Bible Commentaries

Jesus Called His Apostles

- Mark Three -

In Mark three Jesus' conflicts with the Pharisees continued. He healed people and they felt that His actions violated all their rules. In this chapter we also have record of Jesus calling twelve apostles and giving them power to preach, heal and cast out demons. The fact that Jesus healed a crippled man on the Sabbath Day incited the Pharisees against Him even more. Jesus wanted it understood that you could do good on the Sabbath Day just like you can do good on any other day.

Large crowds followed Jesus as He moved about. By the sea they pressed upon Him. As the crowds gathered Jesus both healed people and preached. After this Jesus called aside into a mountain certain disciples that he named Apostles. He selected twelve apostles just like there had been twelve tribes in Israel. Even in spite of the criticism Jesus just kept preaching and healing and working. His popularity was growing tremendously.

Jesus" own family was deeply concerned about Him. It is amazing the simplicity with which the Bible disposes of religious error. Some teach the error of the perpetual virginity of Mary. God's word provides us with the names of several of Jesus" siblings. However here Jesus wanted to prove that His real family is those that are obedient to the will of God. Our fleshly relationships last only a few years. Those in God's family through obedience to the gospel have a relationship for eternity.

A Man with a Crippled Hand - Mark 3:1-6 : During His personal ministry Jesus went about doing good. Peter spoke of "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." (Acts 10:38) Jesus was often in the synagogue, the place of Jewish meetings. On this occasion a man with a crippled hand was there. The Pharisees were constantly watching Jesus to find some wrong to accuse Him of. This time they watched to see if Jesus would heal this man on the Sabbath. Their concern was not for the man. They only wanted to trap Jesus either in what He did or what He said.

Jesus did not live His life in seclusion so he asked the man to stand up so that everyone could see him. Jesus asked if good or evil should be done on the Sabbath. He wanted the Pharisees to think about whether someone's life should be saved or destroyed on the Sabbath. But they were silent when Jesus asked His questions. Jesus felt anger toward the people because they were so stubborn. Jesus" anger was not anything inappropriate. In His anger He felt sorry for these people. He told the man, "Stretch out your hand." "He stretched it out, and his hand was restored." The Pharisees left quickly and began their plans with the Herodians (Herod's followers) to kill Jesus.

Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles - Mark 3:7-19 : Jesus went to the shore of the lake with His disciples. A large crowd followed Him there. The people from many places heard of the things that Jesus was doing and they came to Him. He instructed the disciples to get a boat ready for Him because the crowd was pressing so against Him. Jesus healed many sick people and all that had diseases were trying to touch him. Even the evil spirits would fall to the ground and shout out, "You are the Son of God!" Jesus commanded the evil spirits to not to make Him known.

Jesus called some of His disciples up on a mountain with Him. There he chose twelve of them to be his apostles. He wanted them to be with Him and he wanted to send them out to preach. The Lord chose Simon He named him Peter. He also chose the sons of thunder, James and John. Other apostles were Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus and Simon. There was also Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus. The apostles were special men with special powers to do a special work for God.

Jesus and the Ruler of Demons - Mark 3:20-30 : When Jesus went home the crowd gathered again. There was not even an opportunity for Jesus to eat. Sadly when Jesus" own family heard what He was doing they went out to seize him and get him under control because they thought he was crazy. The scribes or teachers of the Law of Moses came from Jerusalem and said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub," and "by the prince of demons he casts out the demons."

Jesus often used parables in His teaching so He spoke to these people saying, "How can Satan cast out Satan? A nation or kingdom fighting against itself want last very long. A family that fights soon destroys itself. "If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand." Jesus was not doing what He did by the power of Satan. If Satan was fighting against himself he could not stand. When Jesus entered this world He entered the strong man's house and bound the strong man (Satan.) Everyone should recognize that what Jesus is doing is opposed to Satan and what Satan is doing is opposed to Jesus.

Jesus promised these people that they could be forgiven of every sin but that of blasphemes against the Holy Spirit. This person has no forgiveness. Jesus explained what this sin was. Jesus said blaspheme against the Holy Spirit was when people were saying that He had an evil spirit in Him. It was the sin of looking at the pure and holy life of Jesus Christ as being evil and from Satan. It is the soul's deliberate choice to call good evil and evil good.

Jesus" Mother and Brothers - Mark 3:31-35 : Jesus" mother and brothers heard what was going on. They thought he was mad or beside himself. They sent someone with a message for him to come out to them. He was told "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you." You can just imagine the deep concern that Jesus" family had for Him. Jesus had both brothers and sisters. "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? (Matthew 13:55-56) Mary was not a perpetual virgin instead she was the mother of several children.

Jesus asked, "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?" Jesus said that anyone that obeyed God is His brother or sister or mother. It is obedience to the will of God that separates the saved from the lost. "Faith only" has become the teaching of the majority of the religious world but Jesus taught that faith plus obedience equals salvation. Are you willing to obey?