Mark 3: Jesus is Lord and so begins his Ministry

Mark 2:27-3:34

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁷ Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

 ⁴ Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

 ⁵ He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. ⁶ Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Crowds Follow Jesus

⁹ Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. ¹⁰ For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. ¹¹Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” ¹² But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

Jesus Appoints the Twelve

 ¹³ Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve^[a] that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵ and to have authority to drive out demons. 

Jesus Accused by His Family and by Teachers of the Law

 ³¹ Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. ³² A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

   ³³ “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

 ³⁴ Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Daniel’s Thoughts:

The Sabbath was made for men not men for the sabbath. What does that mean? The Sabbath is not the ruler over man, God is. God commanded we observe the Sabbaths. Why? For our good.

The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. What does that mean for us who live in Christ? We through Christ are Lord of the Sabbath in some way. Sabbath was made for us for our good but it is not our master.

What kind of Sabbath do you want for me God? I am no longer required to take Sabbath, but it is a blessing and is wise for me to live out your gift of a Sabbath of rest. I often make my schedule way too busy and I do not rest enough or in the best ways.

Jesus gets angry at these people not for trying to follow the law, but for their stubborn hearts. The people had stopped listening to God and to wisdom. They followed the laws and commands of God, but blindly and only some of them.

Jesus ministry is marked by crowds and healings. People follow him and praise him. But Jesus keeps moving on always to the next town and the next people who need him. Even the demons fall down before him and recognize him as the Son of God. Yet Jesus does not stop and seek recognition, he continues on to serve humbly.

Jesus does ministry different than we do. Jesus does not seek crowds or numbers. The people seek him because he speaks with authority and has power. Yet when crowds form again Jesus moves on. Jesus instead builds a core group of followers who are very committed. First Jesus calls the 12 and later the 72 and more by his death. Jesus pours into this smaller group. His plan seems to have worked far better than the way we do ministry now. For Jesus could have had a massive following like mega-churches today. But instead Jesus called a few and then those few went on each to impact a few more. Today there are millions maybe billions of people who follow Jesus and the entire world knows of Jesus. That sounds like the kind of plan of ministry and evangelism we should follow!

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

You are the Lord of the Sabbath.

You are the Lord of all.

I want to submit to you

Not to laws or commands, but to you

I want to follow you and live my whole life to you

What would you have me do in considering taking Sabbaths?

I know I don’t take rest and I need to.

Teach us your master plan.

Let us follow your master plan of evangelism and ministry

Let us make disciples in all nations

Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

All for your glory!

For you have come to all nations

But the world and the devil are at work

Churches, people and nations are falling away

But you are not diminished.

You are victorious.

This is all in your plan and will and all for your glory!

Amen