Mark 3

Mark 3 belongs to the opening section of the Gospel of Mark, which covers Jesus' ministry in Galilee. The Sabbath controversy that continues from Mark 2 reaches its climax in this chapter's healing in the synagogue, and the first plot in Mark to kill Jesus appears here.

Outline

• Verses 1–6 On the Sabbath, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand in the synagogue. The Pharisees go out and confer with the Herodians about how to destroy him.
• Verses 7–12 When great crowds come from many regions, Jesus has a small boat made ready for him. Unclean spirits cry out, "Thou art the Son of God," and Jesus strictly charges them not to make him known.
• Verses 13–19 Jesus goes up into a mountain and appoints the Twelve, whose names are listed.
• Verses 20–30 His family goes out to lay hold on him, saying that he is out of his mind. Scribes who have come down from Jerusalem claim that he casts out demons by the power of Beelzebub; Jesus refutes them with parables and warns of the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
• Verses 31–35 When his mother and brothers come looking for him, Jesus says that whoever does the will of God is his brother, sister, and mother.

Key Verses

• Mark 3:14 "that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach" — states the purpose for which the disciples were appointed.
• Mark 3:29 "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness" — the basis for the so-called sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
• Mark 3:35 "For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother" — speaks of a new family that transcends blood ties.

Characters and Places

• The man with the withered hand: He is not named.
• Scribes: Experts who taught and interpreted the Law; in this chapter they are men who have come down from Jerusalem.
• The Twelve Disciples: Peter, James son of Zebedee, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot. James and John receive the name "Boanerges" (sons of thunder).
• Beelzebub: The name the scribes used for the prince of demons.
• Places: The chapter mentions Galilee, Jerusalem, the region beyond the Jordan River, Judea, Idumaea (a region south of Judea), and Tyre and Sidon (cities on the Mediterranean coast).

Points for Reflection

• Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit: Verse 30 explains that this warning was given because the work of the Holy Spirit had been attributed to an unclean spirit. Protestants often interpret the passage as a deliberate and persistent rejection of the Holy Spirit's work, though interpretations vary. Parallel passages are Mark 3:28–30 and Luke 12:10.
• The brothers of Jesus: In keeping with the tradition of Mary's perpetual virginity, the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church regard them as cousins or as other children of Joseph. Protestants generally read them as children born to Mary and Joseph. A related figure is James, the brother of the Lord.
• The list of disciples: Luke 6 and Acts 1 name "Judas son of James" in place of Thaddaeus. Luke calls Simon "the Zealot," which connects him with the Zealots.
• The command to silence (verse 12): This characteristic feature of Mark, in which Jesus orders that his identity be kept hidden, is sometimes called the "Messianic Secret" by scholars.