Mark 3

1 Then he went back in the meeting place where he found a man with a crippled hand.

2 The Pharisees had their eyes on Jesus to see if he would heal him, hoping to catch him in a Sabbath infraction.

3 He said to the man with the crippled hand, "Stand here where we can see you."

4 Then he spoke to the people: "What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?" No one said a word.

5 He looked them in the eye, one after another, angry now, furious at their hard-nosed religion. He said to the man, "Hold out your hand." He held it out - it was as good as new!

6 The Pharisees got out as fast as they could, sputtering about how they would join forces with Herod's followers and ruin him.

7 Jesus went off with his disciples to the sea to get away. But a huge crowd from Galilee trailed after them -

8 also from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, across the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon - swarms of people who had heard the reports and had come to see for themselves.

9 He told his disciples to get a boat ready so he wouldn't be trampled by the crowd.

10 He had healed many people, and now everyone who had something wrong was pushing and shoving to get near and touch him.

11 Evil spirits, when they recognized him, fell down and cried out, "You are the Son of God!"

12 But Jesus would have none of it. He shut them up, forbidding them to identify him in public.

13 He climbed a mountain and invited those he wanted with him. They climbed together.

14 He settled on twelve, and designated them apostles. The plan was that they would be with him, and he would send them out to proclaim the Word

15 and give them authority to banish demons.

16 These are the Twelve: Simon (Jesus later named him Peter, meaning "Rock"),

17 James, son of Zebedee, John, brother of James (Jesus nicknamed the Zebedee brothers Boanerges, meaning "Sons of Thunder"),

18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Canaanite,

19 Judas Iscariot (who betrayed him).

20 Jesus came home and, as usual, a crowd gathered - so many making demands on him that there wasn't even time to eat.

21 His friends heard what was going on and went to rescue him, by force if necessary. They suspected he was getting carried away with himself.

22 The religion scholars from Jerusalem came down spreading rumors that he was working black magic, using devil tricks to impress them with spiritual power.

23 Jesus confronted their slander with a story: "Does it make sense to send a devil to catch a devil, to use Satan to get rid of Satan?

24 A constantly squabbling family disintegrates. If Satan were fighting Satan, there soon wouldn't be any Satan left.

25

26

27 Do you think it's possible in broad daylight to enter the house of an awake, able-bodied man, and walk off with his possessions unless you tie him up first? Tie him up, though, and you can clean him out.

28 "Listen to this carefully. I'm warning you. There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven.

29 But if you persist in your slanders against God's Holy Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives, sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives."

30 He gave this warning because they were accusing him of being in league with Evil.

31 Just then his mother and brothers showed up. Standing outside, they relayed a message that they wanted a word with him.

32 He was surrounded by the crowd when he was given the message, "Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside looking for you."

33 Jesus responded, "Who do you think are my mother and brothers?"

34 Looking around, taking in everyone seated around him, he said, "Right here, right in front of you - my mother and my brothers.

35 Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Mark 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

The withered hand healed. (1-5) The people resort to Christ. (6-12) The apostles called. (13-21) The blasphemy of the scribes. (22-30) Christ's relatives. (31-35)

Verses 1-5 This man's case was piteous; he had a withered hand, which disabled him from working for his living; and those that are so, are the most proper objects of charity. Let those be helped that cannot help themselves. But stubborn infidels, when they can say nothing against the truth, yet will not yield. We hear what is said amiss, and see what is done amiss; but Christ looks at the root of bitterness in the heart, the blindness and hardness of that, and is grieved. Let hard-hearted sinners tremble to think of the anger with which he will look upon them shortly, when the day of his wrath comes. The great healing day now is the sabbath, and the healing place the house of prayer; but the healing power is of Christ. The gospel command is like that recorded here: though our hands are withered, yet, if we will not stretch them out, it is our own fault that we are not healed. But if we are healed, Christ, his power and grace, must have all the glory.

Verses 6-12 All our sicknesses and calamities spring from the anger of God against our sins. Their removal, or the making them blessings to us, was purchased to us by the blood of Christ. But the plagues and diseases of our souls, of our hearts, are chiefly to be dreaded; and He can heal them also by a word. May more and more press to Christ to be healed of these plagues, and to be delivered from the enemies of their souls.

Verses 13-21 Christ calls whom he will; for his grace is his own. He had called the apostles to separate themselves from the crowd, and they came unto him. He now gave them power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. May the Lord send forth more and more of those who have been with him, and have learned of him to preach his gospel, to be instruments in his blessed work. Those whose hearts are enlarged in the work of God, can easily bear with what is inconvenient to themselves, and will rather lose a meal than an opportunity of doing good. Those who go on with zeal in the work of God, must expect hinderances, both from the hatred of enemies, and mistaken affections of friends, and need to guard against both.

Verses 22-30 It was plain that the doctrine of Christ had a direct tendency to break the devil's power; and it was as plain, that casting of him out of the bodies of people, confirmed that doctrine; therefore Satan could not support such a design. Christ gave an awful warning against speaking such dangerous words. It is true the gospel promises, because Christ has purchased, forgiveness for the greatest sins and sinners; but by this sin, they would oppose the gifts of the Holy Ghost after Christ's ascension. Such is the enmity of the heart, that unconverted men pretend believers are doing Satan's work, when sinners are brought to repentance and newness of life.

Verses 31-35 It is a great comfort to all true Christians, that they are dearer to Christ than mother, brother, or sister as such, merely as relations in the flesh would have been, even had they been holy. Blessed be God, this great and gracious privilege is ours even now; for though Christ's bodily presence cannot be enjoyed by us, his spiritual presence is not denied us.