Mark 3

Healing a man with a withered hand (vs. 1-6)—Remember that chapter 2 ended with a conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees over a supposed violation of the Sabbath law. Chapter 3 opens with another example of disagreement between Christ and the religious leaders. A man with a withered hand was in the synagogue with Christ on the Sabbath day. Jesus asked them, “’Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’" But they kept silent.” (v. 4).  The answer seems pretty obvious, but by this time the Pharisees hated Him enough that nothing He did would please them. So Jesus healed the man, and, sure enough, “the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him” (v 6). What the Herodians were upset about is not altogether clear. They were simply a small political party who supported the claim of the Herod family to rulership of Palestine. And perhaps therein lay the reason. If Jesus claimed to be king, then that would obviously undermine the Herod’s claim. But this group doesn’t play much of a role in the New Testament.

More teaching and healing (vs. 7-12)—Jesus and His disciples then withdrew to the Sea of Galilee (v. 7). They were, as usual, followed by a multitude (vs. 7-8). Jesus performed many healing miracles, including expelling some loud-mouthed demons who would otherwise have caused trouble (vs. 11-12).

The twelve apostles and His own countrymen (vs. 13-21)—These verses list the 12 apostles. “He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons” (vs. 14-15). These men, of course, would later be responsible for taking the gospel to the whole world (Mark 16:15), but at the moment, they were simple given a little on-the-job training. He was still popular with the multitudes (v. 20), but “His own people” thought “He is out of His mind” (v. 21). The prophet being without honor in His own country.

“He has Beelzebub” (vs. 22-30)—Anything to try to destroy faith in Jesus. He was casting out demons, but the “scribes” said He was doing it by the power of Satan. Jesus pointed out to them the extreme illogic of their argument: “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end” (vs. 23-26). He then mentions the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. I went into some detail in my notes on Matthew 12 explaining what I think that obscure reference means; I don’t want to repeat it here. If you’d like my explanation of the blasphemy against the Spirit, please check the post on Matthew 12.

The family of God (vs. 31-35)—In this midst of His teaching, Jesus’ mother and brothers wanted to see Him. Jesus took that occasion to provide a good object lesson. In no way intending to slight physical relations, He says, “’Who is My mother, or My brothers?’ And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.’" (vs. 33-35).  Spiritual relationships are closer than physical ones; the former will last for eternity, the latter end at death.