Mark 3:7-35 (SS)

Mark 3:7-35


Introduction
How Jesus responds to people reveals who He is and what’s important to Him.

To the crowds: Jesus meets people’s needs (Mark 3:7-10)
People were coming from all over, from both Jewish and Gentile areas and Jesus withdrew to the sea.
Have you ever thought about the cost to Jesus in serving people? It must have been taxing for Jesus. Everyone wanted something from Him. But He showed us His engagement with common people. (Matthew 9:36)

Are we seeking to serve even if it is uncomfortable or inconvenient to us? I need to ask myself, am I following the example of Jesus?

To the demons: Jesus shows His authority (Mark 3: 11-12, The Message)
Unlike the multitudes who followed Jesus, the demons knew that He is the Son of God. They
1) submitted to His authority and
2) declared who He was.
Why did Jesus tell the demons not to tell who He was? You recall from Mark 1:44, Jesus healed the leper and told him, “see that you say nothing to anyone.”
These “tell no one” sayings of Jesus have been called by theologians “The Messianic Secret”. I believe that Jesus wanted His identity fully known within the context of His death and resurrection. (Mark 10:45; Mark 15:39)
Jesus had authority over the demons because He made them! (Colossians 1:16)

To the 12 disciples: Jesus calls them for a purpose (Mark 3:13-19)
Jesus called those He wanted to the mountain. He was a leader; He commanded attention. Is this your view of Jesus?

He appointed the 12 so that they could preach and have authority over demons (to make His kingdom known). They observed Him interact with people, they saw Him serve people, love people, welcome people, they heard Him teach; they were learning to be followers of Him.

If you are a follower of Christ, He has chosen you for a purpose. We need to be with Jesus before we attempt to do His work.

To the scribes: Jesus responds and warns (Mark 3:22-30)
Remember the scribes? In Mark 3:6, it says the Pharisees were conspiring to destroy Jesus. In Mark 3:22-30, they attribute His casting out of demons to Beelzebul (Satan). Jesus responds to the scribes in parables, saying, how can Satan cast out Satan? (Mark 3: 23-27, The Message)
Jesus warns the scribes of the spiritual danger they are in. (Mark 3:28-30) The scribes knew the Law, and they knew full well what blasphemy was -- an expression of defiant hostility toward God.
This is the one and only unpardonable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit -- rejecting the revelation of who Jesus is.

To His family: Jesus shows His clarity of purpose (Mark 3:20-21; 31-35)
Jesus’ family thought He had gone crazy! (Mark 3:21). You might ask, “Jesus had a family?” We read in Mark 6:3 that He had brothers and sisters.
“For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother" (Mark 3:35). He isn’t rejecting His family; He is clarifying His purpose.
When we follow Him, we are part of His family.

Conclusion
Jesus’ encounters with these five groups are milestones marking His way to the cross. They are leading up to His ultimate purpose--to give His life as a ransom for many.