Mark 3 -- Quite A Bit To Consider Today

Very interesting things pointed out by my commentary.  Regarding Jesus' healing on the Sabbath:  "Since evil is at work every day, including the Sabbath day, why should good not be at work as well?"

The large crowds were pressuring Jesus to heal and also to re-establish the kingdom of Israel.  Their motives weren't spiritual.  My commentary said we see His three responses here:  "He founded a NEW nation ... a spiritual nation .... and the twelve disciples were the nucleus of it ... He established a new family ... His family is made up of all those who do the will of God ...He announced a new Kingdom" -- He began to help them understand this through His parables.

Regarding the unpardonable sin Jesus mentioned, in the context of Israel, my commentary said that "God the Father had sent John the Baptist ... the religious leaders had permitted John to be arrested and eventually killed ... those same religious leaders asked for Jesus to be killed ... The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost ... and then the religious leaders killed Stephen themselves ... When the sinned against the Holy Spirit, they had reached the end of the line, and there could be no more forgiveness."

For us today, it said, "The only sin today that God cannot forgive is rejection of His Son ... but even if the sinner so hardens his heart that he seems to be insensitive to the pleadings of God, so long as there is life, there is hope.  Only God knows if and when any deadline has been crossed.  You and I must never despair of any sinner."

Father, I sure needed this today.  Your timing, as always, is perfect.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford