A House That Will Not Stand

Scripture Passage

Mark 3:20–35 (NLT)

20 One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. 21 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said. 22 But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.” 23 Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked. 24 “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. 25 Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. 27 Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. 28 “I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, 29 but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” 30 He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.” 31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. 32 There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.” 33 Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 34 Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 35 Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Focus Statement

In navigating our current challenges and pastoral transition,

let us center our hearts and minds on the unifying power of Jesus Christ,

embracing humility, unity, and love as we journey together as a church family.

Point of Relation

In 1858, during a pivotal moment in American history,

Abraham Lincoln stood before a crowd in Springfield, Illinois.

As a candidate for the U.S. Senate, Lincoln delivered a speech that would become iconic,

addressing the deep divisions tearing the nation apart.

With conviction in his voice, Lincoln proclaimed, "A house divided against itself cannot stand,"

capturing the attention of the nation and shaping the discourse on unity and division.

However, what many may not realize is that the origins of this famous quote lie not in the political realm,

but in the timeless wisdom of Scripture.

Over two thousand years earlier,

Jesus spoke similar words in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 3, verse 25: "If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand."

This biblical truth, spoken by Jesus, transcends the boundaries of time and culture, permeating our collective consciousness.

The misattribution of this quote serves as a poignant reminder of how

timeless truths from Scripture can transcend generations and cultures,

often becoming deeply ingrained in our societal discourse.

Just as Lincoln's speech underscored the importance of unity and cohesion for societal stability,

so too does Jesus' teaching in Mark 3 highlight the significance of spiritual unity and solidarity within the community of believers.

Things to Consider

As we prepare to delve into the Scripture passage,

it's important to consider a few key points.

First, we reflect on the accusations leveled against Jesus by the religious authorities,

particularly the suggestion that he was possessed by Beelzebul,

challenging his authority and the source of his power.

Second, we contemplate Jesus' solemn warning about blaspheming the Holy Spirit,

urging us to discern God's presence and activity in our lives and communities with care and reverence.

Finally, we examine Jesus' redefinition of family

based on spiritual kinship rather than biological ties,

emphasizing the importance of unity and solidarity within the community of believers.

These reflections will guide us

as we navigate the Scripture passage in light of our church's current challenges.

What Scripture Says

Before we dive into the Scripture…the first thing that needs to be asked is this…

Did you catch what Jesus’ family did?

Holy wow.

It says in verse 21: "When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. ‘He’s out of his mind,’ they said.

And not too much later in verse 31: Jesus’ mother and brothers show up TO DO JUST THAT…

I bet that adds context to Jesus’ public response to them:

“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?…

Look, these are my mother and brothers.

Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus family came to take him away and confine him at home because they thought he was mentally ill…

And Jesus publicly rebukes them by redefining what FAMILY means:

FAMILY is anyone who does God’s will.

But the family part is only the subplot of today’s passage…

In Mark 3:20-35, we encounter a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry where he faces accusations from religious leaders.

Central to this passage is the mention of Beelzebul,

a figure representing the prince of demons.

Beelzebul's origins trace back to the Canaanite deity Baal-Zebul,

associated with the Philistine god Baal-Zebub…spelled with “A’s”

Initially, Baalzebul signified a position of high authority or lordship.

However, over time, Jewish and Christian traditions transformed Baalzebul into Beelzebub (with “E’s instead of A’s),

meaning "lord of the flies," as a means to mock and demonize the original deity.

This transformation reflects a common practice of associating the names of foreign gods with demonic figures in Jewish and Christian demonology.

So, back to Jesus…

The religious leaders accuse him of being possessed by Beelzebul

and casting out demons by the power of the prince of demons.

Such accusations seek to undermine Jesus' authority and discredit his miracles.

They imply that Jesus' power comes from an evil source rather than from God.

NOW…keep in mind the religious leaders are…to be exact…a part of Jesus’ community of believers.

Jesus responds to these accusations with a logical argument, questioning how Satan could cast out Satan.

He highlights the absurdity of such a scenario, explaining that if he were casting out demons by Beelzebul's power,

it would imply internal division within the demonic realm,

which would be self-destructive.

Of course, Jesus' response underscores the divine nature of his authority and the source of his power.

And then Jesus gets to the crux of the issue in today’s text:

In the midst of addressing the accusations,

Jesus issues a solemn warning about blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

While the exact nature of blaspheming the Spirit remains a point of theological debate,

it encompasses the rejection or denial of the work of the Holy Spirit and attributing it to demonic influence.

This warning highlights the profound consequences of refusing to recognize the divine presence and power at work in Jesus' ministry.

It challenges us to reflect on our own response to the Holy Spirit's work in our lives

and to consider the implications of rejecting God's grace and truth…

in whatever forms and through whomever they present themselves.

Understanding the gravity of blaspheming the Spirit

prompts us to delve deeper into our understanding of spiritual discernment

and the significance of acknowledging God's presence and activity in the world.

What This Means for You

As we reflect on the Scripture,

it's vital to apply its truths to our lives.

Discern the source of spiritual power,

seeking alignment with God's will through prayer and Scripture.

Avoid attributing the Holy Spirit's work to evil forces;

this can manifest in subtle ways,

such as inadvertently dismissing other believers or their ideas as less-than-spiritual,

solely based on personal preferences or biases.

Guard against deception and embrace Jesus' invitation to community,

finding support and growth with fellow believers.

For new and seasoned believers alike,

these principles form a foundation for spiritual growth—

deepen your understanding of Scripture,

engage in prayer,

and seek guidance from mature believers.

By living in alignment with God's will,

we experience God’s abundant life and contribute to God’s kingdom flourishing on earth.

What This Means for Us

As a church community, we must apply Scripture's teachings practically to our challenges.

We should be addressing misunderstandings and tensions, which requires humility and open dialogue.

Friends, as your pastor, I can say I hear too much talking going on behind the scenes…negative and non-constructive…all fear-based…

And this is not new…this in happens inevitably in every church…

and let me tell you…it is a CHURCH KILLER.

We need to stop this…if we have an issue with someone of something…

We should be directly addressing it with love and respect.

We should also be recognizing that emphasizing unity and solidarity amidst diverse viewpoints fosters inclusivity and acceptance.

Grounding decisions in Scripture's timeless truths guides our collective discernment.

Supporting one another with love and encouragement builds authentic relationships.

and through fervent prayer, we trust in God's guidance and provision.

My hope for our church is that we lean on Jesus Christ through this time,

bearing patiently with each other

and recognizing that we are all FAMILY in Jesus Christ.

We should not view each other as "The Other" or as opposition,

but as LOVED ONES whom we deeply care for and support, even amidst disagreement.

By embracing these principles, we grow stronger together in faith and unity.

Let us do so now and always…lest we become a house that will not stand. Amen? Amen!

This sermon was written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI.