Things you don’t see or hear every day:

Vs.4-  Jesus knew what they were thinking,  Vs.5-  Hand is healed,  Vs. 10- Many were healed,  VSS.11-12- Evil spirits knew who he was,  Vs.15- Gave the Apostles authority,  Vs.29- Prophetic declaration.

I.  Famous Healing Ministry,  Vss.1-12

Vs.4- Jesus asks if it is all right to do good on the Sabbath?  Seems like a ridiculous question to us.  But Jesus knew what the religious leaders were thinking-if you are a ‘healer’ then if you heal someone on the Sabbath-that is  your work-therefore a violation of the ‘Law’.  A convoluted understanding at best , and Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of it.  After all, if you can help someone or heal someone, that should be considered a ‘good’ thing.  If you don’t help when you can, that is tantamount to evil.  Jesus heals!

Vss.7-12-  Jesus Becomes Famous-

People literally came from different countries and regions to observe or to get healed by Jesus.

II.  Appoints Apostles & Gives Them Authority,  Vss.13-19

Jesus gave the 12 ‘authority’ (Can’t give what you don’t have–Jesus has authority)

To Do What?

1.  Be with him

2.  Preach

3.  Drive out demons

III.  What is affecting Jesus?

Vss. 20-21  Family thinks he is crazy

Vs. 22  Religious leaders think he is possessed by Satan himself

Vs.  23-30  Jesus says that it is The Holy Spirit giving him authority.

IV.  Mother & Brothers come to take charge of him, Vss.31-35

V.  **Notice the different responses of the people!  1. His own family see him changed so much, that they think he might be crazy.  2.  The religious leaders are threatened by his authority & plot against him.  3.  The Apostles commit themselves to be with Jesus & participate in his ministry.  4.  The regular folk flock to see Jesus,  there is no TV or Movie theater , this is the best entertainment they have ever seen.   5.  The sick are desperate to get to Jesus-they want healing & he delivers. Sometimes he doesn’t even get to eat or rest!

VI.  **Notice the different responses of Jesus.  1.  He heals the sick.  2. Preaches to the crowds.  3. Gives special attention & authority to the 12.  4.  He challenges the religious ‘leaders’ , shows their hypocrisy, & condemns them for calling the work of the Holy Spirit demonic.  5.  He rejects the way his family is treating him, & includes all who follow him and do God’s will as his real family.

VII.  Vs. 29  No forgiveness for “Blasphemes against the Holy Spirit”

Over the years, I have had a surprising number of Christians come to me wondering if they had committed this ‘unforgivable’ sin.  My answer has always been that anyone concerned about it definitely hasn’t–one’s concern is the poof of the matter.  It means that the Holy Spirit is still working on you. The ultimate ‘blasphemy’ is to die without Jesus, after a lifetime of rejecting every opportunity presented by the Holy Spirit.

Read Mark 4 for next week.

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