The Spirit of Jesus

Mark 3:22-30

I. Introduction

A. Rational Response squad

1. Headed by Brian Sapient (Pseudonym)

2. Began the blasphemy challenge in 2006

B. It is the Holy Spirit that is in Him – Mark 1:9-11

II. The work the Spirit is Good (22-26)

A. Exegesis

1. The Scribes (Lawyers) from Jerusalem are now taking note

a) His miracles are big – exorcism and healing

b) The temple people are not doing things like this and are losing influence

c) Jesus is opposing the hypocrisy of leading rabbi’s and Pharisees

2. They confront Him

a) Saying He is possessed by “Beelzebul” and the “Prince of demons”

b) They are taking the things of God and attributing them to Satan

3. Jesus begins to speak in parables

a) How can Satan cast out Satan?

b) A kingdom divided against itself it cannot stand – Satan fighting Satan

c) A house divided against itself cannot stand

d) If these are true, Satan cannot stand

4. Jesus is simply making the point the if He were acting in the power of Satan, why are good things, which is against Satan, happening?

5. Jesus’ work is good and therefore cannot be attributed to Satan

a) This is the opposite of the outcome that Satan would want

b) Why would Satan want His demons cast out or people healed?

c) What Jesus does is deals with evil and casts it out so that people will glorify God

(1) Corporately as they see the miracles

(2) Individually as they are freed to follow God

B. Application

1. It amazes me how often people attribute good to Satan

2. They often attribute the work of the church to Satan – bad people in churches, the wars of churches,, etc.

III. The power of the Spirit is triumphant (27)

A. Exegesis

1. I always had a hard time understanding this verse because I attributed the plunderer to Satan, who Jesus has just been talking about

2. I finally understood it when I realized that the strongman is Satan and the plunder is Jesus

3. Jesus is asserting that in order to thwart Satan’s schemes against people He is binding Satan – casting out demons, reversing the effects of sin through healing

4. This verse shows the oppositional nature of Christ to Satan and His power over Satan

5. Jesus has the power to bind Satan in order to rescue people from his power

B. Application

1. Most of the people that we evangelize today are held in the sway of Satan

a) 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 – Satan blinds unbelievers

b) Acts 26:15-18 – Paul’s conversion Jesus tells him that He will use Paul to help people turn from the power of Satan

2. But the Spirit is absolutely triumphant over Satan

3. There is no cosmic struggle because God is still the creator and Satan is the created

4. God has already had victory over Satan in the death and resurrection of Christ

5. Ultimately, our greatest foe is Satan who would hold us in sin and deceiving us about our need for righteousness

6. Our hope is in the Holy Spirit can free us from His grip!

IV. The glory of the Spirit is ultimate (28-30)

A. Exegesis

1. Jesus is willing to forgive all sins except the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

2. We have seen Peter deny Him and be forgiven

3. See Luke 12:8-9 – Those who disown Jesus will be disowned by the Father

4. Ultimately Jesus is angry that they have taken what is obviously of God and given credit to Satan

5. Jesus is concerned that the glory of God be protected from discredit

B. Application

1. We need to remember that What God is doing in redeeming sinners is His work and should not be attributed to anything but Him – Satan or ourselves

2. When we deny the work of The Spirit in our world and attributed it to Satan we should also be fearful

a) Blaming God for the evil in the world

b) Blaming the church for the evil

3. What if you have done so?

a) The fear is rejecting the hope of Christ and denying His power of salvation

b) People who are concerned should be reassured – They wouldn’t ask the question if they weren’t redeemed

4. We should, as the church give all credit to God for the good He is doing – His glory is ultimate!!!!

5. Be careful when we:

a) Deny the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation/redemption

b) Deny the work His church in the world

V. Conclusion

A. Proclaim the hope and glory of God in salvation

B. Proclaim the glory and the hope of God through the church

C. Proclaim the glory and the hope of God against Satan and his evil

Mark 1:9–11

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

2 Corinthians 4:3–4

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Acts 26:15–18

15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Luke 12:8–9

8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.