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 3:8 mean?

Explanation

Mark 3:8 describes the gathering of a large multitude from various regions to Jesus, highlighting His widespread fame and the diverse origins of His followers.

The verse indicates that Jesus' reputation for performing great works had spread far and wide, attracting people not only from within the Jewish heartland of Judea and Galilee but also from non-Jewish territories such as Idumaea, Tyre, and Sidon.

This also suggests a drawing of people from areas both Jewish and Gentile, emphasizing the broad appeal of Jesus' message and actions.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, the area known as Palestine was a cultural and ethnic mosaic under Roman occupation.

Judea and Galilee were primarily Jewish regions, whereas Idumaea was populated by Edomites, who were descendants of Esau and had been forced to convert to Judaism.

The regions beyond Jordan (Perea) also had a significant Jewish population.

Tyre and Sidon were Phoenician cities located on the Mediterranean coast, with predominantly Gentile populations.

This geopolitical and cultural diversity is reflected in the crowds that followed Jesus.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse foreshadows the universal mission of the Church to all nations. It illustrates the fulfillment of prophecies of the Messiah drawing the nations to God.

Furthermore, with both Jews and Gentiles seeking Jesus, this can be viewed as an early indication of the breaking down of barriers between Jews and non-Jews, a theme later developed by the Apostle Paul.

Practical Applications

The convergence of multiple cultures and peoples in Mark 3:8 highlights inclusivity and the universality of the Christian message.

For modern readers, this verse encourages reaching out to diverse communities, sharing faith across traditional boundaries, and the importance of unity despite cultural differences.

Cross-References

Mark 5:20: "And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel."
Luke 6:17: "And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;"
Matthew 15:21: "Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon."

Language Study

Key words in this verse and their meanings in the original language (Greek) include:

"Jerusalem" (Ἱεροσόλυμα): The capital city of Judea, central to Jewish religious life.
"Idumaea" (Ἰδουμαία): The Greek transliteration of Edom, a region south of Judea.
"Jordan" (Ἰορδάνης): The river that was the eastern border of Israel, representing the territories beyond it.
"Tyre and Sidon" (Τύρου καὶ Σιδῶνος): Cities in Phoenicia, known for their trade and non-Jewish population.
"Multitude" (ὄχλος): This term often refers to large crowds or masses of people.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this biblical account with other religious traditions, similar themes of influential leaders attracting diverse followers are found. For example, in Buddhism, the Buddha drew disciples from various social classes and backgrounds.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives may lend insights into the psychological and sociological aspects of charismatic leadership and group dynamics evident in this verse. This can provide an understanding of how leaders like Jesus gather large, diverse followings.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and experts have provided diverse insights about this verse:

William Barclay notes the inclusive nature of Jesus' appeal to all people, regardless of background.
John Calvin emphasizes the providence of God in bringing the people to Jesus.
The Expositor's Greek Testament comments on the far-reaching impact of Jesus' works and teaching, crossing regional and cultural lines.

Mark 3

Mark 3

What does Mark 3:8 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 3:8 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?