Mark 3 Commentary
One disadvantage of segmenting scripture into chapters is the risk of segmenting the flow of thoughts. It would make Mark look like a random sampling of events in the unique earthly life of our Lord (LORD) Jesus Christ.
Let’s flow with the volume and pick it from the last chapter, chapter 2. Jesus is the Lord even of the Sabbath. The thought is that He is the boss. We may also apply the thought that the Sabbath is observed to honor the LORD Jesus Christ. Chapter 3 continues the same thought but is taken from a different event and location.
“Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life to kill?” Of course, the Pharisees were never this detailed in their observance of the law. They missed the meat of it!
We need to move slowly here. It was simple: Whoever desecrated the Sabbath was to be killed. He had stayed away from life. Sabbath meant life. It was meant to save life. It means salvation. It means rest and only the LORD Jesus Christ can give rest. He is the LORD of the Sabbath.
But how can they get it? Get the identity of Jesus right and everything else becomes straight!
The mention of “Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and Tyre and Sidon”, gives us the picture of Israel under King David/Solomon. All of it hears the good news of the Kingdom of God. Never to mention Galilee – the province in which both Nazareth and Capernaum were located.
The twelve would be called a ‘task force’ in today’s vocabulary. But there is more to the story. Twelve individuals would represent the twelve tribes of Israel whose calling was to bless the nations.
The household of faith is family! So sweet!
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