If you're doing the Verve Bible Reading Plan, today's reading is Mark 3. Here are a few notes, and something to think about:
1. In verse 2 we see the religious leaders watching to see if Jesus would heal on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a gift from God to us; a day to rest and focus on Him. But the religious leaders of Jesus' day had turned it into more of a prison, creating a list of things people couldn't do on the Sabbath.
2. Throughout this chapter we see "demons" mentioned. This is obviously something foreign to us, but the Bible teaches the reality that there are unseen spiritual forces, including angels and demons.
3. What "blasphemies against the Holy Spirit" means is not explained in the Bible. There are a variety of guesses, but no one is totally sure.
Did you notice in this chapter that we see Jesus "doing ministry" - healing, teaching, etc. - but that we also see Him choosing apprentices to equip so that they can do ministry? It’s a lot like apprenticing to be a tattooer except minus the tube washing, car washing ,floor scrubbing and name calling. So . . . maybe it’s a LOT different. But the basic premiss was the same; watching their mentor do life to learn how to do it. The interesting thing is Jesus still offers us an “apprenticeship” today. It’s hard to believe but God really does want to do life with us and help us become the person he made us to be.