Mark 03 We only serve God when in His Will

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Kill the only Servant Who can heal

MARK 3:1   And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

Mark deals with Jesus as the great Servant.

This man attracted attention as he could not be a servant to anybody with his withered hand.

MARK 3:2   And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

The Jews had a strange self-defeating philosophy of the Law. With his withered hand, this man was a fine Jew as he could never do work on the Sabbath seeing that he could never do work on any day.

If Jesus chose to heal him and make him a useful servant who could do a day’s work instead of someone who had to rely on people’s charity, then they could condemn Jesus. Condemn the only Man who could heal this awful affliction.

MARK 3:3   And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

Jesus met the challenge head-to-head by calling the man forth.

MARK 3:4   And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

Jesus pointed to the obvious case of an animal that fell into a pit on the Sabbath.

MATTHEW 12:11   And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

The Jews were happy to save a sheep on a Sabbath, but not a man.

This hypocrisy made Jesus angry.

MARK 3:5   And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Jesus, the great Servant, then turned a useless man who could not work into a useful servant who could work for a living.

MARK 3:6   And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

But this supernatural power did nothing to show the Pharisees Who Jesus was. Jesus had totally outperformed them and they reacted in anger and hatred.

They turned to the political Jews, the Herodians, to combine religion and politics (like the red horse in the Second Seal of Revelation Chapter 6). With the sword of political power that controls the military, they would be able to destroy Jesus.

MARK 3:7   But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,

Jesus never chose to get involved in a political fight. He withdrew to the Sea of Galilee.

This is a subtle hint to His followers. Avoid political involvement as that will very seldom further the cause of the Kingdom of Heaven. Politics and religion are a toxic mixture that easily produces a dance of death.

Names reveal a deeper insight into the Plan of God

MARK 3:8   And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.

These cities and territories all portrayed something that servants of God could learn from.

The Jerusalem leaders used their religious power and influence to intimidate a weak Roman Governor Pontius Pilate to kill Jesus Who is the Word. Then the Romans returned in AD 70 to destroy the Temple and the city of Jerusalem and kill just over one million Jews. If you are involved with Rome or Roman Catholicism in any way then you will badly burn your fingers.

Idumaea was just south of Judaea and thus not part of the Promised Land. Under the Maccabees, the Jews briefly became an independent power. With their newfound political power, they conquered Idumaea and forced them to become Jews. This was a disaster as Herod came from Idumaea and the Romans made him king of the Jews. He was the cruelest king that the Jews had and he maintained his power by killing thousands of Jews. A savage reminder not to make political conquests outside the Promised Land.

Beyond Jordan was across the Jordan River from Jerusalem. That was the land of the Gentiles.

Tyre and Sidon were also Gentile cities.

A preview of the future that the Gospel would go to the Gentiles.

God desires no praise from those who believe error

MARK 3:9   And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.

As a Man Jesus always had difficulty trying to cope with large crowds who were desperate for His help.

Teaching and healing at the seashore meant that he could have a boat nearby on which He could escape from the crowd.

MARK 3:10   For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

As people got healed, more people pushed forwards to get a healing touch. Jesus had power over the plagues that defeated the medical doctors.

His ministry was one of incredible supernatural power.

MARK 3:11   And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

The bad spirits freely praised Jesus.

Consequently, Jesus is not interested in the praise of those who believe in error.

Unclean spirits are able to recognize the truth.

Thus ordinary people have no excuse if they are not able to recognize the truth about Jesus.

MARK 3:12   And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

But Jesus was not interested in the recognition that He got from unclean spirits.

Jesus is not interested in the praise He gets from people who are in error.

MATTHEW 7:21   Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

The double Lord, Lord speaks of emphasizing that He is Lord.

They put a great emphasis on Jesus as Lord with their lips but their hearts are still far from Him because they refuse to believe the Bible truth. The Bible tells us the thoughts of Jesus. But people prefer their own ideas and are trapped by their unscriptural church doctrines and traditions.

The Lord is very unimpressed with their praise.

MATTHEW 7:22   Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Prophecy is a deep gift. So is the power to cast out demons. Wonderful works are most impressive. From a human point of view, we would think that these people who possess such gifts are very close to God.

But they are not. God chases them far away from Himself, despite their gifts.

MATTHEW 7:23   And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The “church of the Laodiceans”. They set up their own ideas that pleased them and served God in a way that suited themselves. They were sincerely doing God a service without it being the Will of God. Unfortunately, it was just a waste of time.

If you cannot believe the truth then you have been fooled and are part of the foolish virgins.

Jesus is not at all impressed with you as you are doomed to be straightened out in the horror of great Tribulation before you are killed.

The huge mistake of the final church age of the Laodiceans (people’s rights) is that they demand the right to serve God in a way that suits themselves.

