Christ Church Bible Study – Mark 3:1-19 – Patrick Gahan

Christ Church Bible Study – Mark 3:1-19 – Patrick Gahan Introduction The effect of Jesus’ revelation of the kingdom was to call some to discipleship while exposing the hardness of heart in others. In Luke, Jesus says that he has not come to bring peace but division (Luke 11:51) and that Satan would sift them like wheat (Luke 22:31). In the Gospel of John, the light shines in the darkness, and some ‘loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil’ (John 3:19). The same motif is evident in Mark, and especially in this chapter. The authorities watch Jesus to see whether he will heal on the Sabbath, then make plans to kill him (3:1-6). Nevertheless, Jesus extends his healing ministry (3:7-12) and calls the twelve disciples (3:13-19). R. Alan Culpepper, Dean, Mercer School of Theology, ret.

Mark 3:1-19 1Again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” 4Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. 7Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; 8hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. 9He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; 10for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, “You are the Son of God!” 12But he sternly ordered them not to make him known.

13He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. 14And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message,15and to have authority to cast out demons. 16So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, 19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Then he went home;

Questions from the Text vv.1-6 1. Why does Mark begin this passage with ‘Again’ (See 2:27)? How does the particular location noted in v.1 intensify this second encounter? 2. Why would a ‘withered hand’ be a particularly grievous malady in Jesus’ day? 3. How is Jesus’ double question in v.4 impossible for his critics to answer (consider the ramifications of a withered hand?). 4. In v.5, what grieves Jesus? At another time, why does Jesus use this same terminology, and do you see a connection (See 10:2-9)? 5. Whereas ‘immediately’ is used repeatedly in Mark (41 times to be exact), it is usually used to describe Jesus’ actions. However, in v.6, how does Mark use the word?

vv.7-12 1. To where does Jesus withdraw to put some distance between himself and the Pharisees (7a). 2. Who shows up and why (7a-8)? 3. What group is first on the list and why (7a)? Count the total number of locations from whence the crowds came. What message is Mark sending here? 4. In v.9 for what does Jesus call and why? 5. While throngs of people are drawn to Jesus the healer, how do the evil spirits know him (11)?

vv.13-19 1. To where does Jesus head now (13)? What is significant about his destination (See: Exodus 19:3-25; I Kings 19:8; Mark 6:46 & 9:2)? 2. What action does Jesus take and for what two vital reasons (14)?

Dive Deeper 1. In both healing of the paralytic in 2:11 and in this healing of the man with the withered hand in 3:3, Jesus commands both men to ‘arise’ (Greek – egeire = “To waken; to raise up.” Although the English of the NRSV is rendered “stand up” and “come forward” respectively, what was Mark forcefully communicating with his choice of this Greek word?

2. Consider the position of the Pharisees in the matter of the Sabbath healing: If the man has lived with a withered hand this long, what would waiting one more day matter when it means keeping the commandments? Why is such reasoning insidious and contrary to the way Jesus ministered?

3. What Biblical personality is most famous for his ‘hardened heart’ (See Exodus 7:3, 13, & 22)? If the Pharisees are likened to the Exodus personality, what are they doing to the common people?

4. Do you catch the exaggerated irony of this passage: You may not heal a suffering man on the Sabbath, but you can do quite the opposite?

5. In v.12, Jesus, again, insists that the evil spirits keep quiet about who he really is. Why would Jesus want to keep his Messiahship quiet during this high tide of popularity (Hint: Read 8:31-33 and consider how Jesus will actually save the people as their true Messiah.)?

6. Why does Jesus specifically name 12 disciples? Could it have something to do with Jesus’ initial proclamation in Mark’s Gospel in 1:14-15?