Family, Sandwiches, and Good vs. Evil

Kyle Lammott

Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

Mark 3:20–35

0 ratings

· 22 views

Notes

Transcript

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

Mark 3:20-

Mark 3:20–35 ESV

Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” 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.” And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 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. “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Parable vv.22-30

True Family vv. 31-35

Introduction: Mark’s Story

Mark is a story

Mark was written for an oral society - it was meant to be spoken and it was mean to be heard

The flow of Mark is a flow for a stage performance, a drama, a play.

Scenes in the play

And we see that this story, this play has all the elements contained to be reenacted, spoken, and heard

Scenes in the play

Callings

healings

Questionings

Teachings

Stage props in the play

Wilderness

Sea of Galilee

Capernaum

Synagogue

Home (Peter or Jesus)

Actors in a play

John the baptist

First actor in the first scene

He prepares the way for the star, for the hero

John is arrested in 1:14 and doesn’t show up again until chapter 6

Jesus

Jesus has the main role, he is the hero, he is the one who drives the plot forward

Satan

He is the main Antagonist working through the demonic realm and different people

He hates Jesus

Jesus and Satan went to war in Chapter 1 where Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days

Disciples

First Jesus calls 4 - Peter, James, John and Andrew

He then calls Levi - who is later named Matthew (author of the Gospel of Matthew)

He then calls 12 apostles - the five he has already called and 7 more

Authorities

Scribes, Pharisees, Herodians

Also antagonistic

Crowds

Fans of Jesus - viewed him as a rockstar

Sick and lame - Peters mother in law, man with an unclean spirit, man with the withered hand

And now, for the first time in the Gospel of Mark we are being introduced to another actor

Jesus’ family

Jesus family only shows up twice in Marks Gospel - here in our passage this morning and again in 6:3

Jesus family is mentioned here in verse 21 and again in 31-35

Family

What we have here is a sandwich

Jesus’ family (first slice of bread)

Jesus vs. Satan (meat)

Jesus’ family (second slice of bread)

So lets look at the first slice of this markan sandwich

Jesus’ Family

We know some about Jesus family

The Blasphemous Charge

This is the middle part of the sandwich

Mark inserted this story intentionally, This narrative is tied together thematically, not chronologically. This conversation with the scribes did not take place at the same time as the Jesus’ family stating that he had “lost his mind”

Mark 3:22-

Mark 3:22–30 ESV

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.” And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 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. “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Mark notes that these Scribes were Scribes who came down from Jerusalem

The Gospel of Mark (b) The Charge that Jesus is Possessed. Ch. 3:22–30

The arrival of a delegation of legal specialists from Jerusalem suggests that the Galilean mission of Jesus had attracted the critical attention of the Sanhedrin. The scribes know that Jesus has a considerable following and that he possesses the power to expel demons. It is possible that they were official emissaries from the Great Sanhedrin who came to examine Jesus’ miracles and to determine whether Capernaum should be declared a “seduced city,” the prey of an apostate preacher. Such a declaration required a thorough investigation made on the spot by official envoys in order to determine the extent of the defection and to distinguish between the instigators, the apostates and the innocent

It is possible that the local scribes from

This was like the Vatican sending experts to Roman Catholic Church in Wichita to check in on a demon possessed man who is claiming to be God.

And after gaining some information what do they say? what is the verdict concerning Jesus according to the scribes from the Great Sanhedrin??

Mark 3:22 ESV

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.”

They state that Jesus is not only evil, but he is possessed by Beelzebul

Beelzebul is Satan himself

They say that Jesus, the creator God, is possessed by Satan

They say that God

The one who reveals himself with fire and wind in the exodus

The one who reveals himself in the tornado before Job

The one who who’s glory and holiness is so intense that Moses had to hid his face

The one who David says speaks stars and galaxies and quasars into existence

The one who turns the evil city of sodom into dust by fire from heaven

This God, they say, is possessed by Satan

This charge is blasphemy

To believe that God is evil

To believe that Jesus is an agent for Satan

This topic of Blasphemy is picked up in 3.28-30

Mark 3:28–30 ESV

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

Verse 28 is pure grace

Jesus says that those who blaspheme will be forgiven

That whatever blasphemies they utter will be forgiven

Jesus is telling them that you still have a chance to repent, forgiveness is still available to them because when the Holy Spirit comes he will call all men everywhere to repent.

