011 The Amazing Character of Jesus – part 2

Mark 3:1-6

January 11, 2026

We started looking at this ambush of Jesus this morning.

It was the 4th of the four attacks that the enemy mounted towards Jesus,

Each one revealed through a question they asked Him.

· They questioned His CLAIM

· They questioned His COMPANY

· They questioned His COMMITMENT

And this morning THEY QUESTIONED HIS CHARACTER

#1 THE AMBUSH

Mark 2:23-24

As the disciples picked the heads of grain and ate, we saw the ambush.

(24) “The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

It was an attack on Jesus’ character.

They charged Him with being a law breaker.

As we said, this would be a serious charge if it were true,

For Jesus must be righteous if He is to be our atoning sacrifice.

The reality however is that Jesus was NOT GUILTY of breaking the Law,

Only of breaking their man-made traditions regarding the Sabbath.

The entire nation of Israel

Had fallen prey to yet another Satanic deception.

That deception was this:

GOD LOVES CEREMONY MORE THAN PEOPLE.

The Pharisees would gladly sacrifice the well-being of people

In order to maintain their ceremony.

Jesus exposed that deception.

#2 THE ATTACK

Mark 2:25-27

Jesus revealed how far out of line their priorities were

· As He reminded of how David (a man who loved God’s Law) did what was not lawful in feeding his men consecrated bread.

· Ahimelech and David both knew that while ceremonies have their place, it would be foolish to starve a man to death in order to keep a ceremony.

Jesus also revealed they did not understand the purpose of the Sabbath.

The famous statement which only Mark includes is profound:

Mark 2:27 “Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”

· God was not enamored with ordinances.

· God was not enamored with laws.

· God was not enamored with ceremonies or traditions.

He is NOT a God who delights in laws and only created humans

To keep those laws and thus satisfy His preoccupation with them.

It is just the opposite.

God loves humanity

And every Law He created is for the good of humanity

That certainly includes laws pertaining to the Sabbath.

The Sabbath laws are a mercy to humanity.

· This world is cursed and it requires man to bring forth food by the sweat of his brow.

· And yet God, in His mercy, still opted to give sinful man one day in which he did not have to labor.

· We remember the children of Israel having to gather manna every morning, except for on the Sabbath.

· God gave them a double portion on Friday and ordained that it would not spoil.

· We remember God even calling for fields to have a Sabbath rest, not so that people would starve, for God promised that the sixth year would produce enough to last for two years.

It was God’s merciful provision to give rest to man.

“The Sabbath was made for man.”

But the Pharisees had totally perverted it.

The day of rest had become the day of the greatest burden.

Their corruption of the day came from their failure

To understand how much God cares for humanity.

God loves people.

They did not.

For this reason, as we concluded this morning looking at the third point:

#3 THE ADVANCE

Mark 2:28 – 3:3

We saw the great announcement of Jesus.

“So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

No longer would the Pharisees be the chief authority

Over what is and is not allowed, Jesus seized control.

· Jesus is calling the shots.

· Jesus is Lord,

· Jesus jurisdiction would include what is lawful on the Sabbath.

It was a powerful announcement

And one that certainly threw down the gauntlet for His enemies.

TONIGHT we continue looking at Jesus’ further advance.

For you’ll notice that Mark 3:1-6 is still regarding the same issue.

But there is a very unique difference.

This time it is not the Pharisees questioning Jesus,

This time it is Jesus attacking the Pharisees with the questions.

Jesus has advanced on enemy territory.

· He is shining light into darkness.

· He is exposing deception.

· He is destroying speculations.

He now has the Pharisees on their heals.

· He exposed their faulty priorities and understanding of the Sabbath

· He has declared Himself the rightful authority over all things Sabbath.

AND NOW

Jesus is about to drive even deeper into the heart of enemy territory.

What we’re going to find out is

Whether the Pharisees learned anything from the battle this morning.

SO LET’S CONTINUE LOOKING AT JESUS’ ADVANCE.

(1-2) “He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.”

It is not certain if this is the same Sabbath, the next one, or even one later,

But it is clear that Mark sees the instances as linked.

He is making a point about how Jesus is advancing

In His mission to expose the deception of the enemy

And usher in His kingdom of light.

And here we are again.

Jesus in the “synagogue”.

· No doubt Jesus has entered to teach again.

· It is clear that this is His chief purpose.

He is absolutely preaching the gospel.

But we also find that there is another ambush that is waiting in the wings.

There is a trap that has been set.

“a man was there whose hand was withered.”

One can’t help but wonder of the Pharisees didn’t even plant him there.

What is certain is that they see this is a golden opportunity.

· They are well-aware of the compassion of Jesus.

· They know How merciful He is.

· They know that He does not share their traditions of Sabbath observance.

THEY ARE JUST PLAYING A HUNCH

That if they can get Jesus in touch with this man on the Sabbath

That they might get all the ammunition they need to condemn Him.

That is why verse 2 says:

“They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.”

“watching” is (par-a-TAY-RAY-o)

It means “to stand beside and watch”.

· Lexicons I read indicate that it means they were in Jesus’ hip pocket.

· They were right on Him.

