Pentecost 3 (5)

Mark 3:20–35 NIV84

20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” 23 So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. 28 I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” 30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.” 31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” 33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark’s Gospel of the life of Jesus is fast paced and demonstrates the intensity of Jesus’ ministry. Although Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not write about the events that John records concerning the first year of Jesus ministry, when Mark does present Jesus with his disciples, the activity is intense and a lot happens in a rather short period of time. A quick review of the first chapters of Mark reveal Jesus calling his disciples to full time ministry and appointing them, Jesus proclaiming the good news of God that the time has come and people were to repent and believe the good news. He is actively preaching in synagogues and wherever crowds would gather. He is doing miracles including Peter’s mother-in-law, and driving out demons.

He is well received by his disciples and by the crowds who would come out to him. But he also faces opposition.

Mark 2:18 NIV84

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”

Mark 2:23–24 NIV84

23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Mark 3:1–6 NIV84

1 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” 4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Mark 3:20–22 NIV84

20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

Axiom. The more a person is intense about something, the greater the reaction. Even today people are divided over political candidates, the comments of celebrities, and even well-known public characters. In a country that touts “freedom of speech” we all know that this freedom only goes so far. And a dramatic shift has occurred. What was once condemned as sinful and an abomination is now celebrated and you dare not speak against it or you will be ridiculed, condemned, and silenced.

Our text is one time (but not the first, last, or only time) that Jesus faces opposition. Let us note how he responds to it.

Situation. Jesus was at a house. We can assume that he was teaching and also driving out demons. He was so involved in his work that he omitted doing some that I know I enjoy doing at least three times a day at a regular time and will also do in between . . . perhaps too often. “He and his disciple were not even able to eat.” This is not normal. But instead of applauding him for his dedication, there were those who judged him. Mark 3:21 (NIV84) When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

[There is some question about who the second “they” refers to. Most likely his own family.]

But they were not the only ones concerned about Jesus and judging him. Mark 3:22 (NIV84) And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

That accusation was a low blow. Instead of recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, they publicly accused him of being in league with the devil. Jesus had come to destroy the devil’s work and they said he was an ally of the devil and was trying to destroy God’s work of which they were the true representatives. This warranted a strong response.

Jesus taught an answer by using a teaching method he often used. He used some parables. We have learned that a parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” But it is more than that. A parable expresses in narrative form a truth that is agreed on and then applies that common sense truth to a spiritual truth of which someone needs convincing. Basically it says, “If you agree that this truth is universal concerning earthly matter, then you must agree that it is also true concerning spiritual matters.”

Agreed on earthly truth. A divided kingdom or house (family) cannot survive. Instead of pooling their resources against a common enemy, a divided entity destroys itself and is overcome by the enemy.

Applied spiritual truth. If Jesus is on the side of the devil aka Satan, Beelzebub; the devil would be destroying himself.

Jesus then continues with a statement that refers to “the unforgivable sin”. The Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit. Research

The Gospel according to Matthew 1: Chapters 1:1–16:12 (King James Version) E. Defense 5: A Man’s Words Determine His Destiny, 12:31–37

c. The one sin for which there is no forgiveness is not a sin against Christ but a sin against the Holy Spirit (Mt. 12:31–32). Why? There is one simple reason given in Scripture. The Holy Spirit is the Person who works in the heart of man; it is He who “convicts the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.…” (Jn. 16:8–11). There is a single word that is very descriptive of His work: conviction. A man sees, feels, or hears about God’s goodness and love and of his own need to surrender to God. The Spirit takes those evidences, using them as convictions. He convicts a man’s heart to believe. A man may go on and on …

• insisting on his own way

• refusing to acknowledge God and surrender his life to God

• choosing to be blind to what he sees, feels, and hears (the convictions of the Spirit)

Such a man eventually becomes so hardened that he cannot recognize God’s truth and goodness. He reaches such a point of hardness that he no longer sees God or feels God or hears God. This man has blasphemed God’s Spirit and counted His convictions as worthless. He has abused, reviled, neglected, ignored, and hardened his heart to the promptings of God’s Spirit permanently. He has blasphemed God’s Spirit and such blasphemy is unforgivable, Christ says.

d. Note what the unpardonable sin is. In the simplest and clearest of terms, it is stubborn rejection, stiff-necked refusal, obstinate unbelief. Such results in a dead spirit and apparently a rooted malice

Mark then returns to where he had started. This known as a sandwich technique in literary style. Mark began with a reference to Jesus’ family, included this discourse about the accusation Jesus had an evil spirit, and then returns to Jesus’ family.

We can understand the situation in this way. Earlier the family had learned of the intensity of Jesus’ activity and had headed over to the place he was. In the mean time Jesus has this discourse with the teachers of the law. Now the family arrives and is waiting outside ready to take charge of him and settle things down. I don’t know what they planned to say but it might have gone like this. “Jesus, we know how dedicated you are to teaching and we appreciate how you help people by doing miracles, but you need to tone it down a little. You are starting to get on people’s nerves and the influential people in our religion are starting to question you and we have heard even plot against you. Let’s go back home and take a little break and let things settle down. We are your family and you will be safe with us.”

Again, we don’t know what they had planned to say but they did not get the opportunity to say it anyway. Jesus responds by asking a rhetorical question. [Which others have taken literally and do not always agree on who the “brothers” are based on some presuppositions.]

Jesus asks this question to present a truth about the relationship between him and his followers and our relationship with one another as fellow followers of Jesus.

Explain “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

The Gospel according to Mark (King James Version) P. Jesus’ Impact upon His Own Family: Feeling Jesus Is an Embarrassment, 3:31–35

2. True kinship is based upon doing the will of God. Jesus had given Himself to do God’s will. The disciples had accepted Jesus as their Lord and Master. Therefore, they were committed to do exactly what their Lord did: the will of God. The will of God became the objective and drive of their lives. All true disciples of Jesus have the same objective: to do the will of God. Therefore, it is the spiritual commitment to do the will of God that binds all believers together.

All men who focus their lives upon the will of God are bound together spiritually, bound together to do the will of God. Jesus is saying no greater kinship exists.

Thought 1. The will of God is the law of God (see the ten commandments, Ex. 20:3–17).

“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart” (Ps. 40:8).

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Ro. 12:1–2).

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication” (1 Th. 4:3).

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Th. 5:18).

“[This] is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Pe. 2:15).

“That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God” (1 Pe. 4:2).

Application: We can relate to the dynamics that take place in our natural families whether it is by genetics, adoption, or marriage. Jesus here speaks of another common bond that can be found among people. The unity that comes when a group of people are united in faith and a common purpose. The analogy is similar to the parables above. We can all agree on family dynamics, those same dynamics apply to those united in Christ. The Germans have a word for that: Gemutlichkeit (which is more than a bunch of pastors playing cards, eating raw beef sandwiches, and drinking beer at a conference). It it the “fellowship of kindred minds”. Pastor John Fawcett (Methodist pastor) wrote of this bond in this well known hymn from around 1800 which is still sung in many congregations to this day.

Blessed be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like that to that above.

2. Before our Father's throne We pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one Our comforts and our cares.

3. We share each other's woes, Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear.

4. When we asunder part, It gives us inward pain; But we shall still be joined in heart, And hope to meet again.