THINK

Mark 3:22 (KJV) And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

My question is why are theses scribes coming  down from Jerusalem? What is a scribe?  “A writer and a doctor of the law; a man of learning; one skilled in the law; one who read and explained the law to the people.” When Jesus. Was born in Bethlehem Herod called for the scribes  

Matthew 2:4 (KJV) And when he (Herod) had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. Now these scribes didn’t come from Jerusalem to help, but to place something in people’s minds; “He (Jesus) hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.” Lawyers do that all the time. They will say something they know is not admissible, the Judge will throw it out and then tell the jury to disregard it. The damage is already done and the lawyer has it in the minds of the jury. The scribes are doing the same thing;

“by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.” 

That’s what the scribes from Jerusalem said! Then Jesus says THINK! In other words, think for yourselves! Why do you believe what you believe? Because you have a real answer or because you heard it from someone else and it sounded good? Jesus steps into this conversation and says think! 

Mark 3:23 (KJV) And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? Now they have something to think about. But while they are thinking Jesus gives them the answer to His question.  Mark 3:24 (KJV)  And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

Mark 3:25 (KJV)  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Mark 3:26 (KJV)  And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. What’s the benefit for satan? if he destroys what he has already gained? What’s the benefit of joining forces to help destroy and hinder your goal? Stop and think whose team are you really on?

No Desire

Mark 3:13 (KJV) And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

It was just this morning my son and I were talking about some who are satisfied with the position they have in their job. No desire to learn anymore than they have too know and with no desire to move up. I’m not sure if I’m correct here about this verse but I believe the principle of what I’m saying is. Jesus goes up into a mountain “And he goeth up into a mountain” then Jesus “calleth unto him whom he would”  then we read “they came unto him.” Maybe it was something like this;  Jesus goes up and calls those He wanted. Jesus called men but He never made them respond. These whom Jesus called went up into this mountain. Early in my ministry I met a man named Jack Evans. I remember sitting in his kitchen when he told me this story. He told me that God had called him to preach, but he refused. I later told some of the older members about what he said. They told me that what he told me was true. They told me that he had preached a few times at the Church. They also said he did a fine job and it was evident that God had His hand upon him. Wow! I went back to talk with this man again and what he told me I have never forgotten. He said that he regretted not doing what God wanted him to do. God calls but never makes one do what they are unwilling to do. Jesus called the men He wanted to pour His life into to come apart and go with Him up into this mountain. From what I read here they all went “and they came unto him.”  That day on that mountain side this is what happened. Mark 3:14 (KJV) And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, Jesus “ordained twelve” Ordained simply means “”Properly, to set; to establish in a particular office” what did this office require?  

#1-that they should be with him 

#2- to be send forth that he might send them forth  #3- for what purpose to preach, power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:  

Mark 3:15 (KJV) And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:  

Mr Evans could apparently Preach but he lacked in the other two areas. The first thing we need to learn, no matter who we are is to be with Him. That’s more important than willing to go and to preach. If we never learn the importance of being with Him then there will be No Power to do anything else! I was 30 years old sitting on a church pew at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Stone Mountain Georgia. My Pastor was Ray Hill, a great Pastor and Preacher. I enjoyed sitting and learning under his leadership. But I had a desire to go and to follow. Then I dedcided I would go to Costa Rica as a missionary. At this point in my life I had answered the call to preach and now I’m willing to go. But I was doing it all wrong, I had let my want to go get ahead of my being with Him. If we fail at being with Him we miss the most important thing. Being with Him will let you know where He wants You to go and where He wants You to serve Him. Never forget we are servants of the most high, what an honor! it’s not about what I want, but what The Lord wants. Leadership is about learning to follow. If you can’t follow you’ll never be able to lead. 

John 10:4 (KJV) And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Got To Show Up

 Mark 3:7 (KJV) But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,

Jesus withdrew Himself knowing the evil of the Pharisees against him, he departed taking His disciples with Him to the seashore. Jesus is pouring His life into these 12 men and they are letting Him. In just a few verses Jesus is going to ordain these men for the purpose to send them out. One can’t sit in the classroom forever. Almost 20 years ago I needed to have more income while I waited to see where and what The Lord was wanting me to do. So I went to one of my good friends who was in the used car business. I told him I wanted him to teach me how to do what he did. This was his response, “I will, class begins this Monday night at the car sale” this is  where they would auction used cars. He said “if I am going to teach you you must be there every Monday night; EVERY MONDAY NIGHT!” I was there every Monday night. At first I just watched him, then he began to ask me questions like what’s the most you would give for that car? He would just point at a car, any car.  Then he would say what would you sell it for? I remember the night he said to me “if you don’t KNOW what you can get for it then you’ll never know how much to pay for it.”Then he let me start buying under his number as if I worked for him. He taught me a lot in the classroom on Monday nights. But the classroom is much different than doing the real thing and Jesus will let these disciples learn that before He leaves them. He will let them fail, He will let them make mistakes. That’s how you know what does and doesn’t  work. That first car I bought on my own, well I lost $400 dollars! But I didn’t make that mistake again. Follow these disciples, read of their mistakes, their misjudgments, their words they spoke out of place. But if you keep reading after them you’ll see the learning curve as they get better at what they do. No, it’s not  overnight you got this, no it’s a lifetime of investing.  Are you willing to take the challenge? How invested you are in the Church and the work of our Lord will determine how far you will go. 

