CHRIST THE HEALER (Mark 3:1–12)

Jesus has a compassionate heart! Whenever He saw a person in need, He stopped and helped them. Jesus did this all through the gospels and He still does the same today

I. THE SAVIOUR—Mark 3:1–4

1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

4 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.

A. The worshipping Saviour—“Entered into a synagogue” (Jesus took time to worship, so must you!)

John 4:24 says “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Jesus was critical of certain aspects of the Jewish religion of His time, but He remained faithful in weekly synagogue attendance. It seems Jesus went to the synagogue on the Sabbath when He was near enough to attend.

B. The watched Saviour—“Watched whether he would heal on the Sabbath” (People always sought to find fault with Jesus)

The Pharisees din not seek to learn from Jesus, they only looked for an opportunity to charge Him with a violation of the Sabbath, an accusation they could bring before the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin is both a Jewish judicial and administrative body, Rabbinite Jewish court. The scribes and Pharisees followed Jesus around, perhaps from jealousy of His ability to heal and deliver the oppressed, whatever the cause they watched Jesus’ every move so they could find fault. Not much has changed 2000 years later. There are the lost souls asleep in Christ who till this day try and find fault in Jesus. Notice Jesus said Stand forth. He did not care that the scribes and Pharisees were watching,, He did not let them intimidate Him, Jesus saw that man in need and boldly to him to come to HIM. Do we stand bold as the world looks on today? Do we see someone in need and go to them? Or do we walk blindly so that we pretend not to notice so the world does not Judge us?

C. The wise Saviour—v. 4 (Jesus always had an answer for His enemies and critics)

II. THE STRETCHING—Mark 3:5

5 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.

A. The command—“Stretch forth” (When Christ gives a command—obey)

B. The faith—“He stretched it out” (To receive from God, you must have faith)

C. The healing—“His hand was restored” (Obedience unto the Lord always brings results)

III. THE SCHEME—Mark 3:6–8

6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

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

8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.

A. The plan—“Took counsel to destroy him” (Satan tries every plan to destroy Christ and His followers)

B. The escape—“Jesus withdrew himself” (If Jesus was killed before the cross, there would be no salvation)

C. The excitement—“Great multitudes came to hear him” (Christ’s presence always brings excitement)

IV. THE SPREADING—Mark 3:9–12

9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.

10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

A. The speaking—v. 9 (Today God speaks through His Word, and Holy Spirit)

B. The healing—v. 10 (The man came to Jesus because He had a compassionate heart)

C. The power—v. 11 (The unclean spirit is cast out—all changed by His touch)

D. The charge—v. 12 (Jesus had no pride—not anxious to receive credit for this) He is able to meet your need! Be it small or great, He will help you