Today's readings are Genesis 6.1-7.5 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Gen.+6.1-7.5 ) and Mark 3.1-19 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mark+3.1-19 ).
Against the backdrop of God's destruction of the earth and those who live on it, we see God's hand of protection on his creation, which we remember was "very good" in Genesis 1. God will not suffer this creation to perish until he has completed his good pleasure among us. And that good pleasure is not complete in the time of Noah. Observe how clearly God instructs Noah and how he provides a way of dealing with every need his chosen people will need, while the rest of the world is taken away in the flood.
In our Mark reading we are given a closer view of the nature of this world and the stark contrast between those who believe and those who do not believe. Sadly, in Mark 3, it is the demons who believe, crying out the true identity of Jesus, while the religious leaders of the day make plots by which they can destroy Jesus. We should look carefully at the opening verses of Mark 3 to see how we behave like the Pharisees and Herodians.
First, observe that Jesus is going around doing good. His activities are harmful to none. Healing people is decidedly a good thing, and is, furthermore, a symbol of God's freeing action, which the Jews were to emulate even on the Sabbath when they would release their livestock for feed, and would rescue them when in danger.
Second, observe that the reason the people are watching Jesus is in order to accuse him. How like we these Pharisees are. Time and again we find ourselves looking at God had his word to see if the plain statements he makes about life and salvation agree with our paltry stock of experience and wisdom. We look to accuse Jesus. And we would be just the kind of people to stoop so low as to torment a poor soul who is in distress as an example in our accusation against Jesus. We are stubborn and stiff necked people who wih to bind burdens on people that no man can bear. Legalists all, we want to know what we should do to be saved, and really expect to do something, or at least we expect everyone else to be doing something to be saved.
Third, see that while Jesus is grieved at the peoples' hardness of heart, he does not refuse healing to the crippled man because of the hardness of heart of the onlookers. As far as Jesus' offer of salvation, healing, and life extend, so far they are ready to be taken up and trusted, regardless of the opposition of those watching. There is no life situation, no culture, no background which will negate Christ's call to repentance and faith. Occasionally people argue about God's election in terms which ask about people who wish to repent but aren't of the elect. Yet we find no single solitary example of such an issue in the Scripture, not even a hint. The gates of life stand open to all who repent and believe. There is nobody who ever has or ever will desire life and godliness through Jesus Christ and stands rejected by the Savior.
A final observation is that the Pharisees and Herodians plan to destroy Jesus. We find out in the Gospels that they are ultimately unable to destroy him. Jesus is the mighty conquerer of death, hell and the grave He is not bound by the Pharisees and Herodians. He is not bound by our human judgment. He is free. God is God. Nobody else has that claim (Romans 3.4).
We can have the utmost confidence. Our God and Father knows what we need. And despite any suggestions to the contrary, in the face of all opposition, He provides what we need, our greatest need, through the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Peace be with you.
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