Mark 3:5 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.
What strikes me here is the fact that Jesus is distressed by the stubborn hearts of the Pharisees and Herodians, but He was crowded by those who were trying to touch Him so they could be healed (v9).
Mark 3:8 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.
Was Jesus also distressed by the hearts of those people? Did they want healing from Him because of Who He was (or Whose He was) or did they just want to be healed and knew He could do it? Was the fact that they believed in His power to heal them a soft opening for God’s love whereas the Pharisees and Herodians had no such softness and Jesus knew it?
Mark 3:9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him.
Lord, There is so much I don’t know, so much I don’t understand. Thank You for the absolute certainty of Who You are and Who You are to me. Help me never lose sight of those truths. Amen.
Mark 3:10 For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.
Have a blessed day.