The Intervention

Mark 3:20-35

Morrill Baptist – 8.7.22

Intro

Growing up I remember hearing the word intervention and wondering just what was being talked about. As I grew, more details of what friends were talking about came to light. The stories did not hold the depth of meaning as much as the word did.

It was or is an intervention

We need to save him from himself

Alcohol

Drugs

Abuse

I distinctly remember one friend in my elementary years talking of the alcohol abuse and what life was like in the home. I simply could not relate.

His family was attempting to do what it could. But it turned out to be too little too late as this father died a couple of years later from alcohol poisoning.

Today’s passage brings about not one but two attempts at an intervention. We’ve seen in chapter 3 of Mark some remarkable events.

The healing of the man with a withered hand and the overt challenge to the leaders that it was…..

The continued healing and exorcisms

Then the naming of the 12

Mark is turning a corner here in this chapter – let’s take a moment and remember some details we introduced a month ago.

I. The Bridge from power to teaching – Ministry in Gallilee Part II

a. This chapter has five sections that bridge from one focal point to another. The idea of who is Jesus.

b. The chapter then holds a shift from a demonstration of power which helps one to understand who is this Jesus,

i. There are six divisions in the chapter that focus on relationship between Christ and groups of mankind

1. His authority over deformity – v. 1-6

2. The withdrawal – v. 7-12

3. The Twelve – v. 13-19

4. The Friends – v. 20-21

5. The Scribes – v. 22-30

6. The Family – v. 31-35

ii. This provides the setting for Mark to launch in chapter 4 his teaching ministry

1. Keep in mind, Mark has one point – to help the reader understand Who is Jesus?

a. In that he is the Son of God

c. Theological Emphasis

i. Who is Christ – how do we know and understand him? Through his:

1. The Miracles –

2. The teaching

3. and actions of Jesus

a. The claim to unique authority

b. Divine prerogative of forgiving sins

Today we are going to look at the last three divisions representing three distinct social groups that Christ is interacting with.

4. The Friends – v. 20-21

5. The Scribes – v. 22-30

6. The Family – v. 31-35

In an outline form we could have three sermons here. But to preserve what Mark is attempting to communicate we are keeping them together today.

Mark has a particular distinct literary style. One of those particularities is called the literary sandwich.

One topic is introduced, a shift to a seemingly different topic, then he comes back to the original topic.

In this passage, the Sandwich is made of two parts. Place and people.

There is a home – this all takes place in the same location and in a matter of minutes. Thus the continuity.

There are three groups of people.

His friends

The Scribes

The Family

Each, in their own way are attempting to create an intervention. Let’s read and see how this plays out.

Mark 3:20-35

Parallel is recorded in Matt 12:22-37 for verses 20-32

Parallel is recorded in Matt 12:46-50 and Luke 8:19-21 for verses 31-35

Thesis: The incredible accusation leads to a defining of the ultimate relationships.

In three movements Mark provides the believer an example of the depth of commitment involved in following Jesus.

I. The first intervention - Protection by the friends

a. He is so busy that even a fundamental aspect of living such as eating properly is ignored

i. The interrupted Meal. Verse 20. This is mentioned by Mark exclusively

ii. There is an additional record of this type of activity in 6:31.[1]

iii. Think for a moment about how great must have been

1. the relentless pursuit by the afflicted, and

2. the eagerness of all to come near to Jesus,

iv. when he and his disciples could not so much as eat bread on their account.

1. Neither by entering some dwelling,

2. nor by retiring to the desert,

3. could they secure the privacy necessary for eating a common meal.[2]

v.

b. His own people now is convinced that he needs to be protected even from himself – charging him with being out of his mind

i. Who are his own people?

1. Generally this is a broadly used term – at times even referring to the nation of Israel

2. It lends in this passage to a group that is associated but less specific than in verse 32

a. Friends

b. Relatives

c. People who knew him from his youth

ii. The response in verse 21.

1. His perfect service of love,

a. the untiring labor,

b. never ceasing toil,

c. that the Servant was ever ready to minister,

d. forgetting his own physical need

e. He was judged by them.[3]

2. It shows that His own relations were ashamed of Him. They looked upon Him as being out of His mind.

iii. Why? Because He has lost his senses. He is delirious or deranged.

1. The reason why this report gained any belief was, probably,

a. he had lived among them as a carpenter;

b. he was poor and unknown;

c. now, at thirty years of age, he broke off from his occupations,

d. abandoned his common employment,

e. spent much time in the deserts,

f. denied himself the common comforts of life,

g. and set up his claims to be the Messiah who was expected by all the people to come with great pomp and splendour.

