judgement

Introduction

Mark began his Gospel with a bang, and while the action is gripping at every turn, he somehow finds a way to increase the intensity with each story. In this passage, the fiery majesty of the Lord of Glory breaks through more than it has yet. Israel’s elders experience a small glimpse of the fierceness of His wrath, while others get a glimpse of the splendor of His covenant mercies.

We live in the tension of the brokenness of sin in our past, and the coming Judgment in our future. The regret of our past makes us fear the future. In Jesus, however, the shame of our past is lifted off of us and the future is held out to us as a joyful hope.

The Text 

And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 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. […]

Mark 3:1ff

Summary of the Text

The sparks that began flying Mark 2 (revolving around Jesus giving forgiveness, feasting with sinners, and exercising Lordship over their sabbath) catch flame in this fiery episode of Sabbath healing. Jesus enters the synagogue, where a man with a withered hand was; the Pharisees watch what Jesus would do, with the explicit intent to accuse him (vv1-2). It would seem this was a set up. Jesus draws everyone’s attention to the man (v3); and then asks a provoking question: is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath (v4)? The Pharisees stubbornly give no reply. The holy wrath of Christ burns forth and His more glorious mercy is displayed in the restoration of the man’s hand (v5). The Pharisees––like Doeg the Edomite—go tattle to the Edomite King Herod (v6). 

Jesus strategically withdrawals––fleeing like David (Cf. 1 Sam. 22:1)––but the crowds from all over Israel throng to him (literally throwing themselves at Him). So, He teaches the multitude from a boat. The Lord continues healing and casting out demons, and strictly charges the demons not to reveal His messianic identity (vv7-12, Cf. Mk. 1:34 & 44).

A new section in Mark’s Gospel begins with Jesus ordination of the twelve disciples, imbuing them with power to perform the same works of mercy and cleansing which He had been performing (vv13-19, Cf. 6:7ff). Israel is being reconstituted under the Messiah’s authority. We also have the first explicit statement that Jesus is headed toward the suffering of the cross (Mk. 3:19).

The crowds continue to swell around this Son of David (Cf. Mt. 12:23); but now His kinsman (v21) and immediate family (v31) try to get Him under control. The Scribes accuse Him of being a Satanist (an irony considering the role of accuser which they’ve been playing); but Jesus lays out the principle of the doom of a divided kingdom (vv22-30). If Satan was driving out Satan, then Satan’s kingdom was indeed on the verge of collapse. Indeed, the Scribes were right to see that Satan’s minions were on the run, but Jesus offers an alternative explanation: He’d come to bind the strong man. He was bringing deliverance, and they accused Him of bringing bondage. The Scribes were in danger of a sin of an unforgivable nature.

When Jesus’ mother and brothers try to corral Him, He rebuffs them, not with spite or disrespect but by revealing that God was bringing about a new humanity. This humble allegiance to God’s will superseded human bonds of relationship, even familial bonds (vv31-35).

A Grieved Christ

A few things should be mentioned about the condition of the man with a withered hand. Luke notes that it was his right hand. Mark’s language implies that this withering was likely due to some catastrophic accident which brought the man into a pitiable state. This condition would have prohibited him by Levitical law from temple service. But, as we’ve seen with earlier restorations, Christ came to restore man to service.

Mark Horne, in his wonderful commentary, points out some significant OT allusions that arise here. Moses is given the sign of a leprous hand to show to Israel’s elders, to prove to them that he was a prophet deliverer for Israel (Ex. 4:30-31). King Jeroboam’s hand was withered when he commanded his soldiers to seize the man of God; he then pleads for the man of God to pray for him, and God answers his prayer for restoration (1 Ki. 13). Psalm 137 speaks of the right hand losing its cunning and the tongue made silent if Jerusalem were to be forgotten. The implication is that Israel has forgot her God, and thus maimed right hands and tongues cleaving to the roof of the mouth prevail.

The Pharisees’ silence also demonstrates the danger of misplaced loyalty. Not one spoke up. Not one went against the herd. Clearly to speak against the party would be consequential. They had not taken wisdom to heart: “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not (Pro 1:10).”

Jesus simply commands the man to stretch forth his withered hand. Jesus does no work. The hand was healed, as one commentator put it, “by the almighty volition of Jesus.” The Pharisees lusted for a slam dunk accusation against Jesus; instead He runs an exegetical circle around them (God’s covenant brought life not death). Jesus leaves the Pharisees empty-handed, legally, and leaves the man with a strengthened right hand (Ps. 118:16). He performs a splendid miracle in their midst, but technically speaking, didn’t do any work. Christ vividly displays that He is Lord of time, reversing the misfortune which had withered the man’s hand.

