A Ministry Filled With Irony

Irony is defined as contradictory situations reveal a reality that is different from what appears to be true.

Mark 3:20–30 CSB

20 Jesus entered a house, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard this, they set out to restrain him, because they said, “He’s out of his mind.” 22 The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.” 23 So he summoned 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 but is finished. 27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house. 28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

The Family To The Rescue

When in Reality It was Jesus who had come to do the rescuing

Mark 3:20–21 CSB

20 Jesus entered a house, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard this, they set out to restrain him, because they said, “He’s out of his mind.”

The Works of Jesus Attributed to Satan

When in Reality they were the works of God

Mark 3:22 CSB

22 The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”

Jesus Answers With Parables

(Metaphors with a Deeper Spiritual Meaning).

Jesus is ultimately demonstrating the Irony of their charges

Mark 3:23–26 CSB

23 So he summoned 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 but is finished.

Ironically, The Pharisees Accusation Actually Demonstrated Jesus Authority of Satan

Mark 3:27 CSB

27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

The Pharisees Building The Case of Jesus Being Blasphemous

When in reality, It was the Pharisees who were Blaspheming

Blasphemy: the act of claiming the attributes of a deity

the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God

Mark 3:28–30 CSB

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

the unforgivable sin is the attribution of the work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit to Satan in respect to the Miracles of Jesus during His earthly Ministry.

Jesus Was Empowered By The Holy Spirit In His Earthly Ministry

-Born of the Spirit -Matthew 1:18

- Baptized in the Spirit - Mark

-Raised from the Dead By the Spirit - Romans 6:10-11

Luke 4:1 CSB

1 Then Jesus left the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness

By denying the works of God the Spirit in the Life of Jesus, They were willfully severing their only possible means of reconciliation

John 16:8 (CSB)

8 When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:

John 3:6 “6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

No Sin Is Too Great That Can’t Be Forgiven In Christ Except One: Blaspheme of The Spirit

Mark 3:28–29 CSB

28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—

Matthew 12 - Blasphemy of the Son is forgivable

Question: Do you ascribe the miraculous works of Jesus to the work of the God the Holy Spirit or to the work of Satan?

There is a sense unpardonable sin today is the state of continued unbelief

The Ultimate Irony: It Was the Pharisees Who Were Doing the Work by Satan

John 8:43–44 CSB

43 Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

Application: A Modern Day Warning

1 Timothy 4:1 CSB

1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 CSB

13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.

1 John 4:1 CSB

1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Be Bereans: Do Their Teachings Align With The Teachings of Scripture?

2 Timothy 3:16 “16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,”