We are continuing in Mark for our Summer Reading Challenge for 2022. Today we are reading Mark chapter 3 and here we are looking at: The Anger & Grief of Jesus.
- Mark chapter 3 has five key segments: (1) Jesus Heals a Man with withered hand (3:1-6); (2) Jesus is followed by a large crowd from many places (3:7-12); (3) Jesus calls the 12 apostles (3:13-21); (4) Jesus is accused of being possessed by the prince of demons (3:22-30); and (5) Jesus identifies those who of his family (3:31-35).
- I am focusing especially on that first segment regarding the man with the withered hand.
PART 1: The Sabbath Saga continues
As we move from chapter 2 into chapter 3, we see the Sabbath saga continues. This time Jesus enters a synagogue and there was a man with a withered hand there. All Mark says in verse 2 is that “They watched Jesus” — presumably these are the Pharisees from ch 2. Certainly we know from verse 6 that Pharisees were there.
- Why were they watching Jesus? To see if the power of God would be revealed? To see if Scripture was fulfilled in Jesus or if He was who he said he was? No… the purpose of their careful observation was “to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.”
- When reading verses 1-2, it almost seems like a set up.
Jesus openly confronts the hidden intentions of their hearts. He does not shy away from the sticky situation. He calls the man with the withered hand to come front and center. Then, rather than speaking to the man, He speaks to those who sought to accuse him.
- He asks them a question — “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” (3:4). They were silent. They refused to answer. They could not.
- Look at verse 5 – I always like to pay careful attention to places where our Lord’s heart is revealed – note his emotions: “He looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart” (3:5).
- Their refusal to answer revealed that they had no care or concern for the man with the withered hand. Their hearts were hard — not only to the suffering of their neighbor, but also their hearts were hard to what Jesus was teaching through this event — further illustrating what he said in 2:27 – “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
I pause here to examine my heart — is my heart hard towards the suffering of those around me? Whether that be emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, etc.? As we consider the witness of all four Gospels, it would be safe to say that Jesus cared not only for the object lesson with the Pharisees, but for the man who was suffering.
- Furthermore, is my heart hard towards things that Jesus is trying to teach me day-in and day-out ultimately through His Word, but even as he uses circumstance, suffering, sermons, etc?
- Do not pass by these passages thinking that it could never apply to you.
Returning to the passage, Jesus says to the man, “‘Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored” (3:5).
- Note – Jesus does not touch him — he just tells him to stretch out his hand. Neither Jesus, nor the man, did anything that would have broken the Sabbath. He simply spoke, and as the man obeyed, the healing occurred. BUT the irrefutable evidence before their very faces is that the man’s hand was restored – and that, at the command of Jesus – this is was enough for them.
- Consider that their anger is evidence that they attributed the healing to Jesus.
- They had no problem recognizing the power of Jesus (neither did the unclean spirits who professed him as the Son of God later in Mark 3:11; nor did the scribes who came from Jerusalem — who claimed that the powerful work done by Jesus was because he was possessed by the prince of demons – 3:22).
- The scribes and Pharisees did have a problem, rather, with what Jesus was claiming — that He is the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Lord of the Sabbath — and by healing the man on the Sabbath, He was not just claiming it, he was declaring it with miracles!
PART 2: JESUS UNITES PEOPLE
What was the result of this miraculous work? Rejoicing that a handicapped man was restored? No, verse 6 states that “The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.”
- Jesus has a way of uniting people — some united to follow him, and some united to destroy him.
- The Herodians were a loosely organized group that sought to advance the political and economic influence of the Herodian family… although the Herodians and the Pharisees were adversaries in regard to many political and religious issues, they join forces here to combat the perceived threat to their power and status.
- This note is from the ESV Study Bible [1] (if you do not have a study Bible, I highly recommend this resource, see the link in the description)
Jesus was now facing religious and political enemies. As we read through the rest of this chapter, we see that even his family thought Jesus was out of his mind (3:21). We see the lines of distinction being drawn — and it will continue to become clearer and clearer in the chapters to come.
- But opposition is not the only thing we see in Chapter 3. We see also the crowds following him, the calling of the Twelve Apostles, and an interesting scene at the end of the chapter.
While his family, who thought He was out of His mind, was standing outside the crowd gathered around Jesus, and they called for him — the crowd informed him that his mother and brothers are outside seeking him. His response was this:
- “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:33–35)
- Who is Jesus’ true family? Those who do the will of God!
Conclusion:
- So my friend, as you see the opposition that stands against Jesus in this passage — and the opposition that stands against Him and His followers today, what is your response?
- In today’s day and age that celebrates as “good” what God has called “evil” (see Isaiah 5:20) — are we willing to be considered a brother, a sister of Jesus? Will we be those who do “do the will of God”? Has Jesus become more precious to you than anything this world has to offer? We will get more into these thoughts in tomorrow’s reflections.
- So, have you read through Mark chapter 3 yet? What stood out to you from this chapter? Let me know in the comments below! Do you have any questions about this chapter? If you have questions, please leave them in the comments, and I will do my best to answer them — either in the comments or in an upcoming video.
[1] “ESV Study Bible” — the particular note referenced was from Matthew 22:16
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