Mark 3
The Voice
3 On the Sabbath, Jesus had come into a synagogue where He saw a man with a withered hand.
2 The Pharisees held their breath: would Jesus cure this man on the Sabbath, right there in front of everyone? If so, they could charge Him with breaking the Sabbath law. 3 Jesus knew their hearts. He called to the man with the withered hand.
Jesus: Come to Me.
4 Then He turned to the Pharisees with a question.
Jesus: Do our laws tell us to do good or evil on the Sabbath? To save life, or to snuff it out?
They remained silent.
5 Jesus was furious as He looked out over the crowd, and He was grieved by their hard hearts.
How can anyone care so much about the words of the law and so little about the spirit of it?
Jesus (to the man with the withered hand): So be it. Stretch out your hand.
The man stretched forth his hand; and as he did, it was completely healed. 6 The Pharisees went directly from the synagogue to consult with the supporters of Herod, the Romans’ puppet ruler, about how they could get rid of this dangerous dreamer.
7 Meanwhile Jesus and His followers traveled to the shore of the Sea of Galilee; as always, a huge crowd from Galilee and Judea gathered. 8 People had come from miles to see this man they were hearing so much about. They came from the big cities, including Jerusalem of Judea, Tyre and Sidon of Phoenicia, and from the region of Idumea, south of Judea. 9-10 Since Jesus had healed so many, the sick and the infirm pushed forward constantly to touch Him, to be healed, and to ask His blessing. The crowd pressed so closely around Jesus that He asked His disciples to get a boat He could board if the crush became too great.
11 Most wanted to be near Him, except for those possessed by unclean spirits. Those people fell down before Him.
Unclean Spirits: You are the Son of God.
12 But He ordered them not to reveal His true identity.
13 Jesus called together a select group of His followers and led them up onto a mountain. 14 There He commissioned them the twelve. [Later He calls them His emissaries.][a] He wanted them to be with Him. He sent them out to spread the good news 15 and to cast out evil spirits [and heal diseases].[b] 16 Here are the names of the original twelve: Simon (whom Jesus called Peter, meaning “the rock”), 17 James and John (the sons of Zebedee, whom Jesus called “the Sons of Thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew (the tax collector, also called Levi), Thomas, James (the son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon of Canaan (who was also called “the Zealot”), 19 and Judas Iscariot (who one day would betray Jesus to the authorities in Jerusalem so God’s purpose could be fulfilled).
20 Jesus and His disciples went into a house to eat, but so many people pressed in to see Jesus that they could not be served. 21 When Jesus’ family heard about this craziness, they went to drag Him out of that place.
Jesus’ Family (to one another): Jesus has lost His mind.
22 The scribes, for their part, came down from Jerusalem and spread the slander that Jesus was in league with the devil.
Scribes: That’s how He casts out demons. He’s casting them out by the power of Beelzebul—the ancient Philistine god—the prince of demons.
23 When Jesus heard this, He tried to reason with them using parables.
Jesus: Listen. How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 A kingdom that makes war against itself will collapse. 25 A household divided against itself cannot stand. 26 If Satan opposes himself, he cannot stand and is finished.
27 If you want to break into the house of a strong man and plunder it, you have to bind him first. Then you can do whatever you want with his possessions. 28 Listen, the truth is that people can be forgiven of almost anything. God has been known to forgive many things, even blasphemy. 29 But speaking evil of the Spirit of God is an unforgivable sin that will follow you into eternity.
30 He said this because the scribes were telling people that Jesus got His power from dark forces instead of from God.
Popularity is often a dangerous thing, particularly in a land occupied by Roman soldiers. As Jesus’ ministry grows, some of His friends and family start to get nervous: they wonder if He has “lost His mind” entirely. They just can’t understand what is happening and why He is so important. It doesn’t seem right—the boy next door from Nazareth receiving so much attention. In fact, they are so uncomfortable with it that they decide to intervene and take Him home.
But Jesus’ family isn’t the only group concerned about Him. The Pharisees are doing their best to spread doubt about His authority with the worst accusations possible: His power to heal comes from the devil himself. They are attacking Him publicly and questioning His identity as the Anointed One.
