The Gospel According to
Mark 3
35 verses≈ 5 min4 peopleBSB
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In this chapter
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they were watching to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.
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Jesus
Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up among us.” And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
But they were silent.
Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart.
Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.
At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Jesus Heals the Multitudes
Stylised map · locations approximate
Where it happened
From every direction
News of Jesus had spread far beyond Galilee. People walked to the lakeshore from Judea and Jerusalem, from Idumea in the far south, from the lands east of the Jordan, and from the Gentile coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon in the north. Some came well over a hundred miles on foot.
So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.
Unclean spirit
And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”
But He warned them sternly not to make Him known.
You are the Son of God!
Mark 3:11
The Twelve Apostles
Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him.
He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons.
These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.
The Twelve, in Mark’s order
Whiteboard
Mark names the three closest to Jesus first: Simon, whom He renamed Peter, and the brothers He nicknamed Sons of Thunder. Fishermen and a Zealot sit side by side on one list, and Judas comes last, already marked as the one who betrayed Him.
Reflect
Called to be with Him
Before Jesus sent the Twelve anywhere, He appointed them “to accompany Him.” Being with Jesus came first, and the work flowed from it. What would it look like for you to simply spend time with Him this week?
A House Divided
Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could not even eat. When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”
Some scribes
And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
Jesus
So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand. And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.
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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
The Unpardonable Sin
Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”
Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Question
Quick question
The scribes from Jerusalem had an explanation for Jesus’ power over demons.
What did they say was the source of His power?
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him, and a crowd was sitting around Him.
The crowds
“Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are outside, asking for You.”
Jesus
But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”
Listen · Read along
Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”
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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother
Mark 3:35
Pray
Seated in the circle
Jesus looked at the people “seated in a circle around Him” and called them family. Thank Him that there is room for you in that circle, and ask Him for a heart that wants to do the will of God.
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Mark 3
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A verse to carry with you
For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.
Mark 3:35
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