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Mark - Who is Christ?
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to MARK
PART 3 - The Conflict Between Jesus and the Jewish Leaders (Mark 2:1 - 3:6)

5. The Withered Hand Restored on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6)


MARK 3:1-6
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.

At the time of Jesus the teachers of the law, were so involved in the net of their law that they neither noticed the tribulations of their brothers, nor sought their healing, but considered work and all kinds of healing a sin on the Sabbath.

They did not accept that Jesus healed everyone freely in his mercy, and that every service in love was true worship. But they believed that the fulfillment of rites would prepare the way to God. They did not recognize that their hearts were hardened in spite of all their piety. Therefore, they became spiteful against those who thought differently, and became spiritually dead in their bigotry.

As such, the wonderful meeting took place: The godly, rather than the unbelievers, watched the Son of God’s healing love so that they might complain against him and deliver him to the religious court. They lost the sense of God’s love, and his Spirit was far from them even in the midst of their worship. But the tax collectors and sinners recognized God’s presence in Christ, and repented and were healed.

Jesus loved his fanatic enemies. He also loved the man with the withered hand. Thus, he proclaimed the love of God in public, made the suffering man stand in their midst, and showed the Pharisees their own hardness of heart.

Jesus did not disregard the human mind, and common sense, but he did not consider them as a separate power, which can without God’s revelation, recognize the mysteries of God in this world and the world to come. Jesus overcame his enemies with the logic of his love, and he silenced them with the simple thought which is found in every human being.

A good deed is good, and an evil deed is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. He who leaves someone in trouble and passes by him indifferently is like a murderer.

First aid given to a wounded man is sometimes as important as, or more important than preaching. You cannot preach to anyone who is starving, or with blood flowing out of his wounds. First, give him bread, water, and a bandage. Love rules over all and guides us to take the necessary steps.

The loving Jesus became angry at the spiritual blindness of the teachers of his time. The love of God does not hinder his holy wrath, which is a deep agitation in his heart when people do not live in accord with his Spirit. Yet Jesus did not destroy the hypocrites, but became sad at the state of their hearts having considered themselves righteous while they were dead in their pride and cold godliness. The wrath of God does not descend immediately on the ungodliness of men, for he is patient. But his just holiness requires full punishment for each sin. How patient is God, who delays his wrath because of our weakness, and gives us time to change our mind and carry out his love! In this manner, Jesus healed the man with the withered hand, with the word of his power, with a divine order as a symbol of his authority, and a sign of judgment against all those who refuse him.

The Pharisees did not want to change their minds, nor did they respond to the love of Christ, but began to plot against him. They met together immediately after the service, and along with the Herodians planned how they might kill the Founder of the new covenant. They did not intend only to kill him bodily, but also to wipe out his teaching, and deliver him as a deceiver. Their law became their god, and they determined to sacrifice the Son of God for the sake of their law. The spirit of Satan was unable to make Jesus fall into temptations in the wilderness, so because of his failure he wanted to destroy him through the demon-possessed teachers of religion.

Blessed are the Lord’s ministers, for no one can make any one hair of their heads fall as long as the Lord has given them a chance for ministry.

Jesus knew their plotting. He did not flee, but continued his ministry in the way of his love, protected by his Father, who proclaimed his name to the world.

PRAYER: O Holy Lord, we worship you for you were not afraid of your enemies. You came in the midst of those who hated you and did not kill them in your wrath, but gave them in your patience the sign of your love. Teach us your patience that we may show mercy to everyone, not only in words, but also in deeds that we may not hold the rites and judgments of the law, but hasten to help the needy. Give us an open mind, and a large heart that we may obey the guidance of your Holy Spirit, and offer your salvation to everyone while it is called “Today”. Amen.

QUESTION:

  1. Why did Jesus become angry with the strict teachers of the law?

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