31 When Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived, they couldn’t break through the crowd, so they sent word in to Jesus that He should come out to them. 32 The crowd was pressed in tight around Him when He received the message, “Your mother and brothers [and sisters][c] are waiting outside for You.”
33 Jesus looked around.
Jesus (answering them): Who are My mother and brothers?
He called into the silence. No one spoke.
34 At last His gaze swept across those gathered close, and Jesus smiled.
Jesus: You, here, are My mother and My brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is My true family.
Mark 3
New International Version
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
3 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue,(A) and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely(B) to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.(C) 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”
4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” 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(D) how they might kill Jesus.(E)
Crowds Follow Jesus(F)
7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.(G) 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.(H) 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,(I) so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.(J) 11 Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”(K) 12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.(L)
Jesus Appoints the Twelve(M)
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.(N) 14 He appointed twelve[a](O) that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.(P) 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),(Q) 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Jesus Accused by His Family and by Teachers of the Law(R)(S)
20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered,(T) so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.(U) 21 When his family[b] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”(V)
22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem(W) said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul!(X) By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”(Y)
23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables:(Z) “How can Satan(AA) drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.(AB) 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”(AC)
30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived.(AD) Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”
33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3
English Standard Version
A Man with a Withered Hand
3 (A)Again (B)he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And (C)they watched Jesus,[a] to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, (D)“Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he (E)looked around at them with anger, grieved at (F)their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” (G)He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 (H)The Pharisees went out and immediately (I)held counsel with (J)the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
A Great Crowd Follows Jesus
7 (K)Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and (L)a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea 8 and Jerusalem and (M)Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around (N)Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. 9 And he told his disciples to (O)have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they (P)crush him, 10 for (Q)he had healed many, so that all who had (R)diseases pressed around him (S)to touch him. 11 (T)And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they (U)fell down before him and cried out, “You are (V)the Son of God.” 12 And (W)he strictly ordered them not to make him known.
The Twelve Apostles
13 (X)And he went up on the mountain and called to him those (Y)whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 (Z)And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 (AA)and have authority to cast out demons. 16 He appointed the twelve: (AB)Simon (to whom (AC)he gave the name Peter); 17 (AD)James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and (AE)Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot,[b] 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
20 Then he went (AF)home, and the crowd gathered again, (AG)so that they could not even eat. 21 (AH)And when (AI)his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He (AJ)is out of his mind.”
Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
22 And (AK)the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, (AL)“He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 (AM)And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But (AN)no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. (AO)Then indeed he may plunder his house.
28 (AP)“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever (AQ)blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Jesus' Mother and Brothers
31 (AR)And his mother and his (AS)brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers[c] are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And (AT)looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 (AU)For whoever (AV)does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Marcos 3
Traducción en lenguaje actual
Jesús sana a un hombre en sábado
3 Jesús volvió a entrar en la sinagoga. Allí había un hombre que tenía una mano tullida.
2 Los fariseos estaban vigilando a Jesús para ver si sanaba a ese hombre en día sábado, y poder así acusarlo de trabajar en ese día de descanso.
3 Jesús le dijo al enfermo: «Levántate y ponte en medio de todos.»
4 Luego, les preguntó a los que estaban allí: «¿Qué es correcto hacer en sábado: el bien o el mal? ¿Salvar una vida o destruirla?»
Pero nadie le contestó. 5 Jesús miró con enojo a los que lo rodeaban y, al ver que eran muy tercos y no tenían amor, se puso muy triste. Entonces le dijo al enfermo: «Extiende la mano.»
El hombre extendió la mano, y la mano le quedó sana.
6 Los fariseos salieron de la sinagoga y enseguida se reunieron con los partidarios[a] del rey Herodes; y juntos comenzaron a hacer planes para matar a Jesús.