They focus on material wealth as evidence of God’s blessings has made them blind to the fact that they do not know so much about the Bible.

REVELATION 3:14   And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;

REVELATION 3:17   Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Sadly, the modern church does not know that they do not know.

Because they do not know that they are wrong they also never try to correct themselves.

MATTHEW 7:23   And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Iniquity. They do things wrong that they know are wrong. They believe things that are not written in the Bible like Trinity, God the Son, and “Father and Son are of the same essence”. They believe in the unscriptural Triune God Who has no name but they refuse to obey a Scripture like Acts 2:38 which tells them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

So, their life is a mixture of believing some things that are Scriptural and other things that are man-made errors. Deep down they know something is wrong but they are scared to admit that their church can be wrong. But they will very foolishly admit that there are mistakes in the Bible. Thereby they admit that Jesus has faults because Jesus is the Word that they are criticizing. No wonder He rejects them.

We have to believe that the Bible is perfect.

Jesus calls His servants to climb higher

MARK 3:13   And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

Up a mountain. Climbing a mountain is hard work. There is no easy way to the top as it is an uphill struggle. Struggle is the law of growth.

Only those who are called by Jesus can climb that mountain.

You can recognize those who have been called by their attitude of faithfulness to Scripture, as it is Scripture that calls them and fascinates them. They want to learn more about the Bible. They want to understand the deeper mysteries.

The whole world is at war with the Lamb. Those who are with Him have to be called because He chose them. They did not choose Him.

REVELATION 17:14   These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Being called by Jesus and being chosen by Jesus is great but it is not enough.

Something has to come from our side. We have to be faithful to that calling which means that we dare not criticize the Bible in any way. We must believe that the Bible is Perfect as the Infallible Word of God.

And we must want to understand its mysteries as that takes us deeper into the thoughts of God. As we understand the Bible better, so we draw closer to God’s thinking which is His Will.

The 12 disciples had two prominent Thunders believers

MARK 3:14   And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

The 12 disciples would stay close to Jesus. They must never argue or disagree with Jesus. As a result, they can never disagree with Scripture.

Then Jesus could send them forth to point others to the Scripture.

Only the Bible can be the foundation of our faith.

ROMANS 10:17   So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

But Peter would choose to disagree with Jesus and end up denying Him. Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for money. Faithfulness to the written Word is essential.

MARK 3:15   And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

The disciples were given supernatural power over sickness and demonology. But those great gifts did not stop Peter and Judas from going down the wrong paths.

Faithfulness to the written Word is more important than amazing supernatural gifts.

MARK 3:16   And Simon he surnamed Peter;

Peter was his surname.

The Catholics got this wrong as the Popes take a new Christian name.

The ancient pagans believed that a famous interpreter (called a Pter) would come to reveal the mysteries of the gods. “Roma” is a word meaning famous.

Pter Roma was a famous interpreter. That easily became Peter of Rome.

So the Roman Church launched a long campaign of deception to falsely claim that Peter had been in Rome. Finally, by AD 382 the Bishop of Rome, Damasus, accepted the doctrine that Peter was the first Pope in Rome and that the Bishops of Rome were his successors. By AD 400 the Bishop of Rome was calling himself the Pope.

Pter Roma needed Peter as his first name. The Catholics have so emphasized Peter as being his first name, not his surname, that almost all Protestants also believe that Peter was his first name or Christian name.

MARK 3:17   And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

James and John were two of the main disciples. But that did not stop them from taking on a wrong spirit that made them want to destroy their opponents.

Jesus wanted to go to Jerusalem and thus a Samaritan village did not want to receive Him.

LUKE 9:51   And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

:52   And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

:53   And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

This refusal to obey so angered James and John that they wanted to kill the Samaritans.

LUKE 9:54   And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

The “sons of Thunder” were happy to destroy any opposition.

LUKE 9:55    But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

But they had the wrong spirit. Jesus came to save and never killed anybody who opposed Him.

LUKE 9:56   For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

This same harsh spirit is easily found amongst brother Branham’s followers who claim to know what the seven Thunders are, despite the fact that they are not written in Scripture. By preaching a doctrine that is not written in Scripture they fall into the same trap as the Pope who teaches many doctrines that are not written in Scripture. But woe betides you if you dare to disagree with a Thunders-believer.

MARK 3:18   And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

:19   And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

Judas Iscariot was trained as a church leader, an apostle. But that did not make him immune to Satan’s tricks. Like so many other church leaders, his downfall was his greed for money.

Jesus as a Man struggled to cope with large crowds

MARK 3:20   And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.

A huge crowd of people were pushing and shoving to get to the front so that Jesus could heal them.

They made their continuous demands so that Jesus had no time for Himself. He could not even get a bite to eat. The crowd was not worried about His welfare, they were all frantically concerned only with their own welfare.