· If He did something for this handicapped man they were going to see it.

And you have to love Jesus here.

HE ADVANCES!

(3) “He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!”

· No record of that man asking.

· No record of that man expecting anything.

Jesus isn’t going to reluctantly approach this man.

Jesus is going on the offensive.

Even without the omniscience of being God’s Son,

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out they are watching Him for a reason.

He knows what they are waiting to see.

And Jesus is ready, once again, to go to war.

· He isn’t trying to do anything secretly.

· He’s not trying to help the guy without being noticed.

· He calls that man up front and center in the synagogue.

· Everyone is going to know for sure where Jesus stands on Sabbath healings.

He is not retreating from a fight.

He is looking for a fight.

· He is engaged in spiritual warfare.

· He is out to destroy the deceptions of the enemy.

· He is on conquest.

There’s no other way to look at it.

Let’s look now at the 4th point.

#4 THE ATTACK

Mark 3:4-5

I realize that point two was also “The Attack”,

But it just so happens that in this account Jesus attacks twice.

(4) “And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?”

Now you have Jesus asking the questions.

Now you have Jesus on the offensive.

And His question should be

THE EASIEST question to answer that has ever been asked.

Which do you think God’s Law is more in favor of?

Doing good or doing harm?

What is more in line with the heart of God?

Saving a man or killing him?

That shouldn’t be a difficult question.

PERHAPS LET’S ASK IT ANOTHER WAY.

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF GOD THROUGH HIS COMMANDMENTS?

Salvation or Condemnation?

IS IT GOD’S OBJECTIVE TO SAVE OR TO CONDEMN?

We should know:

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

John 12:46-47 “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. “If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”

1 John 4:14 “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”

God’s heart should not be a mystery to any of us.

It should be abundantly clear to us what God’s desire is.

It is only when a religious group falls prey to deception

That they begin to suppose that

God would rather condemn a person than save him.

And yet, that sort of thing does happen.

We see religious organizations even today who delight more in judgment than salvation.

It only reveals that they are losing the war,

And Satan is using them for his own purposes.

GOD’S DESIRE IS TO SAVE MEN.

NOW – WE DO NEED TO BE CLEAR

Because someone might ask, or argue:

Wait a second preacher,

YOU CAN’T SAY THAT THE GOAL OF THE LAW IS TO SAVE LIFE.

We’ve read the verses.

Romans 3:20 “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”

Romans 7:9-10 “I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;”

2 Corinthians 3:6 “who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

· When the Law came it did kill.

· When the Law came it did condemn.

SO HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT THE GOAL OF THE LAW IS SALVATION?

VERY EASILY.

We are talking about the GOAL of the Law, not the RESULT of it.

The GOAL of the Law is clear from the beginning.

Deuteronomy 6:1-3 “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. “O Israel, you should listen and be careful to do it, that it may be well with you and that you may multiply greatly, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.”

Moses goes on to say:

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Even remember Jesus saying:

Luke 10:25-28 “And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

GOD’S LAW WAS GIVEN TO BRING LIFE!

WHY DIDN’T IT?

Because man couldn’t obey it.

Man failed to obey God’s perfect Law, and as Paul said:

Romans 7:10 “and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;”

The Law was meant to save, but it only condemned.

That is why it is time to throw out that old garment and that old wine skin

And run to Jesus and His new covenant.

WHAT YOU ARE SEEING HERE HOWEVER:

The Pharisees loved that Old Covenant.

· They loved that old shirt.

· They loved those old wineskins.

· They even loved the condemnation it produced.

· They loved the self-righteous feeling of exposing and condemning sinners.

· They loved the ego boost associated with crushing a man under the Law.

JESUS EXPOSES THAT MENTALITY HERE.

You’ve got Jesus who wants this man to be set free.

You’ve got a group of religious leaders

Who want this man to keep his withered hand.

And Jesus just exposed it.

PICK A SIDE!

· Do you want good or harm?

· Do you want to save lives or kill them?

He is driving right into the heart of the problem.

It is the fundamental difference

Between Christ’s kingdom and Satan’s kingdom.

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

AND DO YOU SEE HOW THEY ANSWER?

They don’t

“But they kept silent.”

Incidentally, their silence is their answer.

They choose harm, they choose to kill.

The battle could not be more clearly defined.

And Jesus meets the challenge.

(5) “After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.”

This is the only place in the New Testament that speaks of Christ being angry.

Certainly He is filled with righteous indignation.

“anger” there is (ar-GAY)

John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”

It is the word used to describe God’s holy wrath on sinners.

Jesus is filled with that holy wrath right here.

· He is standing face to face with the enemy He came to destroy.

· He is standing toe to toe with one who prefers death over life.

· He is facing the enemy that delights in harm over good.

AND HE IS ANGRY.

· His mission is a just mission!

· His mission is a righteous mission!

· His mission is against an enemy who must be destroyed!

There can be no quarter given.

There can be no mercy offered.

· This enemy delights in death and condemnation.

· This enemy delights in seeing men suffer and perish.

· This enemy has no mercy, compassion, or desire for salvation at all.

And when Jesus faces him, He is filled with God’s holy wrath.