Jesús enseña y sana
7-8 Jesús se fue con sus discípulos a la orilla del lago. Los seguía mucha gente que había oído hablar de las cosas que él hacía. Era gente de las regiones de Galilea y de Judea, de la ciudad de Jerusalén y de Idumea. Algunos venían también del otro lado del río Jordán, y de los alrededores de las ciudades de Tiro y de Sidón.[b]
9 Como había tanta gente, Jesús les pidió a sus discípulos que prepararan una barca, para que la gente no lo apretujara. 10 Aunque Jesús había sanado a mucha gente, todavía quedaban muchos enfermos que lo rodeaban y que querían tocarlo para quedar sanos.
11 Cuando los espíritus malos veían a Jesús, caían al suelo y gritaban: «¡Tú eres el Hijo de Dios!»
12 Pero Jesús les advertía muy seriamente que no dijeran a la gente quién era él.
Jesús elige a doce apóstoles
13 Después, Jesús invitó a algunos de sus seguidores para que subieran con él a un cerro. Cuando ya todos estaban juntos, 14 eligió a doce de ellos para que lo acompañaran siempre y para enviarlos a anunciar las buenas noticias. A esos doce los llamó apóstoles 15 y les dio poder para expulsar de la gente a los demonios.
16 Éstos son los doce que eligió: Simón, a quien llamó Pedro; 17 Santiago y Juan, hijos de Zebedeo, y a quienes llamó Boanerges, que quiere decir «hijos del trueno»; 18 Andrés, Felipe, Bartolomé, Mateo, Tomás, Santiago hijo de Alfeo, Tadeo, Simón el patriota[c] y 19 Judas Iscariote, que después traicionó a Jesús.
Jesús y el jefe de los demonios
20 Después de esto, Jesús regresó a la casa.[d] Y era tanta la gente que volvió a reunirse, que ni él ni sus discípulos podían siquiera comer. 21 Cuando los familiares de Jesús supieron lo que hacía, fueron para llevárselo, porque decían que se había vuelto loco.
22 Pero los maestros de la Ley que habían llegado de Jerusalén decían: «Este hombre tiene a Beelzebú, el jefe de los demonios. Sólo por el poder que Beelzebú le da, puede expulsarlos.»
23 Entonces Jesús los llamó y les puso este ejemplo:
«¿Cómo puede Satanás expulsarse a sí mismo? 24 Si los habitantes de un país se pelean entre sí, el país acaba por destruirse. 25 Si los miembros de una familia se pelean unos contra otros, la familia también acabará por destruirse. 26 Y si Satanás lucha contra sí mismo, acabará con su propio reino.
27 »Si alguien quiere robar todo lo que hay en la casa de un hombre fuerte, primero tiene que atar a ese hombre.
28 »Les aseguro que Dios le perdonará a la gente cualquier pecado que haga, y todo lo malo que diga; 29 pero jamás perdonará a quien hable en contra del Espíritu Santo. ¡Eso nunca le será perdonado!»
30 Jesús dijo esto porque los maestros de la Ley pensaban que él tenía un espíritu malo.
La madre y los hermanos de Jesús
31-32 Mientras tanto, la madre y los hermanos de Jesús llegaron a la casa donde él estaba, pero prefirieron quedarse afuera y mandarlo a llamar. La gente que estaba sentada alrededor de Jesús le dijo:
—Tu madre, tus hermanos y tus hermanas están allá afuera, y quieren hablar contigo.
33 Pero Jesús les preguntó:
—¿Quiénes son en verdad mi madre y mis hermanos?
34 Luego, miró a todos los que estaban sentados a su alrededor y dijo:
—¡Éstos son mi madre y mis hermanos! 35 Porque, en verdad, cualquiera que obedece a Dios es mi hermano, mi hermana y mi madre.
Footnotes
- Marcos 3:6 Partidarios: Gente que en esa época seguía al rey Herodes el Grande y a su hijo Herodes Antipas.
- Marcos 3:7 Del otro lado del río Jordán... de Tiro y de Sidón: Los habitantes de estos lugares estaban fuera del territorio donde vivían los judíos. Por lo general, las personas que venían de esos lugares no eran judíos.
- Marcos 3:18 Patriota: El texto griego dice cananeo, palabra que viene del arameo y que significa celoso o patriota (véase Lucas 6.15).
- Marcos 3:20 La casa: Probablemente se trate de la casa de Pedro, en Cafarnaúm.
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