Joshua 18-19, Psalm 78:40-72, Mark 3:1-19, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Mark 3:1-19:

Jesus’ opponents are now watching him closely—but not in a good way. They are watching to see if they can trap him in what he does or what he says. They want to “accuse” him.

Irrespective of their ill intentions, Jesus, in his mercy and love, goes ahead and heals the man on the Sabbath. He attempts to use the healing as an object lesson: should you do evil on the Sabbath (that is to plot to kill Jesus) or good (that is to heal this person). They are against him doing something on the Sabbath—even something good—while on the Sabbath they are breaking God’s law by plotting to kill him. How blind is sin.

A great crowd follows Jesus—so large he has to push off shore in a boat to stop from being crushed by them. He commands the evil spirits not to speak of him—his identity being proclaimed would lead to his death, and it is not yet his time. Plus, the witness of evil spirits is not a witness worth having.

He then calls his twelve disciples to him. Watch the model of discipleship. They are to be “with” him; there is no discipleship without presence and coming alongside and simply being “with.” They are “sent” by him (the word apostle meaning “sent ones”), commissioned by him. To be a disciple, one must be given a specific task and a commission for that task. In particular, they are sent to preach and to cast out demons.

When we follow Jesus today, in a lesser degree but still truly, we are given a task. We are to spend time with him in prayer and Bible study. And to be active in telling others about him. Who is there today that we could tell about Jesus?