2. A TRAP SET FOR JESUS (Mark 3:1-6 )

Background: Jesus’ first quarrel about the day of rest (the Sabbath day) with the Old Testament teachers is described in the previous chapter (Mk 2: 23 - 28). This present quarrel is number two in order. To the teachers the observance of the minute traditions of the Sabbath day meant realisation of two things: 1) the coming of the Messiah, the future Saviour, Jesus and 2) the redemption of man.

1. How did the shrivelled (damaged) hand affect the man’s life? (work, financial affairs, family, faith? What kind of work could one in those days do with one hand?

In verse 5 we notice that the hand had earlier been well. What do you think the man experienced after his hand became shrivelled, possibly due to an accident?

What kind of impression does this text give of the man? What was he like? (shy, timid, fearful…)

2. What was the atmosphere like in the synagogue that particular Sabbath?

In the text we notice that the man did not come to the synagogue to be healed. Why did he come?

Why didn’t the man ask Jesus for help?

Compare the sick man’s versus the teachers’ (the Pharisees) reasons for coming to the synagogue that Sabbath day.

3. Why did Jesus ask the man to stand forth? Why didn’t he heal him unnoticed in his own place?

Do you think that the man would have come before congregation at anyone’s command?

4. Jesus’ wrath is seldom mentioned in the Gospels. Why was Jesus now both angry and distressed(5)?

5. What did the man think of the Jesus who made the muscles of his shrivelled hand function again?

What do you say about Jesus?

6. Why was the healing of this man so important to Jesus so that he was ready to risk his life because of it (4)?

Why was Jesus killed even though, in order to quote verse 4, he only helped and saved people?

GLAD TIDINGS: Sabbath meant a different thing to Jesus from the Pharisees. To the Pharisees it meant laws which people were to observe in order to be saved. To Jesus, on the contrary, the Sabbath day was a reflection of the Gospel, a sign of God’s giving his own people rest from their work through the forgiving of their sins (Heb 4: 9 - 10). Read together!