Explore the Bible
By Robert E. Jackson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
Unites
Mark 3:23–35
Undivided House (23–30)
This segment is the first example of Mark’s intercalation or sandwiching of one primary story (Jesus’ family coming to get Him) with another story that makes a similar point.
Both Jesus’ family and the religious leaders were wrong about Jesus. His family thought He was out of His mind. The scribes thought He was possessed by Beelzebub.
The teachers of the law were sent from Jerusalem to discredit Jesus, who was operating outside their traditions and religious establishment. How can they explain His power in casting out demons? The only way they know to undermine His ministry is by claiming He is sent from Satan.
Jesus does not respond to His challengers with direct statements. Using parables He shows the absurdity of their accusations. Jesus is announcing that He is the one Isaiah 49:24–26 points to who will overcome the strong man and save the captives. Conversely the religious leaders are the ones with hardened hearts resulting in alignment with Satan.
He also declares that those people who attribute God’s work to Satan and deliberately scorn the power and forgiveness of God are guilty of unpardonable blasphemy.
C.S. Lewis, in discussing the claims of Jesus, said: “A man who said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. … You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God or else a madman or something worse.”
Misunderstood by Family (31–32)
Jesus’ earthly family traveled to seize Him forcibly (see 3:21). They, like the religious leaders, were wrong about His mission. Obviously Jesus’ family initially thought He was mad and was throwing His life away. Unlike the scribes His earthly family would eventually understand and embrace Christ’s call. In fact Jesus’ half-brother, James, would become a leader in the early church.
From this passage we are reminded devotion to Jesus often results in persecution and misunderstandings. Even family and close friends will not always grasp your choices as you follow Jesus.
My dad went to college in preparation for taking over the family business. Instead God called Dad to preach. His father was furious and cut off all college funds; he thought it made more sense for Dad to serve as a Christian businessman. Only years later did the family understand that Dad wasn’t “crazy” leaving a comfortable salary and position to follow Jesus’ call.
United by Purpose (33–35)
We have often heard, “blood is thicker than water” in referring to family ties. In biblical times this statement would have been even truer than today; the family unit was elevated above all other relationships. In other words a person’s identity couldn’t be separated from his or her family.
Jesus redefines family beyond biological kinship. He is not rejecting the importance of kinship. Instead He is elevating the family of God. The messianic order of family has now come and it supersedes even the closest of relationships.
Christians are to see ourselves as part of a larger family united with the purpose of sharing Christ with a lost and dying world. This news is tremendous in a day and age when loneliness has become the norm. God’s family is seen as an ever-increasing body of Christ with a goal to lovingly bring in people from every tongue, tribe and nation. Being a part of Christ’s family is exciting.
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