Stand Forth - Mark 3:3

Mark wrote how Jesus, “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 in chapter three and verse three of his book, Mark shares how Jesus instructed the man with the withered hand to, “stand forth” where we read:

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

The verse reads, “And he said unto the man which had the withered hand, ...” Mark began with the words, “and he said” or “and Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto the man” which refers to “the male human being before him” “which had the withered hand” or “whose hand was wasted, shriveled and pining away”. Mark shared how Jesus spoke to the man with the “shriveled” hand.

The verse goes on to say, “... Stand forth.” Mark continued with the words, “stand forth” which means “rise before Jesus”. Mark shared how Jesus instructed the man with “the withered hand” to “rise up and stand” before Him.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how this was the first step toward this man's healing. Jesus told the man to “stand” before Him, and they man's part was to comply. Though the Pharisees were critically watching Jesus so they could “accuse” Him, He had the man “stand” before Him in the audience of all the people in the synagogue. When Jesus gives instruction, the best response is to “obey”, and since He came to save all who will “believe and trust” in Him, the best thing to do is “comply”.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus asks the “scribes and Pharisees”, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".