His physical brothers were in that day. That is
the reason He could look around and say that these “are closer kin to
Me than even My mother and My brothers.” The important thing is to be
rightly related to God in Christ Jesus by having received Him as
Savior, which gives us the right of being the sons of God. That is
bringing us wonderfully close to Him, my friend.
[iii]
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Prov
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blessed.
[i]J.
Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible
commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System,
(Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee.
[ii]Henry,
Matthew, Matthew Henry’s
Commentary on the Bible,
(Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1997.
[iii]J.
Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible
commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System,
(Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee.