Serving the Saviour - Studies in the Gospel of Mark - 3
The Servant Opposed
We continue in our studies of Marks Gospel. The next main section takes us from Chapter 2 verse 18 to Chapter 3 verse 35. Christ came to make all things new. He illustrates this in the picture of the wine skins. We read in verse 22, "No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins". Christ didn't come to patch up Judaism. He didn't come to maintain the status quo either. He came to give new life and make all things new in Him. There would not be a mix of the old Jewish faith and the Church. Rather he would send the Holy Spirit to fill his body the Church. New wine in new wineskins.
The response Jesus got as He taught this message will be the type of response we will get too. As we proclaim this new life in Christ we will meet with opposition. In this section the Lord shows us how to handle opposition.
As Christ worked as the servant of the Lord He was opposed by the Pharisees. Jesus and his disciples walked through a cornfield. Chapter 2 verse 23 says, "They began to pick some ears of corn". The Pharisees accused them of doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath. This law was one of the many rules the Pharisees had introduced. It is recorded in the Talmud a book of Jewish writings. Jesus turns them to Scripture. He uses the opposition to teach God's word. There is an answer in Scripture that can satisfy any unbiased enquirer. You can use opposition to bring light and understanding on God's Word.
The same thing happens in Chapter 3 verses 1 to 6. A man with a shrivelled hand was in the synagogue. We read in verse 2, "Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched Him closely to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath" Jesus called the man to Him. He challenges his opponents. We read in verse 4, "Then Jesus asked them, ‘Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’ But they remained silent." Deal with opposition by showing what is right and what pleases God. We say what is right and leave the outcome to God. When you show what is the right thing to do, people are silenced because their conscience supports what you say.
In verse six Christ is opposed by the Herodians. We read, "Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus". The Herodians were a Jewish political party who sympathised with the rules and laws introduced from Rome. The Pharisees and Herodians were enemies. Here we see them uniting in their opposition to Jesus Christ. The world fails out amongst itself most of the time. But when it comes to their hatred of the Gospel, and believers, the world will come together to persecute God's people.
What did Jesus do to handle this? We read in verse 7, "Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake". Sometimes it is right to withdraw. Jesus said in Matthew 7 verse 6, "Do not give dogs what is sacred: do not throw your pearls to pigs". This is not running away, it is just not wasting your time with someone who really does not want to know, and who is out simply to argue with you. Go on to new opportunities. We read in 2 Timothy 2 verse 24, "And the Lord's servant must not quarrel".
Mark 3 verses 13 to 19 records the appointing of the twelve disciples. We read in verse 13, "Jesus went up on a mountainside and called those he wanted, and they came to him". Even Jesus needed the help of others in the work. Serving God is teamwork. We serve God individually where He has placed us and we serve Him together as his church. Verse 14 tells us why He called them. We read, "That they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach". The secret of effective service is to be with Jesus. We need to spend time with Him in prayer for strength to live for Him in times of opposition. We must deepen our relationship with Him. This takes time and dedication.
We see what is included in our service - it is to "preach". We are not all called to be "preachers", but we are all called to share our faith with those we come in contact with. The closer we are to him in fellowship the more effective we will be in our service. E. M. Bounds said, "To be little with God is to be little for God".
Christ was opposed by his family. We read in verses 20,21, "Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that He and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of Him, for they said, "he is out of his mind." The most difficult form of opposition is when it comes from loved ones. They may have meant well. They wanted to take Jesus into their care. They thought He was neglecting Himself, and was a little fanatical in his approach. They failed to see the glory of his character and the urgency of his mission. Family members may think the same about you. They cannot understand why you are so involved with the things of God. They may think that you have taken it too far. Simply going to church every Sunday is viewed by some as taking it too far!
How do we handle this? Especially if it involves rejection by the family. The answer is found at the end of the chapter. In verse 32 Jesus is told, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you". We read Jesus' response in verse 34, "Then He looked at those seated in a circle around Him and said, 'Here are my mother and brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother'". When family and friends oppose you, remember that you belong to a bigger and better family. You belong to the family of God. If your family rejects you because you are a believer, you have your brothers and sisters in the family of God to turn to.
Christ was opposed by the Scribes. The scribes belonged to the Pharisees. They were the writers who wrote down the Pharisaic laws. They said in verse 22, "He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of Demons he is driving out demons". They were guilty of the unpardonable sin which is to attribute the work of the Holy Spirit to the devil. Christ said in verse 29, But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. He is guilty of an eternal sin".
Some forms of opposition have to be addressed sharply and sternly. We must not away of exposing sin and its consequences as we engage with the unsaved. pray the Lord will give you boldness and courage as you serve him in times of opposition.