Parables of Mark

Look Around

Pray

Introduce topic

Very important we are aware of our surroundings

Travel to an unfamiliar city or place, especially out of the county, we are told to always be aware of our surroundings

We should travel in groups and not alone

Read Verses

English Standard Version (Chapter 3)

20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

English Standard Version Chapter 3

home

Jesus does not have a home. He considered Capernaum his headquarters or home.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

his family

Speaking here of earthly family as Jesus’ family is all of creation. His mother and brothers.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

seize

Strong word meaning to take by force or capture. Didn’t come to ask Jesus to go with them but to take Him.

What we are seeing is a serious situation, perhaps a family division, a since the situation could escalate quickly.

a. Have you ever been in a situation where you went to rescue a family member or relative? Only to have your good intentions blow up. Those situations can turn out of control quickly.

But we have to ask ourselves, if Jesus is out of His mind why so many people? I believe it was the religious leaders and not the common folk saying this.

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 3)

Jesus’ family might have wanted to preserve their reputation. The political ramifications of Jesus’ actions and teaching also could have caused His family to attempt to restrain Him, for fear of reprisal from Roman authorities or local Jewish leaders. Alternatively, they might have not have believed that Jesus was the Messiah and so attempted to silence Him to avoid being ostracized from the religious system. Since Jesus has been at the center of a crowd almost continuously since His first teaching in Capernaum, it is unclear why His family reacts now.

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Look Around because Demons are real

Look Around because Spiritual battles are real

Look Around because Everyone must choose sides