The Pharisees . . . took counsel . . . against him

Opposition to the Lord Jesus was hardening, and the disciples plucking and eating the corn on the Sabbath day was a further cause for criticism, v. 23. The Shepherd once more defended His sheep. This time, He appealed to the occasion when a hungry David ate shewbread, a precedent that demonstrates that humanitarian considerations take priority over ceremonial laws; that principle still holds good today.

On occasions in the Gospels we read that ‘they watched him’, the first here in Mark chapter 3 verse 2. He was under constant scrutiny as we are too. The belief seemed to be that He would heal the man with the withered hand; His history of compassion aroused that expectation. What about our track record? What do people expect of us? The Lord faced His critics head-on, and in commanding the man to ‘stand forth’ performed the miracle in a very public fashion. On other occasions He took people out of town or healed at a distance but there would be no secrecy when withstanding a hardness that angered Him. As demonstrated here, anger can be legitimate, but for us, extreme caution is necessary: ‘Be ye angry, and sin not’, Eph. 4. 26. The incident enflamed His opponents, and an unlikely alliance was formed with the object of destroying him, Mark 3. 6.

In the face of such virulent opposition, He ‘withdrew himself’, v. 7. His hour had not come and there was no need to precipitate a crisis. The withdrawal involved the disciples. They were still fledgling followers, and, at that early stage, He again shielded them from the excesses of murderous intent. Similarly, when Israel fled Egypt, ‘God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines’, Exod. 13. 17; it was too early for a confrontation with such a warlike people. ‘He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust’, Ps. 103. 14.

There was magnetism about the Lord that drew crowds from many districts. He who had dwelt ‘in the light which no man can approach unto’, 1 Tim. 6. 16, was now in a position where He was thronged, ‘pressed upon’, and touched, Mark 3. 9-10. He banished disease and demons, vv. 10-12. Coming from heaven to Galilee did not diminish divine power.