Jesus Grieves at the Hardness of Hearts (Mark 3:1-12)

 

Jesus Grieves at the Hardness of Hearts (Mark 3:1-12)

Nothing is more urgent or essential for a person than salvation. God earnestly desires to save all people. In the Bible, salvation carries two meanings: being forgiven of sins and living a fulfilled life. This salvation is obtained only through faith in God’s Son. Any "salvation" that does not go through Jesus Christ is false and not the truth.

In Mark 3:1-12, Jesus commanded a man with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath, "Stretch out your hand." When he did, his hand was completely restored. However, Jesus was deeply distressed and angry as he looked at the faithless, hard-hearted people around Him. Crowds flocked to Him after hearing reports of Him healing many, but Jesus strictly warned the demons not to tell others who He was when they cried out, "You are the Son of God."

Healing the Man with a Shriveled Hand (Matthew 12:9-14; Luke 6:6-11)

"Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath." (Mark 3:1-2)

When Jesus entered the synagogue to teach, a man with a shriveled hand was there. He had likely been attending this synagogue for a long time. His condition was a major obstacle to living a fulfilled life. As soon as Jesus arrived, the people began calculating. They were certain Jesus would heal the poor man.

The tragic part is that they viewed this as an opportunity to accuse Jesus. From their perspective, healing someone was a violation of the Sabbath. According to their Sabbath regulations, if someone was bleeding, you could stop the bleeding, but you couldn't apply ointment. You could prevent a condition from getting worse, but you were forbidden from making it better.

Ironically, they were allowed to pull an animal out of a pit on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:11). They were in error about the purpose of the Sabbath. God established the Sabbath for mankind; He blessed it and made it holy (Genesis 2:3). God blessed this day so that people could enter His rest, fellowship with Him, and enjoy peace.

To enter God’s rest, however, one must receive forgiveness for sins. One must be freed from the chains of darkness to live in the light. Through the blood of Christ, God brings back to life those who were dead under the power of sin and death. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, for the salvation of humanity (John 3:16). This scene reminds us of how God sent His servant Moses to His people who were groaning as slaves to Pharaoh for four hundred years.

Which is Lawful on the Sabbath: To Do Good or To Do Evil?

"Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, 'Stand up here in front of everyone.' Then Jesus asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?'" (Mark 3:3-4a)

Jesus told the man to stand in the middle of the room. The Lord intended to heal him. Even though He knew the malicious intent of the Jews, He did not hesitate. Jesus came to this earth to save everyone and lead them into the Father’s rest. This is the Father’s will, and Jesus obeyed even to the point of giving His life to fulfill it.

In what ways is salvation urgent for us? The man with the shriveled hand was incomplete and severely lacking. He was fundamentally hindered from fulfilling his life. This is the reality of human existence. We are exposed to disease, vulnerable to the elements, and must toil to survive (Genesis 3:19, 8:22). We walk through a "thicket of thorns" in our relationships. Young people worldwide struggle to find jobs, and the advancement of AI brings the threat of layoffs in every field.

The challenges and pressures before us seem endless. On top of all this, anxiety and restlessness visit our hearts like unwelcome guests for no apparent reason. We try to leave tomorrow in the Lord's hands, but the burden feels heavy. It is heartbreaking and makes us feel powerless to see innocent lives lost in conflicts between neighbors and nations.

Even for Abraham, who migrated to Canaan in obedience to God's promise, challenges and pressures were a daily reality. Each of us, living with the hope of the eternal Kingdom of God, will inevitably face continued trials. In this way, every person desperately needs God’s help, protection, and guidance.

At that moment, Jesus asked the people—who were watching for a chance to accuse Him—whether it was right to do evil and kill, or to do good and save life. Doing good and saving life is the true essence of "resting." Doing evil and killing leads to trouble and distress, not rest (Romans 2:9).

What is evil? What is "killing"? It is evil to reject, push away, and refuse to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son whom God sent. Doing evil does not bring life; it brings death. Rejecting God's merciful love invites His wrath (Romans 1:18). God’s wrath is often revealed by Him "giving people over" to their own evil desires (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). Therefore, there are always consequences to human evil.

