Mark 3

Jesus Heals on the Day of Worship—Matthew 12:9–15a; Luke 6:6–11

1 Jesus went into a synagogue again. A man who had a paralyzed hand was there.

2 The people were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see whether he would heal the man on the day of worship so that they could accuse him of doing something wrong.
3 So he told the man with the paralyzed hand, “Stand in the center of the synagogue.”

4 Then he asked them, “Is it right to do good or to do evil on the day of worship, to give a person back his health or to let him die?”
But they were silent.

5 Jesus was angry as he looked around at them. He was deeply hurt because their minds were closed. Then he told the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man held it out, and his hand became normal again.
6 The Pharisees left, and with Herod’s followers they immediately plotted to kill Jesus.

Many People Are Cured—Luke 6:17–19

7 Jesus left with his disciples for the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd from Galilee, Judea,8 Jerusalem, Idumea, and from across the Jordan River, and from around Tyre and Sidon followed him. They came to him because they had heard about everything he was doing.9 Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready so that the crowd would not crush him.10 He had cured so many that everyone with a disease rushed up to him in order to touch him.11 Whenever people with evil spirits saw him, they would fall down in front of him and shout, “You are the Son of God!”

12 He gave them orders not to tell people who he was.

Jesus Appoints Twelve Apostles—Matthew 10:1–4; Luke 6:13–16

13 Jesus went up a mountain, called those whom he wanted, and they came to him.14 He appointed twelve whom he called apostles.t They were to accompany him and to be sent out by him to spread the Good News.

15 They also had the authority to force demons out of people.
16 He appointed these twelve: Simon (whom Jesus named Peter),17 James and his brother John (Zebedee’s sons whom Jesus named Boanerges, which means “Thunderbolts”),18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,

19 and Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Jesus).

Jesus Is Accused of Working With Beelzebul—Matthew 12:22–32; Luke 11:14–23

20 Then Jesus went home. Another crowd gathered so that Jesus and his disciples could not even eat.

21 When his family heard about it, they went to get him. They said, “He’s out of his mind!”
22 The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, “Beelzebul is in him,” and “He forces demons out of people with the help of the ruler of demons.”23 Jesus called them together and used this illustration: “How can Satan force out Satan?24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last.25 And if a household is divided against itself, that household will not last.

26 So if Satan rebels against himself and is divided, he cannot last. That will be the end of him.
27 “No one can go into a strong man’s house and steal his property. First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can go through the strong man’s house and steal his property.28 “I can guarantee this truth: People will be forgiven for any sin or curse.29 But whoever curses the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. He is guilty of an everlasting sin.”

30 Jesus said this because the scribes had said that he had an evil spirit.

The True Family of Jesus—Matthew 12:46–50; Luke 8:19–21

31 Then his mother and his brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent someone to ask him to come out.

32 The crowd sitting around Jesus told him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you.”
33 He replied to them, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”34 Then looking at those who sat in a circle around him, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers.

35 Whoever does what God wants is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3

1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had his hand withered.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 that had his hand withered, Stand forth.4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace.5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored.6 And the Pharisees went out, and straightway with the Herodians took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.7 And Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and from Judaea,8 and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and beyond the Jordan, and about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came unto him.9 And he spake to his disciples, that a little boat should wait on him because of the crowd, lest they should throng him:10 for he had healed many; insomuch that as many as had plagues pressed upon him that they might touch him.11 And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.12 And he charged them much that they should not make him known.13 And he goeth up into the mountain, and calleth unto him whom he himself would; and they went unto him.14 And he appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,15 and to have authority to cast out demons:16 and Simon he surnamed Peter;17 and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder:18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean,19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. And he cometh into a house.20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.21 And when his friends heard it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.22 And the scribes that came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and, By the prince of the demons casteth he out the demons.23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.26 And if Satan hath risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.27 But no one can enter into the house of the strong man, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.28 Verily I say unto you, All their sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and their blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:29 but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin:30 because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.31 And there come his mother and his brethren; and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him.32 And a multitude was sitting about him; and they say unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.33 And he answereth them, and saith, Who is my mother and my brethren?34 And looking round on them that sat round about him, he saith, Behold, my mother and my brethren!35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.