Mark 3:6–7

In the midst of those who sought to destroy Him, Jesus withdrew Himself. He is our example.

Sometimes removing ourselves from the conflict is the best choice to make. Praying for our enemies places God in control of the situation and removes us from it. We do not fight against flesh and blood but the enemy of our soul…and Jesus has already defeated him.

• Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

"And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live" (Deuteronomy 30:6).

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules" (Ezekiel 36:26-27). 

Again, we see God's grace to forgive and change His people. 

God has given His people a shift in perspective. We don't obey the law to become righteous; we obey because He has given us new hearts. Due to Christ's death and resurrection, we now have the Helper, the Holy Spirit, sealed within us, empowering us to obey. 

Right before Jesus went to the cross, He implored those who would follow Him, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever" (John 14:15-16). 

What we cannot do for ourselves, Christ did for us. Even though we have all the instructions, the law of God, we cannot fix our hearts. Christ alone does this through the power of His Holy Spirit living in us, changing us from the inside out, when we turn and ask Him for forgiveness. This is the grace God offers. 

While the law equips us with wise principles and reveals to us the holiness of God, only Christ can empower us for holy living through the Holy Spirit within us. God gave the law to us to show us our need for a Savior. To live according to faith in Christ is what results in peace and eternal life.

But listen to God's heart of concern, even in the Old Testament: "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23).

Because God came to us and showed us His grace and mercy, we can turn to God and ask for His forgiveness and He extends His grace. First5 

When no one is watching, live as if someone is. Succeed at home first. Pray twice as much as you fret. Listen twice as much as you speak. God has forgiven you; you’d be wise to do the same. Once a week, let a child take you on a walk. Only harbor a grudge when God does. Never let the important be the victim of the trivial. Max Lucado

Mark 3:6–7

6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. 7 But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. The New King James Version

Jesus again follows a confrontation with the Pharisees by withdrawing to the sea, accompanied by crowds receptive to His ministry. Faithlife Study Bible

The Pharisees were religious experts who should have led the people in righteousness. Instead, they plotted Jesus’ death with the Herodians, their bitter enemies. They were willing to set aside differences to destroy a common foe. The Herodians were Jews who supported Rome and the Herods in particular. Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great, ruled Galilee during the same time that Pilate served as Roman governor over Judea and Samaria. 

Because of this plot against His life, Jesus withdrew with the disciples from the area. Still crowds flocked to Him from north (Galilee), south (Judea), and beyond. The NKJV Study Bible

All our sicknesses and calamities spring from the anger of God against our sins. Their removal, or the making them blessings to us, was purchased to us by the blood of Christ. But the plagues and diseases of our souls, of our hearts, are chiefly to be dreaded; and He can heal them also by a word. May more and more press to Christ to be healed of these plagues, and to be delivered from the enemies of their souls. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Matthew 12:15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.

Mark 12:13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.

Luke 6:17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,