1. Welcome to Grace!
For freedom Christ has set us free.
Stand firm, then,
and do not be subject again
to the yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
“I’ve got nothing
against God
… it’s His fan club I
can’t stand”
3. Please notice that Jesus has
already (in Mark 2:21-22) spelled
out that institutional religion
and Christianity are not
compatible.
• Religion is to do with the
codification and
institutionalisation of rules,
regulations and ritual.
• Following the King in the
Kingdom of God is to do with
repentance and restoration to
relationship.
One of those is Christianity.
The other is not.
4. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger 2:23-27
Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his
disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their way.
24 So the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is
against the law on the Sabbath?”
25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he
was in need and he and his companions were hungry— 26 how he
entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the
sacred bread, which is against the law for any but the priests to eat,
and also gave it to his companions?”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for people, not
people for the Sabbath. 28 For this reason the Son of Man is Lord even
of the Sabbath
5. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger 2:23-27
Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his
disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their
way.
6. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger 2:23-27
Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his
disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their
way.
24 So the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what
is against the law on the Sabbath?”
7. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger 2:23-27
Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his
disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their
way.
24 So the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what
is against the law on the Sabbath?”
25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when
he was in need and he and his companions were hungry—
26 how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high
priest and ate the sacred bread, which is against the law for
any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to his companions?”
8. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger 2:23-27
Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his
disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their way.
24 So the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is
against the law on the Sabbath?”
25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he
was in need and he and his companions were hungry— 26 how he
entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the
sacred bread, which is against the law for any but the priests to eat,
and also gave it to his companions?”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for people, not
people for the Sabbath. 28 For this reason the Son of Man is Lord even
of the Sabbath
10. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a
withered hand.
2 They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, so
that they could accuse him.
3 So he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Stand up among all these
people.”
4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save
a life or destroy it?” But they were silent.
5 After looking around at them in anger, grieved by the hardness of their
hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his
hand was restored.
6 So the Pharisees went out immediately and began plotting with the
Herodians, as to how they could assassinate him.
11. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who
had a withered hand.
2 They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath,
so that they could accuse him.
12. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who
had a withered hand.
2 They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath,
so that they could accuse him.
3 So he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Stand up among
all these people.”
4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil,
to save a life or destroy it?” But they were silent.
13. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who
had a withered hand.
2 They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath,
so that they could accuse him.
3 So he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Stand up among
all these people.”
4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil,
to save a life or destroy it?” But they were silent.
5 After looking around at them in anger, grieved by the hardness of
their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched
it out, and his hand was restored.
14. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a
withered hand.
2 They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, so
that they could accuse him.
3 So he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Stand up among all these
people.”
4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save
a life or destroy it?” But they were silent.
5 After looking around at them in anger, grieved by the hardness of their
hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his
hand was restored.
6 So the Pharisees went out immediately and began plotting with the
Herodians, as to how they could assassinate him.
15. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12
16. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12
Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from
Galilee followed him.
And from Judea,8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River, and around Tyre
and Sidon a great multitude came to him when they heard about the things he
had done.
9 Because of the crowd, he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him
so the crowd would not press toward him. 10 For he had healed many, so that
all who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward him in order to touch him.
11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and
cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But he sternly ordered them not to make
him known.
17. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12
Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great
multitude from Galilee followed him.
18. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12
Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great
multitude from Galilee followed him.
And from Judea,8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River, and
around Tyre and Sidon a great multitude came to him when they heard
about the things he had done.
19. … from Judea,8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River,
and around Tyre and Sidon a great multitude came to him
20. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12
Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great
multitude from Galilee followed him.
And from Judea,8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River, and
around Tyre and Sidon a great multitude came to him when they heard
about the things he had done.
9 Because of the crowd, he told his disciples to have a small boat ready
for him so the crowd would not press toward him. 10 For he had healed
many, so that all who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward him
in order to touch him.
21. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12
Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from
Galilee followed him.
And from Judea,8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River, and around Tyre
and Sidon a great multitude came to him when they heard about the things he
had done.
9 Because of the crowd, he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him
so the crowd would not press toward him. 10 For he had healed many, so that
all who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward him in order to touch him.
11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and
cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But he sternly ordered them not to make
him known.
22. Mark 2:23-3:12
• Introduction
• Objection to meeting need: hunger, 2:23-28
• Objection to meeting need: livelihood, 3:1-6
• Response to God’s Kingdom meeting need: 3:7-12
• Conclusion
Religion sets you rules: Jesus sets you free.
Religion is going to gun for you if you’re a follower of Jesus.
Now let’s be clear on this, that religion which is self-reliant insistence on
rules and ritual can take any number of forms.
It’s not some particular religion we’re discussing here.
It’s religionS (if you like) over against turning away from sinful self-reliance to
live trusting in Jesus, and we HAVE to stand away from the former to get
clarity on the latter.
If Jesus needed to do that in first century Palestine,
we DEFINITELY need to do it in 21 st. century Wales!
Editor's Notes
Jesus has demonstrated the attitude of the Kingdom of God to the basic human need of nutrition in contrast to the attitude of rules based religion.
Now he develops the attitude of the Kingdom of God to the fundamental human need of a livelihood.
Please notice first of all that in spite of the problems with the established religion of the day Jesus does NOT call down a plague on their prayer houses vowing never to darken their doors again.
There are people in there who have been taken in by their spiritually drifting leaders and are in need of the Son of Man’s enlightenment!
