Mark 3-5

Mark 3

Healing on the Sabbath

• Jesus enters the synagogue
• A man with a withered hand is present
• Religious leaders watch closely looking for a reason to accuse Him
• Jesus asks:“Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?”
• They remain silent
• Jesus:
  • looks around with anger (grieved at their hardness of heart)
  • tells the man: “Stretch out your hand”
• The hand is restored
• Pharisees immediately plot with Herodians to destroy Him

Crowds Follow Jesus

• Jesus withdraws to the sea
• Large crowds come from:
  • Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, Tyre, Sidon
• He tells disciples have a boat ready (crowds pressing Him)
• Many healed:
  • people rush to touch Him
• Unclean spirits:
  • fall down before Him
  • cry out: “You are the Son of God”
• Jesus strictly orders them not to make Him known

The Twelve Apostles Chosen

• Jesus goes up on a mountain
• Calls those He desired
• Appoints twelve:
  • to be with Him
  • to be sent out to preach
  • to have authority to cast out demons
• The twelve include:
  • Simon (Peter)
  • James & John (Boanerges = “sons of thunder”)
  • Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas
  • James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot
  • Judas Iscariot (who betrays Him)

Jesus and Beelzebul

• Scribes accuse:
  • “He is possessed by Beelzebul”
  • “By the prince of demons He casts out demons”
• Jesus responds with logic:
  • “A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand”
  • “A house divided cannot stand”
• Explains Satan cannot cast out Satan
• Parable:
  • strong man must be bound before his house is plundered
• Warning:
  • all sins forgiven…
  • BUT blasphemy against the Holy Spirit never forgiven
  • they were saying: “He has an unclean spirit”

Jesus’ True Family

• His mother and brothers arrive
• They stand outside and call Him
• People say: “Your mother and brothers are outside”
• Jesus responds: “Who are my mother and my brothers?”
  • “Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother”

Mark 4

Parable of the Sower

• Jesus teaches beside the sea
• Gets into a boat because of the crowd

The soils:

Purpose of Parables

• Disciples ask about the meaning
• Jesus explains:
  • “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God”
  • But outsiders hear in parables
• Result:
  • seeing but not perceiving
  • hearing but not understanding
• (Parables reveal truth to some and conceal from others)

Explanation of the Parable

• Seed is the word
• Path:
  • Satan takes it away immediately
• Rocky ground:
  • receive with joy
  • fall away under trouble/persecution
• Thorns:
  • cares of world
  • deceitfulness of riches
  • desires choke the word
• Good soil:
  • hear, accept, and bear fruit

Parable of the Lamp

• A lamp is not hidden, it is placed on a stand
  • what is hidden will be revealed
• Warning:
  • “Pay attention to what you hear”
  • measure you use will be measured back to you

Parable of the Growing Seed

• Kingdom like seed:
  • man scatters it
  • sleeps and rises
  • seed grows (he does not know how)
• Harvest comes when ready

Parable of the Mustard Seed

• Kingdom starts small like mustard seed
• Grows into:
  • largest plant
  • birds nest in its shade

Jesus Calms the Storm

• A great storm arises and waves fill the boat
• Jesus is asleep on cushion
• Disciples panic: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
• Jesus:
  • rebukes wind
  • says to sea: “Peace! Be still!”
• wind ceases, great calm
• He asks: “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
• Disciples:
  • filled with fear
  • “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey Him?”

Mark 5

The Demoniac (Legion)

• Jesus arrives in region of the Gerasenes
• A man with unclean spirit:
  • lives among tombs
  • uncontrollable
  • breaks chains
  • cries out and cuts himself
• He runs to Jesus and falls before Him
• Demons speak: “What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”
• Jesus asks name: Λεγιών (Legiōn)“Legion” (many demons)
• Demons beg:
  • not to be sent away
  • request to enter pigs
• Jesus permits
• 2000 pigs rush into sea and drown
• Townspeople come and see man is:
  • clothed
  • in his right mind
• They respond with fear and beg Jesus to leave
• The man asks to follow Jesus
• Jesus tells him:
  • go home
  • tell what the Lord has done
• He proclaims in Decapolis

Jairus’ Daughter & the Bleeding Woman

Jairus’ request:

• A synagogue ruler approaches and begs for his dying daughter to be healed 

The woman with bleeding:

• Has suffered 12 years
• Spent all she had on physicians
• Condition worsened
• She believes: “If I touch even His garments, I will be made well”
• She touches His cloak
• Immediately bleeding stops
• Jesus:
  • senses power gone out
  • asks: “Who touched my garments?”
• Woman:
  • comes in fear and trembling
  • tells the truth
• Jesus says: “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace”

Jairus’ daughter:

• News arrives his daughter is dead
• Jesus says: “Do not fear, only believe”
• Jesus says: “The child is not dead but sleeping”
• They laugh at Him
• He takes parents,  Peter, James, John
• He says:“Talitha koum” (Aramaic: “Little girl, arise”)
• Immediately she rises and walks
• Jesus instructs:
  • no one should know
  • give her something to eat

Application

Mark takes us through Jesus’ many miracles. We see that Jesus is the Great Physician, the Ruler of Creation, and the Lord over the spiritual realm. Jesus calls us to have faith in Him, even when the seas seem chaotic.