BUT…

Make sure you see the enemy in this story.

· It is NOT the Pharisees.

· They are just the pawn that the enemy is using.

THE ENEMY IS SATAN.

HOW DO I KNOW?

· Mark says, “After looking around at them with anger…”

· Mark then says, “grieved at their hardness of heart,”

That word “grieved” is so important.

It DOESN’T just mean that Jesus was disappointed as He looked at them.

It DOESN’T just mean that Jesus was sad at how evil they were.

The word is (soo-loo-PAY-o)

That prefix (soo) is important.

That prefix means “with”.

The word means “to effect with grief together”.

It can mean “to afflict jointly; to grieve at or on account of someone”.

WHAT IS MY POINT?

Jesus is here grieving

But He is grieving NOT for the man with the withered hand.

(That man is about to be healed).

Jesus is grieving for the Pharisees.

He’s not grieving because of them. He is grieving for them.

WHAT!?

NO!

He can’t grieve for the Pharisees, they’re awful people!

· They are the enemy!

· They are the ones setting the trap!

And friend, if that’s how we see it,

Then we do not understand the conquest of Jesus at all.

Those Pharisees are perhaps the biggest slaves of the enemy.

They are held captive by Satan to do his will.

Jesus was actually extending salvation to them

When He asked them to rightly discern what the purpose of the Law was.

But when they hardened their heart and refused to answer,

It made Him angry at the enemy and full of grief for them.

You can actually translate that phrase “grieved at their ongoing hardening of their hearts”

· They just keep denying.

· They just keep rejecting.

· They are determined to stay bound by the enemy.

And here Jesus grieved for them.

If we want to say that we have the heart of God,

Then it is imperative that we grieve for all sinners,

Even the ones who are hostile toward us.

· That includes Muslims.

· That includes Somalis.

· That includes liberal political agencies.

Look at this compassion:

Luke 15:28 “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.”

Again:

Luke 15:31-32 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

So what do you think?

Does that father still love the older son or not?

Sure he does.

And so does Jesus.

· They are being used by the enemy,

· They will be used even to bring about His death on earth,

· But that DOES NOT MEAN that Jesus wants them to go to hell.

Ezekiel 33:11 “Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’”

Jesus is on conquest against Satan’s kingdom.

Into which the Pharisees have been captured.

He is fighting to free them all.

Jesus is angry and grieved.

But there is no way He’s about to let Satan have the day.

“He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.”

The wording suggests that this man’s hand was atrophied and useless,

He probably couldn’t even lift it.

But when Jesus told him to move it

He could and he was instantaneously healed.

JESUS WINS AGAIN!

· Good triumphs over evil.

· He is saving life, not destroying it.

One more point:

#5 THE AFTERMATH

Mark 3:6

Here is another one of Mark’s famous “immediately” uses.

“The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how the might destroy Him.”

They learned nothing.

· They refused to repent.

· They refused to believe.

· They instead chose to double down and fight back.

WHAT A TRAGEDY

To see people who cannot rejoice at the salvation of a sinner?

Luke 15:1-7 “Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

· That chapter goes on to talk about a woman who lost a coin and rejoices when finding it.

· It goes on to talk about a man who lost a son, but rejoices when he is found.

The Pharisees were held captive by the enemy.

· They choose condemnation.

· They choose death.

And they are determined to continue fighting against the Lord.

But, they have now realized that

They are no match for Jesus on their own.

They’re going to need some mercenaries if they are going to defeat Him.

So they approach “the Herodians”

The Herodians were the political class of Israel.

· They were those who recognized the line of Herod as King over Israel.

· They were friends with Rome.

· They were practically irreligious.

There could not have been a more unlikely ally to the Pharisees than this.

· I promise you the Herodians didn’t care about the Sabbath.

· I promise they had no problem eating with tax collectors and sinners.

But the Pharisees aligned with them

Because they could be made easy enemies of Jesus.

Jesus, claimed to be “Lord”.

That sounds like insurrection talk to me.

Now the Pharisees will approach even a secular group

If it means stopping the advance of this kingdom of light.

And they start “conspiring…as to how they might destroy Him.”

Do you see their utter hopelessness?

Do you see how helpless they are?

JESUS IS WINNING!

He is on conquest and He is setting captives free.

In fact, I’ll go ahead and give you a taste of the scope of His victory.

Mark 3:7-12 “Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and also from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard of all that He was doing and came to Him. And He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him because of the crowd, so that they would not crowd Him; for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him. Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was.”

· He is winning!

· His kingdom is advancing.

And what I want to leave you with tonight is this.

HIS KINGDOM IS ADVANCING THROUGH LOVE.

Jesus loves sinners.

· He forgives them.

· He fellowships with them.

· He feasts with them.

· He delivers them.

· He did not come to save Judaism.

· He did not come to save fasting.

· He did not come to save the Sabbath.

He came to save sinners, and He is doing it!

Jesus loves sinners.

His entire conquest is about liberating them.

Tonight I simply want you to consider 2 things.

1. How great is His love toward you.

2. How great is His love toward those who are still lost.

That is The Amazing Character of Jesus.