What is mankind?

Believers search the scriptures to discover what pleases God, what His will is for us. In Mark 3:1-6 we’re given a vivid example of something that deeply displeased Him: [Jesus] entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. A glance at the context, and at a parallel passage, reveals who “they” are: Pharisees and scribes (see Mk 2:24 and Luke 6:6-11). They know He is popular an...