Mark 3 | Devotional - Bible Reading and Prayer - One Chapter a Day 

Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. Welcome to our One Chapter per day Bible reading time.

By God’s grace, today we will read Mark chapter 3.
In this chapter, we see Jesus continuing His ministry with authority and compassion, even as opposition begins to grow. Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, revealing God’s heart for mercy over rigid rules. Crowds press in from every direction, seeking healing and hope. Jesus appoints the twelve apostles, calling them to be with Him and to share in His work. At the same time, we see misunderstanding and resistance—from religious leaders and even from His own family. Through it all, Jesus makes clear what it truly means to belong to Him: to listen to God and do His will.

Let us come with open hearts and humble spirits as we listen to God’s Word together.

Mark Chapter 3 Introduction:

Mark chapter 3 reveals growing tension between Jesus and the religious leaders while further displaying His authority, compassion, and divine identity. As Jesus continues His ministry, opposition intensifies, yet His mission remains clear and unwavering. This chapter highlights the cost of following Jesus, the misunderstanding He faces, and the true meaning of belonging to the family of God. Mark 3 shows that as God’s kingdom advances, hearts are exposed—some respond with faith, others with resistance.

Main Content of Mark Chapter 3:

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath (verses 1–6)
The chapter opens with Jesus healing a man with a withered hand in the synagogue on the Sabbath. The religious leaders watch closely, seeking a reason to accuse Him. By healing the man, Jesus demonstrates that doing good and saving life align with God’s heart, even on the Sabbath. This act reveals the hardness of the leaders’ hearts and marks the beginning of an active plot to destroy Jesus.

Crowds Follow Jesus and He Heals Many (verses 7–12)
Despite opposition, large crowds gather from many regions to follow Jesus. He heals many who are sick and casts out unclean spirits, who recognize Him as the Son of God. Jesus commands them to remain silent, emphasizing that His identity and mission will be revealed according to God’s timing, not through public spectacle.

The Appointment of the Twelve Apostles (verses 13–19)
Jesus withdraws to a mountain and appoints twelve men to be with Him, to preach, and to have authority to cast out demons. This moment marks the formation of a new community centered on Jesus Himself. The calling of the Twelve shows that discipleship begins with relationship—being with Jesus—before service and mission.

Misunderstanding and Accusation Against Jesus (verses 20–30)
Jesus’ family becomes concerned for Him, and the scribes accuse Him of being empowered by Satan. Jesus responds by explaining that a divided kingdom cannot stand and that His work is evidence of God’s power overcoming evil. He warns about the seriousness of rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit, highlighting the danger of hardened unbelief.

The True Family of Jesus (verses 31–35)
The chapter concludes with Jesus redefining family. When told that His mother and brothers are looking for Him, Jesus declares that whoever does the will of God is His true family. This powerful statement emphasizes that spiritual obedience, not biological relationship, defines belonging in God’s kingdom.

Spiritual Significance of Mark Chapter 3:

Mark chapter 3 confronts us with a clear choice—how will we respond to Jesus? Some see His works and resist Him, while others follow and are transformed. This chapter teaches that obedience to God’s will places us within the true family of Christ. It also reminds us that following Jesus may bring misunderstanding and opposition, yet His authority and love remain unshaken.

Through Mark chapter 3, we are invited to examine our hearts, align ourselves with God’s purposes, and live as true members of Jesus’ family—listening, trusting, and doing the will of God in our daily lives.

Mark Chapter 3 YouTube Bible Reading and Prayer Video:

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

3 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, 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 to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 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 how they might kill Jesus.

Crowds Follow Jesus

7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. 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. 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, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. 11 Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

Jesus Appoints the Twelve

13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 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

20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan 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. 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.”

30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”

31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. 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.”