Mark 3

And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,

And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.

And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.

For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

And Simon he surnamed Peter;

And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.

And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

What does Mark 3:13 mean?

Explanation

Mark 3:13 describes a moment when Jesus ascends a mountain and summons certain individuals to join him. Those he called came to him, implying a deliberate choice on Jesus' part and a willing response from those he selected.

This verse signifies the beginning of the formation of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples, who will become known as the Apostles. It illustrates both the authority of Jesus to call people to himself and the obedience of those who responded to his call.

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Historical Context

The Book of Mark is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament and is often regarded as the earliest gospel, written around 65-70 AD.

This event in Mark 3:13 occurs in the early part of Jesus' ministry.

Mountains in the biblical context are often places of significant religious experiences and revelations.

In the Jewish tradition, mountains are symbolic locations where divine encounters occur, Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Mark 3:13 can be viewed through several lenses:

Divine Choice: Shows the sovereign will of Jesus in choosing his disciples.

It emphasizes God's grace and initiative in calling people to himself. 2.

Discipleship: It introduces the concept of discipleship, a personal commitment to follow Jesus and his teachings.

This model of relationship and instruction is central to Christian theology. 3.

Authority of Jesus: Demonstrates Jesus' authority as not just a teacher or prophet, but as one with the divine prerogative to call and send out his followers.

Different traditions may emphasize various aspects of this event, such as the personal calling of individuals by God (Calvinism) or the collaboration between divine invitation and human response (Arminianism).

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied to individuals' lives in the following ways:

Responsive Obedience: The readiness of those who were called to follow Jesus is an example for believers to be responsive to God's call in their lives. 2.

Calling and Vocation: Encourages Christians to discern their personal vocation and to embrace the tasks to which they feel called by God. 3.

Spiritual Leadership: Underlines the importance of being chosen by God for leadership within the Christian community and serving with humility and dedication.

Cross-References

Matthew 10:1-4: "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."
Luke 6:12-13: "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles."

John 15:16: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain..."

Language Study

The key terms in this verse are:

"Goeth up": to ascend, suggesting deliberate action and preparation for an important event. 2.

"Mountain": often a metaphor for a place of teaching or revelation in biblical literature. 3.

"Calleth unto him": this phrase emphasizes the active choice and summons by Jesus, highlighting his authority. 4.

"Whom he would": reflects the selective process and personal will of Jesus in choosing his disciples.

Exploring the original Greek text provides further insight into the nuances of these terms and their implications.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse can be compared to similar themes in other ancient myths and religions where key figures ascend mountains for divine encounters or to receive enlightenment.

For example, in Greek mythology, gods like Zeus resided on Mount Olympus, and in many Eastern traditions, mountains symbolize spiritual elevation and wisdom.

In religious interpretations outside of Christianity, such as in Judaism or Islam, there is recognition of the significance of prophets or leaders ascending mountains as part of a spiritual quest or as a means of revelation, though the context and implications for discipleship and apostleship are distinct.

Scientific Perspectives

While modern science does not typically intersect directly with theological concepts like divine calling, it can provide insight into the psychological and sociological aspects of group formation and leadership.

Scientific study can help understand the dynamics of how leaders emerge, how groups respond to calls to action, and the impact of social environments, such as mountainous retreats, on human experiences and decision-making.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have provided various interpretations of Mark 3:13.

Some focus on the significance of Jesus’ selection process, arguing it shows divine intentionality and strategy for establishing his ministry.

Other experts look at the symbolism of the mountain and compare it to other biblical mountaintop experiences, seeing a pattern of God revealing himself and his plans at high elevations.

A common theme among commentators is the emphasis on the personal relationship between Jesus and his disciples; he knew them, chose them, and they followed him.

Commentators like William Lane suggest that this marks a pivotal moment in the Gospel where Jesus establishes the framework for the community that will carry on his mission after his death and resurrection.

Mark 3

Mark 3

What does Mark 3:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 3:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?