However, if they reject the spirit, if they say the spirit is evil, than there will be no forgiveness for them.

We see this progression through the NT

Jesus comes to establish his kingdom, and to call people to repent and believe.

Upon Jesus’ death and resurrection we see the kingdom inaugurated, we see the victory being won, and we see Jesus ascend to sit at the right hand of God to rule and reign as King.

And Jesus says that he is going to send the spirit to continue the work of the kingdom, the work of the gospel, through his body, through the church.

And if someone rejects Jesus during his earthly life he still offers grace as the Spirit will come to call them to repent as well.

However, if they reject the Spirit there will be no forgiveness, there is no hope for them after that.

An Exegetical Summary of Mark 1–8 3:29

What is meant by blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

As explained by the following verse, this blasphemy is the act of attributing acts of healing wrought by the power of the Holy Spirit to be wrought instead by the power of Beelzebul (3:22), and thus deliberately denying the power and greatness of the Holy Spirit [Tay]. It is the sin of attributing the work of the Holy Spirit through Jesus to demonic forces [CGTC, EBC, NLTfn, WBC]. This sin is a conscious and deliberate rejection of God’s saving power and grace released through Jesus’ word and act

An Exegetical Summary of Mark 1–8 3:29

What is meant by blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

This is the sin of blasphemy - that seeing the power of God through the spirit, hearing the testimony of the gospel, yet calling and believing the the gospel is evil, that the work of the spirit and the power of the spirit is evil. To reject the spirits work results in death.

What is meant by blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

As explained by the following verse, this blasphemy is the act of attributing acts of healing wrought by the power of the Holy Spirit to be wrought instead by the power of Beelzebul (3:22), and thus deliberately denying the power and greatness of the Holy Spirit. It is the sin of attributing the work of the Holy Spirit through Jesus to demonic forces. This sin is a conscious and deliberate rejection of God’s saving power and grace released through Jesus’ word and act.

So here the scribes, by calling Jesus Beelzebul, are guilty of blasphemy against the son.

How does Jesus respond to the blasphemous charge that he is possessed by Satan and doing the work of Satan?

The Parables

Going back to the parable

Mark 3:22–27 ESV

Mark 3:22-

After hearing about what the scribes were saying, Jesus calls them to himself and talks to them in parables.

How can Satan cast out Satan?

Jesus is saying, “if you think I am possessed by Satan, and by Satan’s power I cast out demons - then what you’re saying is that Satan casts out himself”

He then illustrates this point in the parable,

Mark 3:24–26 ESV

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.

Mark 3:24-

Starts with the large and works his way down to the individual

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

If Satan is seeking to destroy his own kingdom by casting out demons, than his kingdom will not be able to stand.

For a kingdom that turns on itself is a kingdom that will soon be completely consumed.

If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand

How important is this for families?

Mom and Dad turn on each other when they are supposed to be in unity = destruction

Church turns on itself when they are supposed to be in unity = destruction

Unity is Paul’s number one topic throughout his letters.

In Jesus’ last prayer with the disciples before the cross - Jesus prays,

John 17:11 ESV

And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

Jesus has come to bring us into unity with the triune God, and we are to be in unity with one another

For how can we stand if we are against one another?

Power of reconciliation

Jesus is claiming that Satan also knows the power of being unified - and if Jesus is empowered by satan and it is by satan that he cast out satan their is no unity.

Mark 3:26 ESV

And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.

Mark 3:

Here stating again that Satan has not risen up against himself - Satan and his demons are active in the world seeking to accuse and destroy the work of the gospel.

Jesus then speaks a second parable

Again responding to the charge, Jesus tells them what is really going on

Mark 3:27 ESV

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.

Mark 3:

The Gospel of Mark (b) The Charge that Jesus is Possessed. Ch. 3:22–30

Satan is the strong man whose strength is evidenced in the enslavement of men through sin, possession, disease and death; the demons are his servants in this destructive work. He is like a champion who exercises his sovereignty in the sphere of death. Only one who is stronger than he can enter into his realm, bind him and plunder his goods. This Jesus has done. The expulsion of demons is nothing less than a forceful attack on the lordship of Satan. Jesus’ ability to cast out demons means that one stronger than Satan has come to restrain his activity and to release the enslaved. The heart of Jesus’ mission is to confront Satan and to crush him on all fields, and in the fulfilment of his task he is conscious of being the agent of irresistible power.93

Jesus’ statement raises the pressing question of the source of his power. The pronouncement on blasphemy indicates that Jesus’ works are accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is as the Bearer of the Spirit that he stands as the Champion of God in the battle with Satan. In the face of the claim that he is possessed by an unclean spirit Jesus affirms that he possesses the Spirit of God.

Satan is the strong man whose strength is evidenced in the enslavement of men through sin, possession, disease and death; the demons are his servants in this destructive work.

The Gospel of Mark (b) The Charge that Jesus is Possessed. Ch. 3:22–30

He is like a champion who exercises his sovereignty in the sphere of death.

Only one who is stronger than he can enter into his realm, bind him and plunder his goods.

This Jesus has done. The expulsion of demons is nothing less than a forceful attack on the lordship of Satan.

Jesus’ ability to cast out demons means that one stronger than Satan has come to restrain his activity and to release the enslaved.

The heart of Jesus’ mission is to confront Satan and to crush him on all fields, and in the fulfilment of his task he causing great disruption in the religious world

This is what happens when the kingdom of God advances - it causes disruption

Jesus has bound the strong man and has called us now to plunder his house

We go into all the world proclaiming the real champion, the real king, the real ruler and call people everywhere to repent and follow king Jesus

And as Satan’s house get plundered there is a war, there is a struggle, there is discomfort, there is disruption -

this can happen on a physical level where we see Christians dying for their faith

This can happen professionally, where you may not get the promotion you deserve, your business could come under attack as you seek to advance the kingdom of God and plunder Satan’s house

Think about the Aaron and Melissa Klein, owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Gresham, Oregon.

They were fined $135,000 for not baking a cake for a homosexual wedding —this caused a great disruption

This disruption can also happen relationally even within our own families - I am sure many of you have experienced a struggle with family members who do not follow the same king you follow

Jesus’ Family

Mark makes the move back to Jesus’ family in the second part of this sandwich, and we see how the Jesus’ plundering Satan’s house is causing a disruption within his own family

Mark 3:31–35 ESV

And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3:

This is picking up the story from the first part of the sandwich where Jesus’ family came to take Jesus away saying that “he is out of his mind”

So here the disciples tell Jesus that his mother and brother are outside and how does Jesus respond?

Jesus takes this moment to teach his disciples how important Christian unity really is.

In doing so Jesus redefines family

Mark 3:35 ESV

For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3:

For many of us this morning we don’t have family close by

For Mandee and I we have no family in the state of Kansas

For some of you that may also be the case

Some of you may not have family in your life for other reasons, death, broken relationships, incarceration, neglect etc.

These are painful realities many experience

But Jesus is telling us that the bond we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ is actually a stronger bond than the relationship we have with our biological or legal families.

Look around this room, these are your brothers and your sisters, your mothers and fathers

This is the love and unity we are to have with one another.

We may not be joined by blood - but we are joined by his blood

So we have the redefining of family, of relationships - not only among individuals but also among individuals and God.

And we also see a redefining of relationships in this passage as a whole

To understand how this entire passage is speaking to family we have to understand how a sandwich in Mark works...

Why does mark put these stories together?

Why Does Mark go from talking about Jesus’ family, to talking about the blasphemous charge, to Jesus’ parables and back to family again?

The literary structure of a sandwich is used to tell us that each side of the sandwich is to be interpreted by the middle. And the middle with each side. They work together

So if we were to observe the flow of the story what we see Mark deals with family -> Jesus vs. Satan -> family

So what we have is a discussion around two families - Satan’s family and Jesus’ family

Going back to our list of actors in this story we see a clear separation on who’s side these actors are on

Satan’s side

Family and Authorities

Jesus’ side

Followers

Satan’s Family

Family

They wanted to seize him - keep him from doing what God has called him to do - this is the same desire Satan had in the wilderness when he tempted Jesus, he wanted to keep him from doing what God called him to do.

vs. 21 his family said, he is Out of his mind - words used to describe those who are possessed by demons

This charge of being out of his mind is what links us to the inner part of the sandwich

The scribes thought he was possessed and doing the work of Satan

Authorities

The irony of the authorities accusing Jesus of being possessed is ever before us

Mark is weaving together a theme concerning the authorities and Satan throughout the book thus far.

It began in Chapter 1 with the demon possessed man being allowed into the synagogue (a house of worship)

The authorities have allowed satan to enter their church

The next time we are in the Synagogue is in chapter 3 with the man with the withered hand - how do the authorities behave?

Mark 3:

Mark 3:2 ESV

And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.

3:2 “they watched Jesus to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might ACCUSE him”

Satan literally means accuser

After Jesus healed the man the authorities plotted to DESTROY Jesus

Mark 3:6 ESV

The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

To destroy is to murder - and as Jesus says in John Satan was a murderer from the beginning

So the authorities are here types of Satan, doing the work of satan, all the while claiming to love God

We see in 3:19 that the last apostle named is “Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him”

Mark 3:19 ESV

and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Mark 3:16 ESV

He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);

We see in the gospel of John that Judas was indwelt by Satan to do this work, and who did Judas (ie Satan) partner with in the betrayal of Jesus? The high priest - the authorities.

Now this reality of the Authorities and Satan being linked together in Marks mind also sheds new light on the parables Jesus told

don’t read....

Mark 3:24-

Mark 3:24–26 ESV

A kingdom divided cannot stand

The authorities had a kingdom they had created claiming it was for God yet it actually was divided as they served Satan.

The Authorities had their synagogues “houses of worship”

Allowing satan to enter into that house is to divide the house and it can no longer stand

Therefore, like Satan, the authorities were divided against themselves and are coming to an end.

The authorites have so divided against themselves that while they claim God as their father, Jesus tells them in that they are of their true father, The Devil.

The authorities have so divided against themselves that while they claim God as their father, Jesus tells them in se God that even though we were all once children of wrath, But God being rich in mercy and love has brought us from Satan’s family into his own family.

Jesus’ Family

Now we, who once were followers of Satan, as Paul said “following the prince of the power of the air” have been rescued by the great King and adopted into his family where now Jesus looks at his people and says,

Mark 3:

Mark 3:35 ESV

For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

And what is the will of God? That we follow Christ

That we believe in him

That we pledge our allegiance in him

That we know him

That we follow him

That we worship him

That we proclaim him

Jesus like wise is restoring everything that Satan has destroyed

Jesus is restoring his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven

Jesus is restoring the house - bringing unity among believers so that it might not be divided

Jesus is restoring the individuals - that we might be fully aligned and consistent followers of Christ.

Jesus has bound the strong man, he has defeated satan so now we are called to plunder his house

We bring the message of adoption to a world of spiritual orphans and offer them the hope of being made new in the family of God!

Related Media

Related Sermons

Family, Sandwiches, and Good vs. Evil

​

Introduction: Mark’s Story

Jesus’ Family

​

The Blasphemous Charge

The Parables

Jesus’ Family

Satan’s Family

Jesus’ Family