Welcome to episode 46 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Mark, covering chapter 3:1-19.  The series is called “Get in, buckle up, and hold on!”  Today, we discuss: 

• The priority of humanity (vv. 1-6) 
• The demands of popularity (vv. 7-12) 
• Jesus appoints the twelve (vv. 13-19) 

Key takeaways: 

• The Pharisees accuse Jesus of violating the Sabbath by doing good (healing someone), all the while they are looking for something to plot his death. 
• Like the throngs of people in this passage, many come to Jesus to get something from him, not to submit themselves to the reign of God. 
• Two implicit questions run throughout this section, and indeed through the whole first half of Mark’s gospel: “Who is this Jesus?” and “Whose side are you on?” 
• Jesus understands the pushes and pulls of our hectic lives. 
• In selecting the twelve, Jesus gives us a valuable pattern: 
• Sometimes, we need to take the time to get away from the busyness of life and get quiet. 
• When we do get away, we need to spend that time with God in prayer. 
• Ministry is impossible alone.  We need others to help us along the way. 
• The number twelve is surely significant, recalling the twelve tribes of Israel and indicating that Jesus viewed himself, in some sense at least, as restoring, reforming, or reconstituting the remnant of Israel. 

Quotable: 

Recognition of Jesus’ identity and authority is not enough. One must also submit to his authority. 

Application: 

• There is a new way of understanding God’s will—in the person of Jesus, in the things he says and does. 
• Contempt for those different from us can drive us to think and do things a rationally thinking person would not do. 
• In the Old Testament as well as the New Testament, God is not pleased with ritualistic observance of the letter of the law but wants joyful obedience to its spirit. 
• An authentic relationship with God requires both faith and obedience. 

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