Mark
Copyright © 2008 Darroll Evans

 

CHAPTER 3

 

Mark 3:1-5
1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
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.
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.

 

As Jesus went into a Synagogue, He saw a man with a withered hand.

 

Those around watched to see how He would respond to that man.  They wanted to see if Jesus would heal someone on the Sabbath.  They were looking for an opportunity to trap Him.

 

Jesus told the man, “Come here.”

 

Then, Jesus asked, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? Is it lawful to save life, or to kill?”

 

They did not respond.  How can mortal man respond to that?  There is only one reasonable response and His enemies were unwilling to admit the truth to the Truth.  They relied on tradition just as many Christian Pretenders now do.

 

Jesus looked at them with anger because of the hardness of their hearts.

 

Then, He said to the man with the withered hand, “Stretch out your hand!”

 

The man stretched out his hand and it was fully restored.

 

Christ did not come to condemn, but to restore those who have a withered spirit.

 

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

 

Mark 3:6-8
6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,
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.

 

Immediately the Pharisees and the Herodians joined forces and plotted to kill Jesus.

 

Jesus and His disciples left and went to the Sea of Galilee, and a large crowd from the entire region followed and found them when they heard about the great things Jesus did.  People always find and follow the spectacular.

 

Many so-called Church leaders today put on shows every Sunday.  That is how they gain popularity.

 

Mark 3:9-12
9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

 

Jesus told His disciples that because of the throng, He would go onto a small ship.

 

He had healed so many that the crowd pressed in on him just to touch him.  They sought relief from their illnesses.  The same happens to those today who have a “healing” ministry.  Those who are ill always seek relief.

 

When unclean spirits saw Christ, they fell down before him, and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”

 

There is no biblical evidence of an unclean spirit failing to obey Christ, except in fall of the angels that followed Lucifer.

 

Immediately Christ ordered them to keep quiet, so they would not make Him known to the general public.

 

It was the plan of God that Jesus Christ go to the cross and die for our sins!

 

Mark 3:13-19a
13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.
14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
16 And Simon he surnamed Peter;

17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

19a And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him:

 

Afterward, Christ went up into a mountain, and called His followers to come to Him.

 

It was at that time that He ordained the twelve.  Christ ordained them to go to preach, and to have the power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.

 

Christ ordained Simon (Peter), James the son of Zebedee, John the brother of James, whom He called Boanerges, or The sons of thunder. He also ordained Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.  Yes, Judas Iscariot was ordained.

 

Mark 3:19b-30
19b and they went into an house.
20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
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.
28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

 

As they went into a certain house, a multitude followed them.  There were so many there that they could not even eat bread a meal in peace.

 

When Jesus’ other friends heard about that they went in to help Him. They reasoned that He is troubled by all the commotion.

 

Meanwhile, the scribes that had come from Jerusalem said, “He has a spirit of Beelzebub, and it is by the prince of the devils casts out devils.

 

When Jesus heard about that accusation, He confronted them. He asked, “How can Satan cast out Satan?”

 

Jesus said, “If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 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.”

 

Jesus continued, “Truthfully I tell you, all sins shall be forgiven men, and whatever blaspheming things they may say. However, when anyone blasphemes against the Holy Spirit that shall not be forgiven and the one who does such is in danger of an age-long damnation, because he said that the Holy Spirit is an unclean spirit.”

 

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is a dangerous thing for any person to do!

 

Matt 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. (KJV)

 

Here is a better translation:

 

Matt 12:32 And whosoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in the age to come.

 

Christ spoke that in one age with another age to follow!

 

Mark 3:31-35
31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

 

Jesus’ mother and physical half-brothers came to the place were He was.  They called Him out.  His response to that physical call is classic.

 

The multitude responded, “Behold, your mother and brothers are calling for you.”

 

Today, many Jews are looking for their Messiah, but when He came they failed to follow Him!

 

John 10:4-5

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

 

Many attend churches, but follow another voice, and not the voice of the true Shepherd.

 

Jesus responded to the crowd, “Who is my mother, or my brothers?”

 

He looked around and indicating those who followed Him said, “Behold my mother and my brothers! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”

 

That has not changed!

 

Chapter 4
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