Destory Him

Mark 3:1 (KJV) And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

The importance of the “synagogue” why is going back to the synagogue so important? There are things that happen at the synagogue that don’t happen anywhere else. On this day at the synagogue there’s a man there who needs help.  The Bible tells us that this man had a “withered hand.” Now I didn’t read where this man asked for any help at all from Jesus. But I did read that others were watching Jesus.  Mark 3:2 (KJV) And they watched  him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. There’s always someone watching; they were watching with a purpose in mind “that they might accuse him.” Accuse Jesus of what? Breaking the sabbath! They could care less about this man that needed help. This is the way it is in many Churches today the attitude is please I’m busy ask someone else. What does Jesus do? He has this man who has a  “withered hand” to stand forth.  Mark 3:3 (KJV) And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. Jesus knowing the thoughts of those watching to see if He would heal on the sabbath says  Mark 3:4 (KJV) And 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. We’ll speak up! “But they held their peace.” Bunch of wimps! Don’t be neutral, speak up!

Mark 3:5 (KJV) And 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. What happened after that? Well  these Pharisees had their little meeting on how they might get rid of Jesus.  Mark 3:6 (KJV) And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the   against him, how they might destroy him.  I would think that their first purpose was to destroy Jesus' character because He was doing things differently. Discredit Jesus among the people, get that ball rolling and the people will discredit Jesus even more on their own. Is that not what happened? Mark 15:12  And Pilate answered and said again unto them,(the people) What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

Mark 15:13  And they cried out again, Crucify him.

Be Like Us

 Have you ever been around those who are always looking for fault rather than the good? I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Well I noticed this about the Pharisees, there were always asking questions and overlooking the good before their eyes. In  Mark 2:16 (KJV) And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him (Jesus) eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he (Jesus) eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?  This group of scribes and Pharisees when they saw Jesus eating with this group of what they called sinners they had questions. What in the world is He thinking? My question to those Pharisees is why not? My mother, bless her heart, would go to the doctor and when the doctor would ask her how she felt she would say “just fine.” People don’t go to doctors who feel fine. That’s what Jesus said “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” I have never stopped at my doctor's office when I felt good and had no fever, sore throat or pain. But these Pharisees wanted to know why Jesus would associate Himself with such people as that. Then in  Mark 2:18 (KJV) And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? Why aren’t Your disciples doing like us? Isn’t that what they were really saying? Aren’t you glad Jesus wasn’t trying to be like everybody else? Then in Mark 2:24 (KJV) And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? These Pharisees never saw the positive; they only saw the negative. Four times in Mark 2 they questioned  “Why doth this man”  “How is it that” “Why do the”  “why do they.” All would have been fine had the questions been to learn but that wasn’t the case at all.  They weren’t trying to learn, they were saying be like us!

Confusion

Mark 2:13 (KJV) And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. 

Jesus is back by the sea shore and people are coming to where He is. Jesus takes this opportunity to teach those that have come. Jesus sees a man by the name of Levi/Matthew  and calls him to come and follow Him. Levi does so without question.

Mark 2:14 (KJV) And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. Now there are 5 men following after Jesus; Andrew, his brother Simon, James and his brother John and now Levi. Remember what Jesus is doing? He’s making leaders with men who are  willing to follow Him. Levi is excited about his decision to follow Jesus. Here’s how I know!  

Mark 2:15 (KJV) And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. Levi is so excited he is having a get together at his house. Levi does what you and I might do; he invites those he worked with and worked for, as well as other people that he came in contact with on a work basis. Then we read about the scribes and the Pharisees who may not have been invited by Levi but were following Jesus to see what He was up to. 

Mark 2:16 (KJV) And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him (Jesus) eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he (Jesus) eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? These scribes and Pharisees didn’t go to Jesus nor Levi but Jesus’s disciples. That’s the best way to cause confusion, ask those who don’t always know. Jesus is teaching, training these disciples to turn the world upside down and at this point they know more about fishing than the work of Jesus Christ.  I love the answer Jesus gives when he hears.  

Mark 2:17 (KJV) When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Those that are well don’t need a doctor but those that are sick. What’s Jesus saying? People like yourselves think they are whole and don’t need help. I came to give life to those who know they need help. These verses are a wonderful word picture of what happens when one like Levi knows he needs Jesus. He is so excited to share his new found faith to his friends and coworkers. But there’s always going to be others who aren’t so happy. I remember when I began to follow Christ some were happy for me but not all. I remember the night I told my dad I was going to Bible College. He was not happy about my decision and told me so. Little did I know nor did he know that in years to come I would be the one God used to influence and bring him to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. He’s in heaven now and I’m sure he’s happy!

Actions That Affect

Here in chapter 2 there’s a lot of people but there are 5 that are pointed out, 4 caring 1 that can’t do for himself. We see 4 people that care enough for someone else that they are sacrificially giving of themselves for someone else with no thought of return. There’s a principle that goes like this “Our sinful habits do hurt those who follow us.” In other words what we/ I do, good or bad affects others. Is this not what Jesus is saying here? 

Mark 2:5 (KJV) When Jesus saw their faith,(These 4 men) he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. What’s interesting to me is we read nothing of these 5 men. Nothing is said of these 4 men who sacrificed themselves. Neither is anything said about the man who was brought and lowered down to Jesus. No, not one word about his being healed of palsy was mentioned by these self righteous scribes. So listen, we shouldn’t expect nor do things hoping to be recognized. I remember a few years back when President Trump gave Rush Limbaugh the  Presidential  Medal of Freedom award. The look on Rush Limbaugh’s face when he announced it spoke volumes. He never saw this award coming. But greater than that, what he did in life wasn’t done to be awarded. Neither were these 4-men looking for anything other than helping a man who needed help. When we see the good others do for those in need is always inspiring. But when others do things that don’t inspire others but instead hurt others is not so exciting. The lie “it’s only hurting me!” Is not true for what we do affects others. The husband and wife who have children get a divorce does affect the children. Just ask children whose parents divorced. You’ll never hear them say “well it was the best thing for us kids.” The sad thing is it does affect. Our actions do affect others.