By The Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

(Read Mark 3:1-19)

“(Jesus) saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other” (Mark 3:5b).

The Rev. Ron Purkey

The crowds continued to follow Jesus. The people were now having to make personal decisions about him. Mark recorded their decisions.

First, “He is a lawbreaker” (Mark 3:1-6). For the third time, Jesus deliberately violated the Jewish Sabbath traditions. The man with the paralyzed hand had no idea that Jesus would come to the synagogue to heal him, so waiting one more day would not have upset him.

But Jesus wanted to do more than merely heal a man; he wanted to teach the pharisees (Luke 6:7) that God wanted his people to enjoy freedom and not suffer in religious bondage (see Acts 15:10).

It’s always right to do good; and if we do not do good, we do evil (James 4:17). Jesus knew what his critics were thinking and was angry at the hardening (not “hardness”) of their hearts. He saw the evil process taking place within them, and he knew where it would end. These religious men would actually become murderers of their own Messiah!

Second, “He is a miracle worker” (Mark 3:7-12). Great crowds followed Jesus from all over the region so that he was unable to have any privacy. Thousands of people came from all over either to be healed or to watch Jesus heal others.

When he was near the Sea of Galilee, the disciples kept a boat handy so he could preach from it (Luke 5:3). It is unfortunate that these people came only for physical help and not for spiritual blessing.

The crowds created a problem for Jesus, for the Romans might think he was leading a popular uprising and interfere with his ministry.

Third, “He is our Lord and master” (Mark 3:13-19). Our Lord’s response was to go to a mountain alone and spend the night in prayer (Luke 6:12). When Jesus came down the next morning, he selected 12 men and named them “apostles.” The word means “one who is sent with a commission.”

Jesus had many followers, even fewer true disciples, but only Twelve Apostles. While the word “apostle” is sometimes used in the general sense of “a sent one” (Acts 14:14; Romans 16:7), in its specific meaning, it refers to the 12 and to Paul.

Ten times in his Gospel, Mark refers to “the Twelve.” These men would live with Jesus, learn from Jesus, and go out and serve under Jesus’ authority. The qualifications given in Acts 1:21-22 indicate there can be no apostles today in the strictest meaning of the word.

Fourth, Three of the apostles had nicknames: Simon Peter (“rock”), and James and John (“sons of thunder”). After appointing His assistants, Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). It was the apostles “ordination sermon” to let them know what God expected of them as Christ’s servants. Who is Jesus to you?

Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines free at rcpbibleoutlines.com. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.