Mark 3:1-12: The Heart of Jesus

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Hosanna – Hillsong Worship
• Mercy – Elevation Worship & Maverick City
• Somebody Prayed – Crowder
• To the Lowest Place by WELOVE (Eng Sub, Korean Worship)
    * Turn on Subtitle if you don’t see Eng. Sub (Click “CC”)

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• A man with a crippled hand (Mark 3:1-6) – Bible Story for Kids
• Let’s Get A Little Crazy | Kingdom Rock VBS Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Shout Praises Kids – Open The Eyes Of My Heart – Song for Kids
• Every Move I Make I Make In You by COS Treehouse – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

After finishing his conversation with the Pharisees, Jesus attended the synagogue for worship. In the synagogue, there was a man with a withered hand (verse 1). It seems that Jesus’ opponents had placed the man there to trap Jesus (verse 2). Knowing their intentions, Jesus called the man to come forward (verse 3). Jesus then asked the people a powerful question: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil? To save life or to kill?” (verse 4).

The people trying to trap Jesus were only focused on following the rules of the law. In contrast, Jesus was focused on doing good—on saving lives. The true purpose of the law is to promote goodness and preserve life. However, those who were bound by the rigid rules of the law were using it as a way to do harm and take life away. When Jesus asked his question, they had no response. Seeing their hardened hearts, Jesus looked at them with anger and sorrow (verse 5). He was grieved by their stubbornness and inability to understand the true heart of God’s law.

Jesus commanded the man with the withered hand, “Stretch out your hand.” As soon as the man obeyed, his hand was completely healed. However, instead of being amazed or moved, the Pharisees’ hearts became even harder. They concluded that Jesus was a dangerous threat to their religious system. Determined to remove him, they began plotting with the Herodians (supporters of King Herod) about how they could kill him (verse 6).

After the worship in the synagogue, Jesus went back to the lakeshore to teach, and a large crowd gathered around him (verse 7). People came not only from the towns of Galilee but also from distant places like Judea, Jerusalem, and even Gentile regions (verse 8). The crowd was so eager to get close to Jesus that they pushed forward, creating a dangerous situation where people could have been hurt (verse 10). Among them were those possessed by evil spirits, and whenever they saw Jesus, they fell at his feet and shouted, “You are the Son of God!” (verse 11). Each time, Jesus silenced the demons and healed the afflicted (verse 12). He did not want his identity to be revealed by the evil spirits before the right time.

Jesus instructed his disciples to prepare a boat so he could distance himself from the crowd. From the boat, he used it as a platform to teach the large gathering on the shore (verse 9).

Meditation:

The Gospel writers rarely describe Jesus’ inner emotional state as they tell his story. Therefore, whenever his emotions are mentioned, it’s worth pausing and reflecting. Jesus’ emotional responses often carry significant messages that reveal his heart and the deeper meaning behind his actions.

Earlier in his Gospel, Mark wrote that when a man with leprosy came to Jesus for help, “Jesus was filled with compassion” (Mark 1:41). This means that Jesus’ heart was deeply moved by the man’s suffering, which was manifold—physical pain from the disease, social isolation due to being cast out, and spiritual guilt from the belief that his condition was a punishment from God. Jesus felt the weight of this man’s suffering so profoundly that it was as if his heart was torn apart by empathy.

In the story of the man with the withered hand, Mark describes two emotional responses from Jesus (verse 5). The first is “anger”—the Greek word “orgē” is often used to describe God’s righteous anger. This word refers to a calm but firm emotional response born from a sense of justice, often referred to as “righteous indignation” or “holy anger.”The second is “deep sorrow”—the Greek word “syllypeo” comes from “syn” (meaning “together”) and “lypeo” (meaning “to grieve or feel pain”). This word means “to grieve alongside” or “to share in someone’s suffering.” Jesus’ grief was directed toward the Pharisees’ “hardened hearts.” Their refusal to understand and their spiritual stubbornness caused him deep sadness, as he mourned over their inability to embrace the love and mercy that God’s law was meant to reflect.

The Pharisees were proud to believe that they lived closest to God’s will. However, in Jesus’ eyes, they were the ones who had strayed the farthest from it. This was because they had lost their ability to empathize with those who were suffering. Jesus was angry at their actions, but at the same time, he felt deep sorrow over the hardened state of their hearts. Their lack of compassion and spiritual blindness caused Him both righteous anger and profound grief.

In this story, the hearts of the Pharisees and the heart of Jesus are completely different. True spirituality is not measured by how much someone knows about the law or how strictly they follow it but by how sensitively they respond to the suffering of others. What we should seek in prayer is that our hearts would be where God’s heart is and that our tears would flow where his tears do.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, the Lord of our hearts, break my hardened heart shaped by selfishness and desire, and make it sensitive to Your will. Help my heart and eyes not be fixed only on myself but to look toward my neighbors and pay attention to the world around me. May my heart break for the pain of others, and may I feel righteous anger in the face of injustice. Grant me the courage to act according to that compassion. Let me not be swayed by people’s opinions, but guide me to live according to love, truth, and justice. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: This story reminds us that following Jesus means showing love and empathy, even when it challenges traditions or expectations. True faith is not strictly following rules but responding to others with compassion and standing for what is right.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • Why were some people upset with Jesus for helping someone on the Sabbath?
  • How can you be more aware of the needs of others, like Jesus was?
• For Middle School
  • Why was Jesus both angry and sad when He saw the Pharisees’ reactions?
  • Why do you think it’s easy for people to follow rules but harder to have empathy and love?
• For High School
  • What does this story teach us about the difference between religious legalism and true faith?
  • What does it mean for our hearts to become “hardened,” and how can we guard against that?
  • In what ways do you see injustice or a lack of compassion in your daily life (school, social settings, etc.)? How can you be a voice for love and justice?
• Family Discussion Question:
  • How can we make sure our actions reflect God’s love and justice rather than just following routines or traditions?