We can test this easily. Just look at what happens to your heart when you hate someone or refuse to forgive. It becomes anxious, heavy, restless, tense, and wandering. There is no joy, peace, stability, or rest. This is the manifestation of God’s wrath.

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness." (Romans 1:18)

Then, what does it mean to do good? What is "saving life"? It is to believe in, receive, and obey Jesus Christ. It is to give thanks, praise, and glory for the grace of redemption that the Lord provided by loving us even unto death on the cross. Doing good is the path to saving life. God gives eternal life to those who, by persistence in doing good, seek glory, honor, and immortality (Romans 2:7).

"But there will be glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Romans 2:10)

He Grieved at the Hardness of Their Hearts

But they remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. (Mark 3:4b-6)

Jesus felt both anger and deep grief because they remained silent in the face of such an obvious question. Refusing to believe in and rejecting the Son of God invites His wrath. For example, God commanded Pharaoh of Egypt through Moses to let His people go, but Pharaoh stubbornly refused to listen. Consequently, God sent ten plagues upon Egypt, culminating in the death of the firstborn (Exodus 7:14-12:42).

God wants everyone to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). However, if hearts remain hardened and refuse to turn back to Him, His wrath is released. Yet, God’s wrath is actually an expression of His holy love. If we do not turn to Him and instead follow our own thoughts and will, the result is ultimate destruction and eternal judgment. God displays His wrath because He is patient and does not want anyone to perish.

After looking around at the critics, Jesus commanded the man with the shriveled hand, “Stretch out your hand.” Even though it was physically impossible for the man to do so, he obeyed Jesus’ word, and his hand was restored. Jesus performed good and saved a life on the Sabbath. Instead of repenting, however, the Pharisees went and plotted with the Herodians to kill Him.

Crowds Follow Jesus

7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. 8 When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. 9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. 10 For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. (Mark 3:7-10)

As Jesus went to the sea, a massive crowd from Galilee followed. People came from all over Israel, and even from Gentile regions like Tyre and Sidon, because they had heard reports of Him. The crowd was so large that Jesus had to have a boat ready to keep from being crushed.

Why did such a large crowd seek Him out? It was because He had healed so many; people suffering from various diseases were crowding in just to touch Him. The types of diseases are countless, and new ones appear every year. Sickness is like an unwelcome friend that is always nearby.

We recently experienced a pandemic that shook the entire world. Some of the most common illnesses today include heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, Alzheimer’s, and depression. While some are treatable, many are not.

Illness brings pain, suffering, and depression. However, it also makes us realize our human frailty and acts as a pathway leading us to the Lord. God has the power to prevent disease (Exodus 15:26, Deuteronomy 7:15). During the wilderness wandering, He even protected the Israelites' clothes and sandals from wearing out (Deuteronomy 8:4). Figures like Enoch and Elijah were taken to heaven without seeing death, and Moses’ eyes were still strong when he died at 120.

Yet, it is no exaggeration to say that almost everyone eventually dies from disease or the complications of aging. It is appointed for man to die once (Hebrews 9:27). But for the believer, death is a new beginning—a gateway into God’s eternal life. Because Jesus died for the sins of the world, He gives eternal life to those who believe. Sickness serves to remind us of our weakness, prompting us to come before God and seek His help.

Jesus Rebukes Evil Spirits

11 Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him. (Mark 3:11-12)

As seen in the book of Job, there exists in the spiritual realm Satan, the father of lies and a murderer. These are called "impure spirits" because they rebelled against God and seek someone to devour. Jesus did not accept their testimony; He rebuked them. Even though they spoke the truth that He is the Son of God, He rejected their words because they did not have faith. Jesus rebukes a faithless generation.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

However, God pours out eternal life upon those who believe in the Son He sent. Therefore, God commands us not to harden our hearts when we hear His voice. When we respond, He gives us a new spirit and a new heart, removing our heart of stone and giving us a heart of flesh.

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:15, Psalm 95:7)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

Amen!

December 21, 2025

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.