Attacks On Jesus- Mark 3

by Aidan McKenzie

Mark chapter 3 has been my companion recently as I am reading through Mark a chapter a day and what I noticed was the attack on Jesus from The Pharisees, Scribes, and Herodians.

1.- ACCUSE JESUS;

From the Pharisees. The name means “Separated ones” They were a religious group that separated from all they considered not holy. They added to the Scriptures by elevation of oral teaching as on a par with the LAW of God. In other words, opinions were elevated and at times above what God had said! They also believed that everyone else but them was separated from the love of God. Jesus speaks about the hypocrisy that marked them. Jesus said do what they say but don’t follow what they do. “So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”-{Matthew 23:3}

“He entered a synagogue again; and a man was there whose hand was withered. And they were watching Him [a]closely to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might ACCUSE HIM. He said to the man with the withered hand, Get up and come forward!” And He *said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He *said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.”-{Mark 3:1-5}

2.- DESTROY JESUS;

“The PHARISEES went out and immediately began conspiring with the HERODIANS against Him, as to how they might DESTROY HIM.”- {3:6}

THE HERODIANS – were not a religious party, they were Jews who were political. Where the Pharisees wanted the government to leave them alone and not interfere, the Herodoans were supporters of Herod. They would have been opposed to the Pharisees, they both were complete opposites and enemies, but JESUS gave them a joint purpose, namely to do away with Him as He threatened them with His message, life, and power, and the people’s following of Him. The Pharisees were afraid they would lose their position in society and His popularity was a threat to them for the people would no longer be dependent upon or fear the Pharisees who had authority over the people through exalting themselves,and laying burdens on them, through adding to the Scriptures with their traditions. “They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.”-{Psalm 23:4 NLT}

The Herodians feared Him also so they joined together with one goal-DESTROY JESUS.

3. – DISCREDIT JESUS;

“The SCRIBES who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is POSSESSED by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”-{3:22}

THE SCRIBES- They were those who studied the Scriptures, transcribed the Scriptures, and made commentaries on the Scriptures. They came to see what Jesus was up to and they concluded and said that he was “POSSESSED by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” “Beelzebul;” was another name for the devil. and is also translated “lord of the flies.” it has been said to be one of the most loathsome and repulsive names of false gods in the Old Testament. It is also used in the New Testament for “the prince of demons.”

In Matthew 12:22 Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. As a result, “all the people were astonished and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’ But when the Pharisees heard this, they denied that this could be a work of God, but instead declared: ‘It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons’” (Matthew 12:23-24).

So the Scribes sought to DISCREDIT JESUS to the people by saying He did what He did because He was “POSSESSED by satan himself! They attributed the WORK OF GOD to satan!

  • “In postbiblical Judaism and in Christianity, however, Satan became known as the “prince of devils” and assumed various names: Beelzebub (“Lord of Flies”) in Matthew 12:24–27, often cited as Beelzebul (“Lord of Dung”), and Lucifer (the fallen angel of Light).” {Annonymous}

So JESUS was under attack for the good He was doing from the religious people of the day!

  1. They ATTACKED through ACCUSATIONS.
  2. They ATTACKED through seeking to DESTROY HIM.
  3. They ATTACKED through seeking to DISCREDIT HIM!

HOW DID JESUS RESPOND?

  • He HEALED the man on the Sabbath because any day, every day is a good day to do good! he was not intimidated by the Pharisees! He was concerned and had compassion for the dear man who was hurting. He healed him!
  • He CALLED out the Religious people and their hypocrisy.
  • He Would not be INTIMIDATED by them, He moved forward.
  • He gave the religious people who opposed Him OPPORTUNITIES to turn away from their sin to Him through the works He did and His message but they were hardened in their hearts, and it caused Him to be angry and grieved! “After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart,…”-{v5}
  • He kept doing GOOD.
  • He kept TEACHING the truth to the people

The enemy continues to use people to ACCUSE, seek to DESTROY, and DISCREDIT the followers of Christ, But in dependence upon Him, we must continue to DO GOOD to glorify our Father in heaven…and SPEAK THE TRUTH…be about His business.

God bless,

Aidan.