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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Mark Chapter 3
 

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: John Mark
Date Penned: (55-65 AD)
Overview: Mark Records the 1st Gospel Written (c 1-16)
Theme:  The Message and Ministry of Jesus, The Servant (c 1-13)
Message: Jesus Heals a Man's Hand on the Sabbath  (v 1-45)

Mark 3 Commentary

(3:1-6) Jesus Heals a Man's Hand on the Sabbath - This episode completes a set of five escalating confrontations between Jesus and the religious leaders. Together, they summarize the points of tension leading to Jesus’ rejection. The Pharisees were watching Jesus’ actions on the Sabbath, anticipating that he might do something that would allow them to condemn him. Jesus thwarted their plan by involving them in the decision to heal the man. Their anger drove the Pharisees to break the Sabbath by plotting Jesus’ murder. They committed the very sin they wanted to pin on him.

(3:7-12) Large Crowds Follow Jesus - In contrast to the rejection of Jesus by certain religious leaders, Mark described the attraction and adoration of Christ by the crowds. Mark’s details provide us a picture of the context of Jesus’ ministry. People were coming from literally every direction (from Tyre and Sidon in the north; from Judea, Jerusalem, and Idumea in the far south; from across the Jordan in the east). From this whirlwind of activity, Mark highlighted a number of smaller interactions between Jesus and those around him. The character of Jesus emerges under the constant scrutiny and demand of the crowds. Jesus was rarely alone.

(3:13-19) Jesus Chooses the Twelve Disciples - Earlier in this Gospel, Jesus invited several persons to follow him (1:16-19; 2:14). Soon hundreds and thousands of others also tracked Jesus’ steps. Some were curious, some critical, and some were committed. From among all of them Jesus chose twelve. The better we know the disciples, the more we come to see that God might actually choose us, too. Grace does not make humanness a disqualifying characteristic. As disappointing as the disciples may have been, they leave room for us to hope. When we are aware of our unworthiness to merit God’s mercy and love, we are in the best position to experience what he can do for us.

(3:20-30) Religious Leaders Accuse Jesus of Getting His Power from Satan - 
Mark never allowed his readers to get far from the fact that Jesus’ ministry was constantly being opposed. He balanced Jesus’ choice of disciples with the evolving group of opposition. The religious leadership chose to add the accusation of demon possession. He neutralized his enemies’ charge with a counterattack. How, he asked them, could he possibly be serving Satan when his presence and his actions were causing such devastating damage to Satan’s kingdom? Further, he pointed out that their failure to recognize the Spirit, under whose influence he was actually operating, indicated that they were committing the unforgivable sin. By identifying the Holy Spirit as Satan in Jesus’ life, the religious leaders were committing unspeakable blasphemy.


(3:31-35) Jesus Describes His True Family - Jesus turned his rejection by his family into a compassionate invitation to recognize his true nature. They came to claim him as their family member; he challenged them to be members of God’s true family. The conflict between Jesus and his family continues in our lives. Do we avoid Jesus’ claim on us as the powerful Lord by reducing him to friendship status? Jesus is our friend and brother, but he is also our Lord. By treating him as any less, we may be neutralizing his rightful ownership of our thoughts and actions.

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Are You Ignoring the Holy Spirit?

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Mark with Chapter 3. In our text today we see Jesus continuing in His Ministry with healing, crowds, disciples, and His accusers. What catches my eye is verse 28-29 that states those who blaspheme against Holy Ghost are in danger of eternal damnation. In making application we see that today those who ignore the convicting power of the Holy Spirit when He shows you are lost are in the same danger of being eternally separated from a Holy God. How about you? Have you ignored the Holy Spirit showing you are lost? Let us learn from our text today and Jesus warning of blaspheming the Holy Ghost when He convicts you of your need of being saved.

 

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Mark 3

Mark 3

 1And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

 2And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

 3And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

 4And 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.

 5And 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.

 6And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

 7But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,

 8And 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.

 9And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.

 10For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

 11And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

 12And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

 13And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

 14And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

 15And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

 16And Simon he surnamed Peter;

 17And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

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

 19And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

 20And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.

 21And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

 22And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

 23And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

 24And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

 25And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

 26And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

 27No 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.

 28Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

 29But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.

 30Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

 31There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

 32And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

 33And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

 34And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

 35For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.