Mark – God is On Our Side!
As kids we would push the limits to see how far we can go in whatever activity we were involved in at the time. We try this and that just to see what happens. That spirit lives on in our grandkids today. Our grandsons, for example, love to jump on their trampoline, constantly inventing new ways to get the biggest jump or perform the best trick.
They had to be stopped from jumping from the roof of the shed onto the trampoline, as a way to jump higher. The youngest attempted to “do a trick” while sitting on his bicycle on the trampoline! Yes, he had to be stopped, just in time, on that one, too. When we were told about it, he whispered to me, “I just want to do tricks. I’ve tried it before.”
Now, you’ve gone and done it! The parents will be even more watchful of this one! As a grandparent, we are laughing on the inside, because we are not responsible like the parents….but we have amped up our prayers! (Laughing even as I write this.)
Jesus has come to seek and to save the lost who need a way to come back to God. Jesus has the power to heal. We learned yesterday that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. But those who have been in charge before Jesus are not happy. Their power over people is being threatened. He is doing things they cannot and never thought about doing. Now, he has healed a hurting man with a deformed man…ON THE SABBATH! (Refer back to yesterday’s discussion.) Now Jesus has really gone and done it! He pushed the limits of traditions and man made rules. Doing good on the Sabbath, what was He thinking?…Mm. This was no trick, this is our Lord who loves!
Mark 3, NLT
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
3 Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. 2 Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.
3 Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” 4 Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.5 He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! 6 At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.
GOING DEEPER….
On that same Sabbath day, Jesus went into the synagogue to worship, and while He was there, He deliberately healed a man. Certainly He could have waited one more day, but once again He wanted to challenge the pharisaical legalistic traditions. This time the Pharisees (Luke 6:7) were expecting Him to heal, so they kept their eyes wide open. Our Lord’s questions in Mark 3:4 were never answered by His enemies. Since evil is at work every day, including the Sabbath day, why should good not be at work as well? Death is always at work, but that should not hinder us from seeking to save life.
Jesus could see “the hardening of their hearts” (literal translation), and their sin made Him angry. Our Lord never became angry at the publicans and sinners, but He did express anger toward the self-righteous Pharisees (Matt. 23). They would rather protect their traditions than see a man healed! The man, of course, knew little about this spiritual conflict. He simply obeyed our Lord’s command, stretched out his hand, and was healed. So incensed were the Pharisees over what Jesus had done that they united with the Herodians and started making plans to arrest Jesus and destroy Him. The Herodians were not a religious party; they were a group of Jews who were sympathetic to King Herod and supported his rule. Most of the Jews despised Herod and obeyed his laws reluctantly, so it was surprising that the Pharisees, who were strict Jews, would join themselves with these disloyal politicians. But it was a common enemy—Jesus—that brought the two groups together.
In response to this united opposition, Jesus simply withdrew from there, but He could not prevent the great crowds from following Him. These crowds were dangerous to His cause, of course, because they were not spiritually motivated, and the authorities could accuse Him of leading a popular revolt against the Romans. Yet Jesus received the people, healed the sick, and delivered the demonized. Once again, He warned the demons not to reveal who He was (Mark 1:23–26).
Our Lord had now reached a crisis in His ministry. Great crowds were following Him, but their interest was not in things spiritual. The religious leaders wanted to destroy Him, and even some of Herod’s friends were getting involved. His next step would be to spend a night in prayer (Luke 6:12), call twelve men to assist Him as His apostles, and preach a sermon— the Sermon on the Mount—explaining the spiritual basis of His kingdom. He offered them forgiveness, fulfillment, and freedom, but they refused His offer.
Have you accepted His offer? The gift of salvation is freely offered to anyone who wants more from this life and realizes there is eternal life beyond here. Be reconciled to God. Grow a relationship with our Creator, Our Father in heaven, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Be led by His Holy Spirit every hour of every day. God is on our side! He wants to help. He wants to guide and provide with all the wisdom we will every need for every situation encountered! Come into a holy relationship that surpasses all religion practices and traditions. Be reconciled to God! (2 Corinthians 5:18)
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior,
Thank you for reminding us of your power, greatness and your glory! Thank you for loving us the way your do. Thank you for being on our side, through the storms and through the calm. Thank you for never giving up on me!
In Jesus Name, Amen
And I’m singing…
You Never Let Go (Matt Redman)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?
Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth
Chorus:
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