Jesus is on a self-sacrificing mission to the lost in the darkest and most desperate places.
That can include synagogues!
But the renegades are also in the house …
Was the disabled man a ‘plant’?
Is this a trap to catch Jesus out publicly?
If it is, Jesus marches straight into it, with an agenda that is wholly His own.
Do not fear the Devil’s traps IF you are in a position by entering them to break open their bars and liberate the lost from his clutches.
But just LOOK at the malice of these religious leaders!
They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they could accuse him.
They WANT to be able to accuse Him.
They want Him to do something that THEY consider sinful in order to try to finish Him off.
Their approach is not gracious.
They’re not out to SAVE sinners.
They are aliens to the purpose of God.
So there’s Jesus.There’s this man with a livelihood- depriving disability.
There are these Pharisees (I guess) looking to use Jesus’s compassion to cause His downfall.WHAT will the Saviour do?
Firstly He stands the guy up.
What’s being done here will be done absolutely publicly.
Those who belong to the night are the ones who shroud up their actions with darkness.
Let’s get this right in the open, says Jesus.Jesus is doing here what Paul taught the believers in the uber-religious (in their case pagan) city of Ephesus - 5:11-13“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. 13 But all things being exposed by the light are made evident.”
And He comes up with a question that reveals the way that their religiosity had subverted the OT’s very purpose of Sabbath rest and restoration:
“Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save a life or destroy it?”
Interestingly enough, they haven’t changed their minds but these religious types haven’t got anything to answer with either … and when they are INTELLECTUALLY confounded, Jesus goes ahead and ACTUALLY confounds them …
Jesus’ anger and distress lead to a clear demonstration of power as the man is instantly and completely made well … not just his body but his livelihood restored, and his basic human need met.
Let me warn you absolutely and clearly for the avoidance of every shred of possible doubt.
I am NOT a great man of God.
I am a very enthusiastic but not desperately ACCOMPLISHED follower of Jesus.
But I am ABSOLUTELY ready to pray with anyone whose human needs fall within the remit of a follower of this Jesus and a servant of Christ and His Kingdom.
We are meeting more and more people (thank GOD for the chaplaincy and the food bank and the people who support us in it) … more and more people who have NEEDS, and when they get practical help with a box of food they ALWAYS get asked if there’s anything else I can pray for.
Hunger.Employment.Disability.We can’t stand there like Jesus and command stuff that afflicts folks to be gone.But we CAN stand there and ask Him to do it … and we ARE not afraid of doing so.(Shocked the last bloke who wanted a box a little bit I think, but I worked very hard to be nice with it!)
Jesus is not in a potentially embarrassing situation here.
He is in a desperately threatening and dangerous one.
These people are powerful and gunning to GET Him.
And the Son of Man mans up and DOES it.
“He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. ”
That is FANTASTIC!
But can’t you see that what has happened here is infinitely more significant than a livelihood restored?
God’s signs of mercy and restoration always are.
They point to a truth that is infinitely more glorious, important and eternal.
The Kingdom of God IS coming in.It IS time to repent and put your trust in Jesus, expressing that by following Him (not least by becoming another fisher for men).More than that, the character of God is shown to be gracious not legalistic … in fact it is all about that freedom for which Christ has just set this crippled man free.
The world is an infinitely brighter place than their religion had led them to believe it might be, and eternity is a prospect worth LIVING for!What a DIFFERENT sort of life this is now going to be for that man, and for all those who see this and turn around and believe and follow JesusOut of that miracle of mercy, the world of SO many people gets brighter.
Religion sets you rules.Jesus sets you free.He had to listen to Jesus.True.He had to trust Jesus to act and hold out his hand, regardless of his fear of the Pharisees.
But when he did …!His hand, his livelihood, his temporal and his eternal destiny were restored as he trusted in Jesus.And that’s really what Christianity’s about.
If you’d been sat in that crowd there that day … how would you have responded to that?
I mean, that is just PHENOMENAL isn’t it?!
What do you DO when God does gracious and great stuff like that?
Religion does NOT resort to God.
Religion resorts to mankind.Religion doesn’t entrust itself to God. It sees its rituals and rules as the source of all answers, and that’s the essence of unbelief.
What CAN they do about Jesus?
He won’t shut UP!
They can’t make Him shut up by outwitting Him.
They will therefore resort to plotting to assassinate Him.
And LOOK at the allies their human, faithless desperation finds for them!
If they object to Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, how on EARTH can they form a pact with the Herodians to effect an assassination?!
Where is this getting them?
Lost people resort to Jesus.
They FLOCK to Him, because He meets their deepest and most profound needs.
Mark’s story has four elements …
There’s Jesus’s popularity amongst non-religious people.
He’s made no secret of standing apart from the religious and showing them up as not a part of God’s purpose.Here’s the effect of standing apart from the religious and pursuing the proclamation and the priorities of God’s incoming Kingdom …
That is a huge catchment area for a crowd to gather from, and quite a significant range of ethnic diversity too.
Why did they come?
They came when …
“they heard about the things he had done.”
What had He done?
He had done the things that it was prophesied that the Messiah, God’s appointed Saviour would do when He came to bring in the Kingdom of God … He did the things of God.And what’s more, He backed up His statements that He was the One by being the One and doing what the One would do.
He met the needs that existed because of sin in the world.He wasn’t a philanthropist - just a doer of good to mankind.He was God in the flesh - the doer of God to mankind.
And that’s very evident from what we’re told next …