2. This charge of “lost his senses” on account of attention to religion has not been confined to the Saviour.

a. Let a man be made deeply sensible of his sins,

i. and spend much of his time in prayer, and have no relish for the ordinary amusements or business of life;

b. or let a Christian be much impressed with his obligation to devote himself to God,

i. and act as if he believed there was an eternity,

ii. and warn his neighbors of their danger;

c. or let a minister show uncommon zeal

i. and spend his strength in the service of his Master,

d. and the world is not slow to call it derangement.

e. And none will be more ready to originate or believe the charge than

i. an ungodly and infidel parent or brother, a

ii. self-righteous Pharisee or

iii. professor in the church.

f. At the same time,

i. men may endanger themselves on the bosom of the deep or

ii. in the bowels of the earth for wealth;

iii. or may plunge into the vortex of fashion, folly, and vice, and break in upon the hours of repose, and neglect their duties to their family and the demands of business, and in the view of the world it is wisdom and proof of a sane mind! Such is the consistency of boasted reason; such the wisdom and prudence of worldly men![4]

II. The Second Intervention – Claims of Possession by Beelzebub

a. The stunning claim by the scribes of his being possessed by Satan v. 22 and 30

i. The Blasphemy of the Scribes. His Warning. Verses 23–30. Still worse, the Jerusalem Scribes attributed His Divine power to Satan.

1. What an awful accusation!

a. They could not deny the power,

i. but refused to believe that it was the power of God.

b. Under Satanic impulses they called the Holy Spirit a demon power.

ii. The response of Christ to the claim

But the perfect wisdom of the Lord silenced their blasphemy. Christ here outlines a simple truth – and then four implications of how it simply cannot work.

One sidebar note here – Multiple names are used in this passage – all come back to one person. This passage in fact is a bit of a tutorial on the realities of just who Satan is and how he is to be understood.

Beelzebub – Lord of the dwelling – v 22

Demons v 22

Ruler of Demons v 22

Satan v23

Strong Man v 27

1. How can Satan cast out Satan? V 23

a. A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand V24

b. House divided will not stand v 25

c. If Satan attacks himself – he is finished v26

d. The strong man must first be bound before he can be plundered v 27

2. All sins but one shall be forgiven v 28

a. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is the one that will not be forgiven v 29-31

III. The Third Intervention – The family lacks belief and Participation in this madness v 32-35

a. The family is calling for him

i. The Old Relationship disowned and a new Relationship announced. Verses 32–35.

1. He refused to see His relations.

2. He no longer recognizes them as His own, and speaks of a new relationship, founded upon obedience to the will of His Father.[5]

b. Christs stunning and convicting response

i. These were his mother and his brothers,

1. Separate from who appears in vs 20-21.

a. They did not think him actually insane,

i. but they supposed that he was borne away by the enthusiasm which possessed him into a reckless disregard of his personal safety:

ii. for they foresaw the conflict with the religious leaders and the military authorities, in which his present course would involve him.

b. The probability is that Mary’s faith was in advance of that of the brothers,

i. but she naturally sympathized with them in their fears for the personal safety of her son.[6]

Conclusion

Having worked through the thoughts here in Mark 3:20-35, I have been contemplating how to draw this together for a conclusion.

The idea of Intervention is woven throughout the passage and message. Maybe there is someone you know who needs to hear the depth of the claims here in this passage and be brought to understand the realities of their eternal state,

I might suggest this may not be the best passage to bring them to. Maybe look at the fist 6 verses of the chapter.

So what then – how to apply for this body and this church?

This may seem odd, but walk with me for a moment here. In verses 23-27 Christ speaks of the realities of a leader whose house is not aligned. Or even himself not being cohesive.

He is speaking directly about Satan.

But the practical realities he describes are known to be a practical truth across society. We see it in business, in sports and even in families.

As I bring into play this application – please understand that is meant to encourage and exhort this group assembled here today to love each other and do good works.

The ability of this body to come together behind its leadership will determine the ability of this body to be a testimony in this community, county and region.

The leadership is meeting, talking, praying, considering and asking the Lord – which way next.

Listen, pray with them, support them as they seek out the Lord’s will for the path for this body.

Your support and encouragement will be a testimony to the community and bring honor and glory to the name of the only one worthy of glory and honor.

[1] Arno C. Gaebelein, The Annotated Bible: Matthew to The Acts, vol. 6 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 76. [2] J. W. McGarvey, The New Testament Commentary: Matthew and Mark, vol. I (Delight, AR: Gospel Light Publishing Company, 1875), 281. [3] Arno C. Gaebelein, The Annotated Bible: Matthew to The Acts, vol. 6 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 76. [4]Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Matthew & Mark, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 340–341. [5] Arno C. Gaebelein, The Annotated Bible: Matthew to The Acts, vol. 6 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 77. [6] J. W. McGarvey, The New Testament Commentary: Matthew and Mark, vol. I (Delight, AR: Gospel Light Publishing Company, 1875), 281.