Mark 3: A New Family Around Jesus
Jesus heals on the Sabbath, appoints the twelve, answers the charge that he works by Satan, and redefines family around those who do God's will.
Mark 3 (WEB)
1 He entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there who had his hand withered.
2 They watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him.
3 He said to the man who had his hand withered, “Stand up.”
4 He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” But they were silent.
5 When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other.
6 The Pharisees went out, and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
7 Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples, and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea,
8 from Jerusalem, from Idumaea, beyond the Jordan, and those from around Tyre and Sidon. A great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came to him.
9 He spoke to his disciples that a little boat should stay near him because of the crowd, so that they wouldn’t press on him.
10 For he had healed many, so that as many as had diseases pressed on him that they might touch him.
11 The unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, “You are the Son of God!”
12 He sternly warned them that they should not make him known.
13 He went up into the mountain, and called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him.
14 He appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach,
15 and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
16 Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);
17 James the son of Zebedee; and John, the brother of James, (whom he called Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder);
18 Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot;
19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. Then he came into a house.
20 The multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
21 When his friends heard it, they went out to seize him: for they said, “He is insane.”
22 The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.”
23 He summoned them, and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?
24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 If Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he can’t stand, but has an end.
27 But no one can enter into the house of the strong man to plunder, unless he first binds the strong man; and then he will plunder his house.
28 Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme;
29 but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.”
30 —because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
31 His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him.
32 A multitude was sitting around him, and they told him, “Behold, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside looking for you.”
33 He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”
34 Looking around at those who sat around him, he said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers!
35 For whoever does the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”
Mark 3 (KJV)
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.
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.
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.
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,
19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: 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.
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.
Mark 3 (ASV)
1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had his hand withered.
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 that had his hand withered, Stand forth.
4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored.
6 And the Pharisees went out, and straightway with the Herodians took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.
7 And Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and from Judaea,
8 and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and beyond the Jordan, and about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came unto him.
9 And he spake to his disciples, that a little boat should wait on him because of the crowd, lest they should throng him:
10 for he had healed many; insomuch that as many as had plagues pressed upon him that they might touch him.
11 And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
12 And he charged them much that they should not make him known.
13 And he goeth up into the mountain, and calleth unto him whom he himself would; and they went unto him.
14 And he appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15 and to have authority to cast out demons:
16 and Simon he surnamed Peter;
17 and James the [son] of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is, 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 Cananaean,
19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. And he cometh into a house.
20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
21 And when his friends heard it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
22 And the scribes that came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and, By the prince of the demons casteth he out the demons.
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 will not be able to stand.
26 And if Satan hath rise up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
27 But no one can enter into the house of the strong [man], and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong [man]; and then he will spoil his house.
28 Verily I say unto you, All their sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and their blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29 but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin:
30 because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
31 And there come his mother and his brethren; and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him.
32 And a multitude was sitting about him; and they say unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
33 And he answereth them, and saith, Who is my mother and my brethren?
34 And looking round on them that sat round about him, he saith, Behold, my mother and my brethren!
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Summary
In the synagogue Jesus faces hostile watchers as he heals a man with a withered hand, asking whether it is lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath. Grieved at their hard hearts, he heals the man, and his enemies begin plotting his death. Great crowds press in from every region, and unclean spirits cry out that he is the Son of God. Going up a mountain, Jesus appoints twelve apostles to be with him and to be sent out to preach with authority. When scribes claim he casts out demons by Beelzebul, Jesus exposes the absurdity: a kingdom divided cannot stand, and one must first bind the strong man to plunder his house. He warns against blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Finally, when his mother and brothers send for him, he looks at those seated around him and says that whoever does God's will is his brother, sister, and mother.
Main Characters
- Jesus — The one who heals on the Sabbath, appoints the twelve, and defines his true family.
- The man with the withered hand — A sufferer Jesus heals openly to confront hard-hearted legalism.
- The twelve apostles — Those Jesus appoints to be with him and to be sent out preaching with authority.
- The scribes from Jerusalem — Accusers who claim Jesus drives out demons by the prince of demons.
Key Verse
Mark 3:35 (WEB)
For whoever does the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”
Lessons Learned
- Doing good and saving life is always fitting, even on the Sabbath.
- Jesus calls his followers first to be with him and then to be sent out.
- Attributing the work of God's Spirit to Satan is a grave and hardening sin.
- True kinship with Jesus is found in doing the will of God.
- Mercy honors God more than rigid rule-keeping. Jesus asks, 'Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?' and then heals the man (Mark 3:4-5, WEB).
- Jesus calls his own to fellowship before mission. He appoints twelve 'that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach' (Mark 3:14, WEB).
- A divided kingdom cannot stand. Jesus answers the charge, 'If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand' (Mark 3:24, WEB).
- Christ has come to overpower the enemy. No one can plunder the strong man's house 'unless he first binds the strong man,' and then he can be plundered (Mark 3:27, WEB).
- Obedience to God makes us Jesus' family. Jesus says, 'Whoever does the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother' (Mark 3:35, WEB).
- How does Jesus confront the watchers in the synagogue, and what does his grief reveal about their hearts?
- Why does Jesus appoint the twelve, and what two purposes does Mark give for their calling?
- How does Jesus refute the claim that he casts out demons by Beelzebul?
- What does Jesus mean when he names those who do God's will as his true family?
- Where in your own life is God inviting you to value mercy and obedience over appearance and approval?
- Jesus asks whether the Sabbath is for doing good or harm, then heals the man before all (Mark 3:4-5). His grief and anger at their hardness show that clinging to rules while ignoring suffering grieves the heart of God.
- Jesus appoints the twelve so they might be with him and be sent out to preach with authority over demons (Mark 3:14-15). Relationship comes first; ministry flows from time spent in his presence.
- Jesus shows that Satan cannot drive out Satan without collapse, and that one must bind the strong man to plunder his house (Mark 3:23-27). His power over demons proves he opposes Satan, not serves him.
- When told his family waits outside, Jesus looks at those around him and calls whoever does God's will his brother, sister, and mother (Mark 3:34-35). Spiritual kinship through obedience is deeper than blood ties.
- This is a personal application question. Invite members to reflect on where they choose appearance over mercy or obedience. As leader, encourage candid sharing and point to Jesus' welcome into his family, but do not press anyone to share more than they wish.