Mark 3:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him.

NIV: For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.

NASB: for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had diseases pushed in around Him in order to touch Him.

CSB: Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him.

NLT: He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him.

KJV: For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

NKJV: For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him.

The Bible doesn't say if Jesus touches all those He healed when the mob swarms Him (Mark 1:33–34), but in two of His first healings, Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:30–31) and the leper (Mark 1:41–42), He did. For many, His touch, even the touch of His robe (Mark 5:25–28; 6:56), becomes a symbol of how to receive His healing power. Later, Peter's shadow (Acts 5:15–16) and Paul's handkerchief (Acts 19:11–12) will have the same effect.

But Jesus says that faith, not the expression of faith by touching, is what makes people well. Faith heals the woman with the issue of blood, not her touch (Mark 5:34). The faith of the centurion heals his servant (Matthew 8:5–13). And the lack of faith in Nazareth prevents Him from performing "mighty works" (Matthew 13:53–58).

The word translated "diseases" is from the Greek root word mastix. Literally, it means a whip, but as a figure of speech it means any physical or personal calamity brought about by God's punishment. At this point, the Jews still believe that illness and misfortune are punishments from God either for the sin of the person or his parents (John 9:2).

God gives us the book of Job, in part, to show us this is not the case. Job was "blameless and upright" (Job 1:8) and still God allowed Satan to kill Job's children and destroy his property. Sometimes God tells us why we suffer (John 9:3), other times He doesn't. But we can be assured that God is sovereign (Job 38), and that His actions always benefit those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

Mark 3:7–12 is the second of five stories recording people's reactions to Jesus' growing ministry. Jesus' fame has spread across Israel. People from Sidon, fifty miles to the northwest, to Idumea, one hundred miles to the southwest, and almost everywhere in between have come for healing. The ever-present crowd keeps growing, to the point where Jesus has to plan an escape route to avoid being injured. Most people are intent on using Jesus' power for their own gain. Ironically, only the demons show Him proper fear and respect. This passage is mirrored in Luke 6:17–19 and possibly in Matthew 12:15–21.

The bulk of chapter 3 deals with how different people react to Jesus' teaching and His assumption of authority. The Pharisees' confusion transitions into plotting. The crowds that continually follow Jesus for healing become more frenetic and dangerous. Jesus' own family, afraid for His sanity, try to pull Him away. But true followers also show themselves. Twelve join together to become a core group, while a slightly bigger crowd, more interested in Jesus' teaching than miracles, earn the honor of being called His true family.

Mark chapter 3 continues in the same pattern as chapter 2, describing various teaching and healing encounters from the life of Jesus. These events are used to explain Jesus' overall message and demonstrate His power. They also serve to show how different people react to His teachings. Chapter 4 will focus more on Jesus' parables.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.