Mark 3 - John Darby's Synopsis of the New TestamentMark 3Mark 3:1And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. Such was the question raised in the synagogue (chapter 3) on the occasion of the man with the withered hand. The Lord sets it publicly before their conscience; but neither heart nor conscience answered Him; and He acts in His service according to the goodness and rights of God, and heals the man. [See Note #4] The Pharisees and their enemies, the Herodians for all were against God and united in this consult together how they might destroy Christ. Jesus departs to the sea-coast of the sea of Tiberias. There the multitude follow Him, because of all that He had done; so that He is obliged to have a boat, that He may be outside the crowd. Spirits are subject to Him, compelled to own that He is the Son of God; but He forbids them to make Him known.Service in preaching, and in seeking souls, in devoting Himself to all, shewing Himself by His acts to be the possessor of divine power, hiding Himself from the notice of men, in order to fulfil, apart from their applause, the service He had undertaken such was His human life on earth. Love and divine power were disclosed in the service which that love impelled Him to accomplish, and in the accomplishment of which that power was exercised. But this could not be circumscribed by Judaism, however subject the Lord was to the ordinances of God given to the Jews. But, God being thus manifested, the carnal opposition of man soon shews itself. [See Note #5] Here, then, the description of Christ's service ends, and its effect is manifested. This effect is developed in that which soon follows, with respect both to the iniquity of man and to the counsels of God. Meanwhile the Lord appoints twelve of His disciples to accompany Him, and to go forth preaching in His name. He could, not merely work miracles but, communicate to others the power to work them, and that by way of authority. He goes back into the house, and the multitude re-assemble. And here the thoughts of man display themselves at the same time as those of God. His friends search for Him as one who was beside Himself. The scribes, possessing influence as learned men, attribute to Satan a power which they could not deny. The Lord answers them by shewing that in general all sin could be pardoned; but that to acknowledge the power, and attribute it to the enemy, rather than own Him who wielded it, was taking the place not of ignorant unbelief but of adversaries, thus blaspheming against the Holy Ghost was a sin that could never be pardoned. The "strong man" was there; but Jesus was stronger than he, for He cast out the devils. Would Satan endeavour to overthrow his own house? The fact that the power of Jesus manifested itself in this manner left them without excuse. God's "strong man" was then come: Israel rejected Him; and, as regards their leaders, by blaspheming against the Holy Ghost, they brought themselves under hopeless condemnation. The Lord therefore immediately distinguishes the remnant who received His word from all natural connection He had with Israel. His mother or His "brethren" are the disciples who stand around Him, and those who do the will of God. This really sets aside Israel at that time. Note #5 This rapidity characterises Mark, as does the word "immediately." Note #4 One cannot but see how the old system, based on what man ought to be for God, is being set aside for what God is for man. But, the former having been established by God, nothing but the words and works of Jesus would have justified the Jews in giving it up. As it was, it was clearly opposition and hatred to the full revelation of Him who had ordained the other. Compare John 15:22; John 15:24. Note #5 This is the secret of all the history of Jesus, Son of David. All the promises being in Him for the Jews, the servant of every want too and every sorrow, yet being God and God manifested in Him, man could not bear it. The mind of the flesh is enmity against God. Mark 3:2And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.Mark 3:3And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.Mark 3:4And 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.Mark 3:5And 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.Mark 3:6And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.Mark 3:7But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,Mark 3:8And 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.Mark 3:9And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.Mark 3:10For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.Mark 3:11And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.Mark 3:12And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.Mark 3:13And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.Mark 3:14And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,Mark 3:15And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:Mark 3:16And Simon he surnamed Peter;Mark 3:17And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:Mark 3:18And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,Mark 3:19And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.Mark 3:20And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.Mark 3:21And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.Mark 3:22And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.Mark 3:23And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?Mark 3:24And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.Mark 3:25And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.Mark 3:26And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.Mark 3:27No 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.Mark 3:28Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:Mark 3:29But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:Mark 3:30Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.Mark 3:31There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.Mark 3:32And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.Mark 3:33And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?Mark 3:34And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!Mark 3:35For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. |