Mark 3:1-12

1Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand.

2Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.

3Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.”

4Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.

5He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!

6At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.

7Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea,

8Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him.

9Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him.

10He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him.

11And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!”

12But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was.