Mark 3:1-19
IN CHAPTER 2 we have read of the complaint of the self-righteous Pharisees because the Lord’s disciples gathered and ate wheat on the Sabbath day. The Lord silenced these complaints and we have already commented on how this narrative revealed the contrast between the cold legal character of the Pharisees and the grace and divine authority of the “Son of man [who] is Lord also of the sabbath.”
Now in the third chapter a second Sabbath day introduces a man with a withered hand being present in the synagogue where Jesus was present. “And He entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched Him, whether He would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse Him.” Grace and compassion express themselves in healing power, but He does riot conceal His anger against those who, though silent, would in their hearts again oppose Him. This story reminds us of Israel’s present condition away from God, for the withered hand is a symbol of the nation’s inability to do anything for itself. A future day is coming for the earthly people, when they will be a healed nation, but not before God’s anger against His enemies is shown in their destruction.
The display of the Lord’s kind act appeals to the common people, who soon follow Him and His disciples to the seaside. “Jesus withdrew Himself with His disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea,...” But the hard and unrepentant religious rulers have every intent to kill Him and plot with the Herodians toward that end. However, it was not yet time for the Lord to suffer death and He leaves these hypocrites in their wicked scheming.
“And unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. And He straitly charged them that they should not make Him known.” We may think it strange that the Lord would not welcome the words of those possessed with demons, who rightly identify Him. But He could be pleased only when recognition of who He was came through the Holy Spirit and thus He silences that which is unholy — this testimony not being suited to His divine Person.
The twelve apostles—some of whom were brought to our attention in the first and second chapters — now are all named and ordained (or appointed) and at this time receive miraculous powers. (See verses 14-19). There was a special purpose in giving such extraordinary powers to these apostles and it is expressed in the closing verse of Mark’s gospel: "... confirming the Word with signs following.” In 1 Corinthians 1:22 it is said: “The Jews require a sign,” and it is another reminder of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the wisdom of God in sending these servants out to preach to the Jews. Their message would be confirmed by mighty signs and wonders, which would testify to the authority under which they preached the gospel of the kingdom.
But, for our day, neither a continued “ordination” nor the passing on of miraculous power is found anywhere in Scripture, because we now have both the written Word of God and the Holy Spirit to teach and instruct us, in far greater truth than the disciples had in Mark 3.
“How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” Psa. 119:103.
ML-06/02/1963