God’s Family

The calling of the twelve is a cue that Israel is being reconstituted (e.g. 12 tribes, 12 judges, 12 minor prophets). Christ ascends the mountain as a new Moses, ordaining twelve new “heads” of Israel. Horne points out that four disciples were called in Mark 1, which was followed by four healings; so the eight new disciples named here hint that eight more specific healings are on the horizon. Authority is conferred upon the disciples to drive out the unclean spirits alongside the Anointed.

This reconstitution of Israel under the authority of the apostles’ witness is important context for the next episode in Mark’s retelling of Jesus’ story. The threats of the Scribes are sandwiched between statements about Jesus’ earthly kinsman shakiness. They’re worried by the toll Jesus’ ministry is taking upon Him. But Jesus is bringing about a new kingdom and a new family, with Himself as the Head of it. This new family will tread Satan underfoot, because its Head bound the Serpent.

Satan Bound

Mark points to this particular clash with the Scribes as the first parable of Jesus. More are about to follow, but for now it’s sufficient to say that Jesus taught using these dark sayings in order to confirm the hardness of unbelieving hearts (Cf. Mt. 13:14-15 & Is. 6:9-10). The Scribes should have discerned that the exorcisms were signs that the unclean spirits were on the run, and this must mean that the mighty captor had been overthrown (Cf. Is. 49:14-26).

“[The demoniac] is one of Satan’s best fortified and best garrisoned fortresses. There could hardly be a clearer or more explicit exhibition of Satan’s infernal enmity to man, and of his horrid character as the marrer of God’s workmanship, the inflictor of darkness and disease.” And Jesus, like a mighty man of old, overthrows this garrison of Satan, only to receive the accusation of being a Satanist.

Jesus warns the Scribes that they are coming dangerously close to blaspheming the Holy Spirit. They verge on calling that which is holy “unclean”. They were ascribing wickedness to the merciful acts of the Holy Spirit. They did so maliciously and with their eyes wide open. Their ancestors had done similarly (Cf. Is. 63:10). 

A Glimpse of Final Judgement

This moment with the Scribes accusing Jesus of Satanism is quite breathtaking. Jesus ascends higher than He has thus far. Here is a foreshadow of the Son of Man coming at last to judge the living and the dead. Here is an initial separation of sheep from goats. The goats blaspheme Jesus and the worst of them blaspheme the Holy Spirit; but those who do the will of God find welcome in Christ’s new family and kingdom.

So what does Jesus call you to? What is God’s will for you? Be made whole by the Word of Christ, and then lay hold of Christ. Jesus gives you hands to lay hold of the tree of life.

• 
  The Inescapable Story of Jesus 01 | Make Way
• 
  The Inescapable Story of Jesus 02 | The Scandal of Forgiveness & Feasting
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  The Inescapable Story of Jesus 03 | When Majesty Breaks Through
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  The Inescapable Story of Jesus 04 | Dark Sayings & Deep Waters
• 
  The Inescapable Story of Jesus 05 | In the Tombs

Communion Meditation

I want to dwell upon the glory that Jesus shows us in declaring that He has bound Satan. Revelation 20 also states that Christ has bound Satan; but this is no generic binding. It is a binding in regards to deceiving the nations. 

The covenant given to Moses was mediated angelically. Israel, then, was the lone nation guarded by the holy angels. Conversely, the pagan nations were ruled by Satan and his fellow demonic angels. So we should be shocked when Israel in Jesus’ day was filled with demoniacs. Israel was overrun politically by the Romans, but spiritually, She was possessed by fallen angels. Israel was now deceived and ensnared by the Serpent. 

Mark uses the stories of healing to make plain the fact that Jesus came to restore us fully. Jesus cleansed a leper, raised a fevered woman, healed the paralytic, and un-withered the man’s shriveled hand. Jesus not only restores the whole man, but in restoring makes way for you to re-enter the sanctuary of God and lay hold on the tree of life. Satan bound Adam at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and God then barred man from the tree of life; but now the Last Adam has bound Satan, and invites you to lay hold upon Him.

The significance of Christ resisting Satan’s temptations in the wilderness is profound. Satan tempts Jesus with the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. And unlike Adam and Israel, Jesus overcomes the Tempter thereby binding the serpent and his deceptive power over the nations.

This meal, then, celebrates that Satan is bound, and in Christ, you are free. You partake of the pure Word that gives life. You feast upon true knowledge of good and evil, and are given to partake of Christ crucified, the tree of life.

So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…

Charge & Benediction

Jesus is seen one of two ways either as a threat to your darkness, or as a merciful deliverance from it. Jesus is coming to judge the living and the dead, and you must live accordingly. Lewis said it well: There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” Be in the first group, not the last. 

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. Amen. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)