MARK 2:23 – 3:6 – DANGER!
Three men returning from a bowling tournament. A mother and daughter heading to a baby shower. Two Shriners who had gone to a black-tie dinner and were heading home to Toronto. A married couple driving to Texas. A truck driver heading from Green Bay, Wis., to Goshen in Orange County.
One fateful moment brought them all together over 25 years ago at 10:50 a.m. on a Sunday morning, April 5, 1987. As they drove along the New York State Thruway near Fort Hunter, the bridge collapsed. All 10 died.
The bridge came down during a spring flood caused by snow melt and torrential rains.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/25-years-ago-the-bridge-was-gone-3460076.php#ixzz26S5Jl1cN
Not one of those people who died tragically had any idea they were in danger, and neither did hundreds of people who crossed the bridge in the hours before the tragedy.
If those 10 people who died knew of the danger the bridge posed, they would not have been on the bridge.
There are all sorts of legitimate dangers in life. When we know what they are, and if we are smart we will avoid them.
When it comes to living the Christian Life there are all sorts of dangers. When we know what they are we should avoid them.
Proverbs 22:3 (ESV) – The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
In the Scripture, which was just read, Jesus is dealing with the Pharisees who were the religious fundamentalists of their day. They were zealous for preserving the keeping of the law of Moses. To do this they added more laws to make sure Moses’ law was kept. In this passage the issue was the Sabbath day of rest. These two incidents expose some dangers for us if we follow the example of the Pharisees.
THE DANGER OF A CRITICAL MIND Mark 2:23-28
Vs. 23 – As we said, it was the Sabbath. Exodus 20:8-11
Of course, this was under the Jewish Law. In the New Testament every one of the Ten Commandments is repeated in some way, shape, or form, except the keeping of the Sabbath. The reason is clear. Since Jesus arose from the dead, the day of worship and rest for the Christian is on Sunday.
They were walking through a grain field and the disciples were picking grain as they went by, rubbing it in their hands blowing away the chaff and eating it. This was perfectly legal. Deuteronomy 23:25
Vs. 24 – The Pharisees take issue with Jesus because He’s their leader. His disciples were violating the Sabbath according to them. According to them they were working.
Vss. 25-26 – Jesus used David as an example. He did worse and was sinless.
Vs. 27 – Jesus calls himself, “The Son of Man”, a term which according to Daniel 7:13-14.
As Lord of the Sabbath, He has authority.
The danger that we are warned of here is having a critical mind. Romans 14:4
THE DANGER OF AN ACCUSING EYE Mark 3:1-2
The Pharisees were watching Jesus to accuse Him. They weren’t looking for good in Jesus. They were looking for things
Why do we sometimes watch others with an accusing eye?
Let me give you some suggestions.
- Sometimes we have not forgiven someone for hurting us, so we watch them critically.
- Sometimes we are secretly jealous of another person’s popularity or abilities.
- Sometimes we do not like what a person has done to others or to ourselves, so we watch them so we can back at them.
- Sometimes we do not like what another person stands for so we watch to see if we can bring them down a peg or two.
- Sometimes we just don’t like a person, so we look to find fault.
THE DANGER OF A HARDENED HEART Mark 3:3-5
I’m sure Jesus knew why the Pharisees were watching him. And when you serve Jesus, you will also be watched.
Vs. 3 – Jesus didn’t stop or go private in a healing. He just did the right thing and confronted those who were there to find fault. He began by having the man stand up and come forward.
Vs. 4 – Then Jesus asked a heart piercing question. Jesus wasn’t asking a legal question here. It was a moral issue. On a day of rest dedicated to God, was it to do good or to do evil? What is it lawful to preserve life or to kill? There was only one right answer, but it violated their law. So they said nothing!
Vs. 5 – He was angry and grieved with their hardness of heart. I wonder how many times Jesus is grieved and angered with our hardened hearts.
- When we continue to find fault
- When we fail to forgive
- When we have an accusing eye
- When we allow bitterness to control us
- When we don’t want good to be done for others because we are holding a grudge
Jesus healed the man!
THE DANGER OF A DESTRUCTIVE TONGUE Mark 3:6
Vs. 6 – Immediately the Pharisees joined forces with the pro-Rome faction in Israel, the Herodians. They were plotting how they may destroy them.
We say “How Horrible!” – But how often have we used our tongues to make others look bad or even plot against them? James 3:2-6,8
THE DANGER OF A CRITICAL MIND – Mark 2:23-28
THE DANGER OF AN ACCUSING EYE – Mark 3:1-2
THE DANGER OF A HARDENED HEART – Mark 3:3-5
THE DANGER OF A DESTRUCTIVE TONGUE – Mark 3:6
