Mark 3

In this chapter we have the first mention in Mark of the Pharisees plotting to kill Jesus.

Jesus was in the Synagogue on a Sabbath where a man with a crippled hand was, probably begging for food. With all eyes on Him, Jesus asks "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent. Mark 3:4

Jesus the proceeds to heal the man's hand sparking the plot to begin against Him.

After this miracle crowds began to follow Jesus all wanting to be healed. Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was. verse 11-12

Is this an image of the 'church' today? Many people following Jesus for the healing, because other people are doing it, or just because there is nothing else to do. Then not understanding who He really is because He has not revealed Himself. In these verses only the Evil Spirits knew He was God, not those following after him.

We know from Matthew 7: 21-23 that "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Obviously Jesus is not talking about the true Believers here, but it seems clear there are those who believe in vain and are not saved.

Verses 13-19 have Jesus officially naming His apostles.

Next we have an important passage, Jesus mentions a sin which will not be forgiven. 

But won't all sins be forgiven? You might ask. 

Aparrently not.

Jesus says in verses 28-29 "I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."

This is a difficult passage to swallow. What does it mean to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit? 

Thankfully Jesus had explained himself in the verses previously, Scripture out of context is ALWAYS scary...

After healing the man's crippled hand Jesus was accused of being posesed by a demon. Jesus replied "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."

So accusing Jesus of being the Devil is unforgivable. This may also extend to (but I am not sure) to condemning preachers and teachers of being false when they are not. This says to me that although we are called to be discerning about false prophets we should also not be too swift to point the finger.

This chapter ends with a great comfort for Christians. We are held in closer relationship to Jesus than His physical brothers, sisters and family so long as we follw God's will for our lives.