Frameworks:
Mark's Gospel chapter 3
(The
objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read
layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses
for verse-by-verse study or meditation. To focus each
verse we have also added in italic a description of what is happening)
CHAPTER
3
v.1-6
Synagogue Healing on the Sabbath
v.7-12
Crowds Follow Jesus
v.13-19
Jesus Appoints the Twelve
v.20,21
Jesus Accused by His Family
v.22-27
Jesus Accused by Teachers of the Law
v.28-30
Jesus speaks about the ultimate sin
v.31-35
Jesus' Family come
v.1-6
Synagogue Healing on the Sabbath
v.1
(an unmet need in the synagogue) Another
time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shrivelled
hand was there.
v.2
(accusers watch) Some
of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched
him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.
v.3
(the man called out) Jesus
said to the man with the shrivelled hand, “Stand up in front
of everyone.”
v.4
(Jesus questions about doing good) Then
Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good
or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained
silent.
v.5
(angry at their callousness, he heals the man)
He looked around at them in anger
and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch
out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely
restored.
v.6 (the
opposition start to plot Jesus' death) Then
the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how
they might kill Jesus.
v.7-12
Crowds Follow Jesus
v.7
(Jesus leaves, the crowds follow) Jesus
withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from
Galilee followed.
v.8
(good news draws people) When
they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from
Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and
around Tyre and Sidon.
v.9
(Jesus uses a boat to preach) Because
of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready
for him, to keep the people from crowding him.
v.10
(to avoid being swamped by people) For
he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing
forward to touch him.
v.11
(demons fell before him) Whenever
the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried
out, “You are the Son of God.”
v.12
(he silenced them) But
he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.
v.13-19
Jesus Appoints the Twelve
v.13
(Jesus goes aside to call his apostles) Jesus
went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and
they came to him.
v.14,15
(12 appointed for ministry) He
appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he
might send them out to preach and to have authority to
drive out demons.
v.16-19
(the 12 named) These
are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),
James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the
name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip,
Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus,
Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
v.20,21
Jesus Accused by His Family
v.20
(in a home he is swamped by people) Then
Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that
he and his disciples were not even able to eat.
v.21
(his family misunderstand) When
his family heard about this, they went to take charge of
him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
v.22-27
Jesus Accused by Teachers of the Law
v.22
(the opposition accuses him of being possessed )
And the teachers of the law who came
down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By
the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
v.23
(Jesus' question no.1) So
Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How
can Satan drive out Satan?
v.24
(principle declared no.1) If
a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
v.25
(principle declared no.2) If
a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
v.26
(principle declared no.3) And
if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his
end has come.
v.27
(principle declared no.4) In
fact, no one can enter a strong man's house without first tying
him up. Then he can plunder the strong man's house.
v.28-30
Jesus speaks about the ultimate sin
v.28
(a general principle) Truly
I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander
they utter,
v.29
(the exception) but
whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven;
they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
v.30
(reason) He said
this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
v.31-35
Jesus' Family come
v.31
(his family arrive) Then
Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they
sent someone in to call him.
v.32
(he is told) A
crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother
and brothers are outside looking for you.”
v.33
(he asks a pertinent question) “Who
are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
v.34
(he includes the crowd) Then
he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here
are my mother and my brothers!
v.35
(he lays down general principle) Whoever
does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.”