MARK 3:21   And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

The friends of Jesus decided to physically drag Him away as the pressure of the crowd and their insistent supplications were enough to drive anybody mad. One human Man is severely limited when He tries to deal with a large crowd.

Dealing with a large crowd is exceptionally difficult.

That is why Jesus had to die and ascend to Heaven in order to send His Spirit back as the Holy Ghost.

JOHN 14:16   And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Trinitarians believe that “another” Comforter means another Person Who is the Holy Spirit.

But that is not what the next verse says.

JOHN 14:17   Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

God was with mankind as Jesus.

Then the Spirit of Christ would return into the hearts of His people as the Holy Ghost.

God was manifest or showed Himself in the flesh, first in one Man, Jesus in Whom dwelled the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Jesus lived with the Jews. Then God would come down and divide His Spirit amongst all the individuals in the church. A portion of God lived in each individual.

I TIMOTHY 3:16   And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,

The Holy Ghost can operate all around the world at the same time and thus is able to deal individually with each member of a large crowd as if they are the only person there.

Jesus binds the Devil in order to cast out demons

MARK 3:22   And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

Jerusalem was higher up on a mountain than Capernaum. Thus the Jerusalem scribes had to come down physically. But there is a hidden meaning too. The Jerusalem scribes thought that they were superior to everyone else and thus felt that they were lowering their standards to investigate this miracle-worker Jesus.

They immediately condemned Jesus as the Prince of Devils. Typical of modern-day churchgoers. If you dare to disagree with us then you must be a devil.

MARK 3:23   And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

But Jesus replied that the demonic kingdom would not last very long if it attacked itself.

MARK 3:24   And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

The Soviet Empire broke up when the 15 different states in it all demanded independence. The British Empire broke up when the nations demanded independence.

Internal resistance and opposition will break down a kingdom.

MARK 3:25   And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

If a family cannot agree to live together in a house then the family splits up as members move away.

It takes co-operation, not conflict, to hold a family together.

MARK 3:26   And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

The fact that the kingdom of demonology still stands proves that the demons do not attack each other.

Jesus cannot cast out demons using Satan’s power as that means Satan has to undo his own power since it was satanic power that enabled the demon to enter the person.

MARK 3:27    No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Another reason that Jesus cannot cast out demons using Satan’s power is that Jesus has to bind the power of Satan in order to cast out the demon. Thus Satan is bound and powerless at the time of the demon being cast out.

During the Millennium or 1000 years of peace, Satan will be bound by a chain of circumstances. Then Jesus will rule the world.

That proves that Jesus is far more powerful than Satan.

HEBREWS 13:8   Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

If Jesus can bind Satan during the future Millennium, then He can bind Satan at any other time in the past or present.

If Jesus can bind Satan, then He can certainly bind any other demons as Satan is the strongest demon.

Never say that the Holy Ghost is the Devil*

MARK 3:28   Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

There is no sin that God cannot forgive, except for one exception.

If you call the works of the Holy Spirit the works of the Devil.

MARK 3:29   But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

The Jews called Jesus the Prince of Devils. God was prepared to forgive them for that.

But it will never be forgiven if people say that the works of the Holy Ghost are regarded as being the works of the Devil.

MARK 3:30   Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

That is a red line in the sand that we must never cross over.

The family of Jesus are those who do God’s Will

MARK 3:31    There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

Jesus had four brothers who were born to Joseph and Mary.

MATTHEW 13:55   Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

MARK 3:32    And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

When Jesus heard that his mother and four brothers were looking for Him He gave an answer which showed that His natural family had no advantage over outsiders.

In other words, the accident of birth does not impress God at all.

MARK 3:33   And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

He asked who His family actually are.

MARK 3:34   And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

He then pointed to all those who were gathered around Him and listening to His Word.

He made it clear that those who do the Will of God by believing the Word for their day are actually His real family. By doing the Will of God a woman automatically becomes His sister. So this family that does God’s Will is a much bigger family than just His mother and four brothers.

MARK 3:35   For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Mark deals with Christ as the Servant.

From a servant’s point of view, the most important aspect of His service is to do the Will of his Master.

A servant has to obey the Master. A servant cannot do as he or she pleases.

Luke presents Christ as the Ideal Man.

In Luke, Jesus tells us what he expects from us humans.

LUKE 8:21   And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

We must hear and obey the Word.

The Word of God thus tells us the Will of God.

Anything that is not written in Scripture cannot please God.

EPHESIANS 3:14   For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

“God the Father” fully indwelled the “Son of God”. (There is no “God the Son” in the Bible).

EPHESIANS 3:15   Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

All those who have taken on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in water baptism are then part of the Heavenly family that would spread out over 2000 years.