Mark 3:1
Jesus is interested in the blighted areas of our lives and commands us to do the impossible, trusting that He will give us what we need to obey.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the significance of Jesus' actions on the Sabbath, particularly in the healing of a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees, who were watching closely, sought to accuse Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, but Jesus challenged their traditions by highlighting the importance of doing good and saving lives. He called the man to stand forth and commanded him to stretch out his hand, demonstrating that even what seems impossible can be achieved through obedience to Christ. Smith reassures listeners that Jesus is deeply interested in their struggles and encourages them to respond to His call, even when it feels beyond their capability.
Text
"DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE"
I. "AND THEY WATCHED HIM."
A. Mark has set the scene.
1. It's the Sabbath day.
2. You are in the synagogue in Capernaum.
3. Among the worshipers is a man with a withered hand.
4. Suddenly Jesus enters, and the watch Him."
B. They want to see if He will heal him on the Sabbath that they
might accuse Him.
1. The "they" is the Pharisees, vs. 6.
a. They were self-appointed enforcers of the law.
b. They sought to keep the law meticulously.
2. According to their interpretation, it was not lawful to
heal on the Sabbath.
a. You could take action to save a life, such as
applying a tourniquet.
b. But you could do nothing toward healing.
C. The enemies of Christ sometimes knew Him better than His own
followers.
1. They knew He would be drawn to this man's need.
2. They knew when He entered a crowd He was always
interested in helping the most needy one there.
3. They knew that He could not stand in the face of human
blight without helping.
4. We often feel the opposite.
a. We look at our failures, our weakness, the
blighted area of our life and we feel surely
God is not interested in me.
b. Sometimes as we look around in the sanctuary we
feel, "I'm worse off than anyone here. Jesus
isn't interested in me."
5. Wrong! You are the one He is most interested in.
II. "AND HE SAID TO THE MAN...STAND FORTH."
A. They were wondering what He would do.
1. He did not make them wait to find out.
2. He faced the issue immediately. "Stand up."
B. He asked them two questions that immediately revealed the folly
of their tradition.
1. Is it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath.
a. Never lawful to do evil.
b. It would be evil to leave this man in his
helpless condition if you could heal.
2. Is it lawful to save a life or destroy it?
a. Never lawful to destroy a life.
b. It is always lawful to save.
C. "And He looked on them with anger."
1. An emotion rarely displayed by Jesus.
a. Never was this said concerning helpless sinner.
1. Woman of Samaria.
2. Woman taken in adultery.
b. Only for those who through a religious guise
seek to hinder or stop His work on needy
lives.
1. You can't pray for the sick.
2. Our tradition says that miracles
stopped with the apostles.
III. "AND HE SAID TO THE MAN, STRETCH FORTH THY HAND"
A. Suddenly, the bigoted crowd is forgotten as attention is drawn
to the need.
1. Notice how Jesus faces the blight squarely.
2. He doesn't beat around the bush.
B. The command He gives is impossible for the man to obey.
1. The man has now one of two choices.
a. Argue with command.
1. Give all excuses.
2. Tell of past failures.
b. Will to obey the command.
2. He chose to obey.
C. His discovery, when He chose to obey the impossible command,
all He needed was immediately given to Him to obey it.
D Jesus is interested in the blighted area of your life.
1. He is commanding you to do the impossible.
a. Some of you are arguing.
b. Will to obey.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - '{''1'': ''It''s the Sabbath day.'', ''2'': ''You are in the synagogue in Capernaum.'', ''3'': ''Among the worshipers is a man with a withered hand.'', ''4'': ''Jesus enters, and they watch Him.''}' - '{''1'': ''The Pharisees want to see if He will heal him on the Sabbath.'', ''2'': ''They seek to accuse Him if He does.''}' - '{''1'': ''The enemies of Christ sometimes knew Him better than His own followers.'', ''2'': ''They knew He would be drawn to this man''s need.''}'
- II points: - '{''1'': ''Jesus faces the issue immediately.'', ''2'': ''He asks the Pharisees two questions.''}' - '{''1'': ''Is it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath?'', ''2'': ''Is it lawful to save a life or destroy it?''}' - '{''1'': ''Jesus looks on them with anger.'', ''2'': ''He is angry with those who seek to hinder His work.''}'
- III points: - '{''1'': ''Jesus faces the blight squarely.'', ''2'': ''He gives the man an impossible command.''}' - '{''1'': ''The man has two choices: argue or obey.'', ''2'': ''He chooses to obey.''}' - '{''1'': ''The man discovers that all he needed was given to him.'', ''2'': ''He can now obey the impossible command.''}' - '{''1'': ''Jesus is interested in the blighted area of your life.'', ''2'': ''He commands you to do the impossible.''}'
Key Quotes
“They knew He would be drawn to this man's need.” — Chuck Smith
“You are the one He is most interested in.” — Chuck Smith
“He is commanding you to do the impossible.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We should not let our traditions or excuses hinder us from obeying God's commands.
- Jesus is interested in the blighted areas of our lives and wants to help us overcome them.
- We must trust in God's power and provision to do the impossible tasks He commands us to do.