Continuing journey through the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 3:1-2 – Jesus returns to the synagogue and meets a man with a shriveled hand.  The Pharisees have their camera phones and recorders ready to catch Jesus every move.  They are just waiting for him to do something to break their rules.  They want to limit how Jesus can do ministry because he doesn’t fit in their traditions.

Mark 3:3 – Jesus, knowing the paparazzi that is following him, asks the man to stand up where everyone can see.

Mark 3:4 – Jesus asked the crowd a question that gets to the heart of the issue.  What was God’s intention for the sabbath?  Is it ok to do good or evil on that day?  No one tried to answer.

Mark 3:5 – Jesus, now angry because of the stubborness of the people, heals the man’s hand.

Mark 3:6 – And this is when the Pharisees wanted to find help in eliminating Jesus.  “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”  The Pharisees (religious group) wanted to seek help from the Herodian (government rulers) to get rid of Jesus as they both saw him as a threat to their power.

Mark 3:7-10 – Jesus tries to withdraw from the crowd but a crowd follows him because they have seen his miracles.

Mark 3:11-12 – Demons would testify of who Jesus was.  But he would shut them up because he was not ready to be identified yet.  Note the difference: Pharisees believed Jesus was blaspheming while the demons who came in contact with Jesus would, in fear, openly proclaim him as the Son of God.

Mark 3:13-19 – Jesus chooses the twelve.  This growth group of future leaders would eventually turn the world upside down.  Their message still being spread over 2000 years later.