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 he said unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he said 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 said unto the man, Stretch forth your hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other”, and in chapter three and verse six of his book, Mark shares how, “the Pharisees went forth, … and took counsel … against him” where we read:
And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him,
how they might destroy him.
The verse reads, “And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, ...” Mark began with the words, “and the Pharisees went forth” or “and the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognised in oral tradition a standard of belief and life”, “and straightway took counsel” which means “and immediately and forthwith deliberated” “with the Herodians” which means “alongside the partisans of Herod whose name means heroic” “against him” which means “in opposition and opposed to Jesus”? Mark shared how “the Pharisees” began to “deliberate” with the governmental “Herodians” to conspire against Jesus.
The verse goes on to say, “... how they might destroy him.” Mark added the words, “how they might destroy” which means “in what way and manner the Pharisees and the Herodians may be able to abolish, render useless, put an end and ruin” “him” or “Jesus”. Mark shared the reason for the gathering of the “Pharisees and the Herodians” was to solve how to “destroy and ruin” Jesus.
When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how desperate the “Pharisees” were in their attempt to rid themselves of Jesus. Jesus was able to do miracles they could not do, and He was able to think in ways contrary to their “religious traditions”. Over and over again Jesus embarrassed the “religious leaders” because they were “prideful” and held to the idea that they alone really knew “God's laws and ways”. God wants people to know Him, and when He sent His Son Jesus to die for their sins He removed the “separation” that was between God and man. All who come to Him in faith and belief in His Son Jesus will be “saved” from their sins and receive “everlasting life”. Those who “oppose” Him are like these “Pharisees and Herodians” who only desire to destroy Him and “put Him to ruin”.
Next time Mark shares how, “Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment