The Spirit's Testifying Work - Mark 3:20-35

Mark 3:20-35 The Spirit’s Testifying Work 2019-09-15 Yield to the Spirit’s testifying work about Jesus Mark is an evangelist. His writing is evangelistic. His purpose is evangelistic. He presents Jesus to the reader, and as he faithfully presents Jesus to the reader, the reader is brought to a place of decision. Will you believe what Mark has to say about Jesus, that he is Savior and Lord, Messiah and Redeemer? Or will you reject it? There’s no middle ground. This decision is the most important decision ever to be made. Scripture Passage: Mark 3:20-35 In our passage this morning Mark presents us with three accounts. Mark writes these accounts in such a way as to attach them to each other, sandwiching the encounter with the scribes and their accusation that Jesus was working by the power of Satan directly between two encounters between Jesus and his family. This, in a way, ties and relates them to each other, so that we take the entire account as presenting one area for our deep consideration. That area, I suggest, is the different ways unbelief presents itself. Yield to the Spirit’s testifying work about Jesus Blasphemy of the Spirit (vv.22-30) 1. vv.22-23 “And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying…And he called to them and said to them in parables…” - Kingdom divided; house divided; binding the strong man. 1. Satan surely isn’t so reckless as to work against himself and to destroy his kingdom intentionally. Instead, this is a case of one who is stronger than the strong man of the house binding the strong man and plundering his goods. Satan is the strong man, but Jesus is the strong man, and he is leading captivity captive, taking those who were in the clutches of Satan and setting them free to love and serve and live for God. 2. vv.28-30 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man…” 1. First, I want us to see what Jesus has to say about the forgiveness of sins. He says that all sins will be forgiven and whatever blasphemies they utter. This is amazing, incredible. 1. 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Washed made clean and had the stench and stain of sin removed. Sanctified - taken from the muck and mire where you were and set on solid ground, removed from the clutches of Satan and set apart in service to God. Justified - having God’s pronouncement over you as one who is righteous, all because of the infinite righteousness of Jesus Christ. 2. Don’t leave here today missing this most important truth! Meditate on this. Bask in the glory of this! Rejoice in the forgiveness offered to sinners such as us through Jesus! 2. But then there’s the reality that there is sin which will never be forgiven - blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 1. Theologian Louis Berkhof writes about this blasphemy of the Spirit - “…the sin itself consists, not in doubting the truth, nor in a simple denial of it, but in a contradiction of it that goes contrary to the conviction of the mind, to the illumination of the conscience, and even to the verdict of the heart. In committing that sin man wilfully, maliciously, and intentionally attributes what is clearly recognized as the work of God to the influence and operation of Satan. It is nothing less than a decided slandering of the Holy Spirit, an audacious declaration that the Holy Spirit is the spirit of the abyss, that the truth is the lie, and that Christ is Satan. It is not so much a sin against the person of the Holy Spirit as a sin against His official work in revealing, both objectively and subjectively, the grace and glory of God in Christ.” 1. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit recognizes that there is truth at work, even as these scribes recognized Jesus was freeing people from the bonds of Satan. They couldn’t deny the work he was doing, but when the time for decision came, they didn’t rightly attribute such miraculous work to the work of God. The only alternative was to attribute it to Satan. They experienced truth and called it a lie; they knew good and called it evil; they saw light and called it darkness. 2. A couple observations. First, this isn’t done in ignorance. This sin can only be committed by those who know the truth. This sin isn’t unbelief. An unbeliever can turn and repent and be forgiven. Luke 23:34 “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’” Second, this sin is the intentional contradiction of truth. 2. By way of application then, we could determine that if you’re sincerely concerned that you’ve committed this unforgivable sin, the presence of your concern over it would lead to the conclusion that you haven’t committed it. Also, seeing that this sin is committed by those who know the truth but don’t believe it, which group among us is at greatest risk? As I considered that question this week I’m led to believe our children would be the most susceptible. I don’t say this to condemn, or to the exclusion of others. To be clear, I’m not accusing any, but I believe the seriousness and permanence of such a sin deserves such pointed questions. 1. The scribes were the ones trained in the Law. They were religious; they followed the rules. But they weren’t in love with Jesus. Many of our kids grow up knowing the rules before they know Jesus. The scribes, unlike the blessed man of Psalm 1, did walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the way of sinners, and took to sitting in the seat of scoffers. Not stopping at scoffing, they continued right up to the point of blaspheming. Perhaps outwardly they looked moral and upright, but inwardly they were circling the drain, going further down and farther away from God. 2. I’m not pulling the fire alarm and trying to excite panic. Rather, my hope is that this would drive us to even more earnest prayer for our children and a more concerted effort to place before them the perfect model of faithful obedience, which is only found in the life of Jesus. Transition: Unbelief is presented in a very striking way in the account of the scribes. But we see another form of unbelief in the family of Jesus. Family of the Spirit (vv.20-21, 31-35) 1. v.20-21 Trying to seize Jesus 1. seize - take into custody, arrest. 6x in Mark, all other times speaking of arrest or forceful seizure. Mind you, the one who came to rescue doesn’t need to be rescued. 2. Jesus had a ministry of such zealous outreach that his family considered him crazy. Were they concerned primarily about him? Were they concerned primarily about the family name and reputation? We can’t be sure. But we do know that their efforts, even heartfelt and well intentioned, were misguided. 3. Does the radical nature of Jesus make you want to try to soften his words and deeds, to make him more palatable and presentable to our current culture, in hopes that he’ll be more acceptable? 2. vv.31-32 Again Jesus’ family comes to him. His mother and brothers are specified this time. We aren’t told why they were seeking Jesus, but from the account in vv.20-21 and from Jesus’ response, I think it’s pretty safe to assume that they were still misguided in their aim. 3. vv.33-35 Jesus makes this radical statement about family. The truest expression of family isn’t bloodrelation, but Spirit relation. Look at what Jesus says in v.35, it’s those who do the will of God who are his brother and sister and mother. 1. Whereas the scribes were near blaspheming the Spirit, it is the Holy Spirit’s testifying work that brings one into the family of God. Romans 8:14–17 “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” 1. When Jesus’ brothers were converted, they didn’t claim extra-special relationship with God because of being blood relation to Jesus. 1. James 1:1 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.” Jude 1 “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James…” 2. For many followers of Jesus, becoming part of the family of God means they’ve been disowned by their earthly family; to have Jesus as brother means you become an enemy to your family. But God isn’t unaware of this or uncaring in this. There is another family, an eternal family, to which you belong, and to which God has joined you. 1 Tim. 3:15 says the household of God is the church of the living God. Eph. 2:17-21 says we are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s family. God has graciously provided us with a new family, a different family, a family united in him and under his Fatherly guidance and love and provision. Conclusion: What is true of you? As you study along with us through Mark and are brought by Mark to this place of decision week in and week out, what do you believe about Jesus? Is he Lord in your life? Do you want a tamer version, a less radical and zealous Jesus? That option isn’t available. The testimony of the Holy Spirit is that Jesus is Lord and Jesus is to be loved and pursued and sought after. There is a place at the family table for you if you believe. y l i m Fa Table Talk September 15, 2019 GOD’S TRUTH Yield to the Spirit’s testifying work about Jesus Family Discussion 1. In Mark 3, we see some statements from Jesus that ought to challenge us in our thinking about being a Christian. They also should be helpful insight into the heart of our Savior and His call to us. To start your family discussion, ask, “Who or what do you follow closest each day? How would you describe an obedient Christian?” 2. Read over the Scriptures in Table Reading #1. What clear distinctions do you see? In other words, what do you read that gives no room for misunderstanding? 3. Do you cry out to Jesus “Abba, Father!”? Are you daily led by your Savior and His Holy Spirit? My precious brother and sister in Christ, follow Jesus! Be intimately aquatinted with His Word and His Spirit in your life. TABLE READING Lead your kids into God’s Word... 1. Mark 3:28-35; Romans 8:9-17; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 19-20; John 12:25-26, 46-48 Scripture Memory: Exodus 20:1-3 “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” - Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (ESV)