40 Days Blog - Day 7
Mark 3:20-35 - Who Really Is Jesus?
Our passage today contains a number of difficult encounters and pictures to grapple with. We see Jesus’ family trying to ‘seize’ Him, saying “He is out of His mind”. We read about demons and we hear Jesus telling parables about breaking and entering to steal. We read about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. We read of an unruly crowd mobbing a private home. And we hear Jesus putting His followers ahead of family. How are we to make sense of all of this? I can’t pretend to fully understand these difficult questions and pictures, but I hope these thoughts are helpful.
The first thing to bear in mind is that Jesus is surrounded by tumult at this time. The people of Galilee (and further afield) are flocking to Him for healing. Many are being physically healed and we also read of many being freed from ‘unclean spirits’ (
Mark 3:11,12). There are so many coming to seek healing – and perhaps just being nosy! - that Jesus couldn’t even eat in His own home (
v20). When His mother and brothers came, they can’t get near the place! They have to send a messenger to get a request to Him. There are Pharisees questioning and scribes coming from Jerusalem with evil intent. In the midst of all this, Jesus has taken time out to appoint His Twelve Apostles (
vv13-19). The dialogues we have recorded in our verses for today take place in the context of all these events and discussions.
When the mother and brothers of Jesus stand outside the house, calling for Him, they had lost sight of who Jesus really was. They thought He was destined to carry on the joinery business of His earthly father, Joseph. They didn’t understand what Jesus had really come to do! They didn’t realise that He had come to be about ‘His Father’s business’ (
Luke 2:49). They were looking to return Him to the joinery shop, send Him back to the ‘9 –5’ grind of making doors and windows. When we don’t understand what is happening in our lives- what Jesus is doing – let’s pray that we can trust Him to lead us on an adventure of faith. Or are we like the family, who try to take control and put Jesus into a nice, cosy box?
When Jesus confronts the foolishness of the scribes, He does so very directly, referencing the power of Satan in a way we find deeply uncomfortable- it sounds as if Jesus is condoning house-breaking! The parable of verse 23 tells a truth that will one day find fulfilment at the Cross. Jesus will soon ‘descend into Hell’ (
1 Peter 3:19, Ephesians 4:9) and lead the captives free. Jesus will prove who He really is by His Third Day victory. He will rise from the dead on Easter Morning, He will prove His triumph over the strong arm of Satan. When we feel discouraged by our weakness and frailty, let’s pray that we can trust Him to strengthen us and protect us.
When Jesus talks of the sin against the Holy Spirit, He is truly revealing who He really is. Who else would have the temerity to even mention such an appalling thought or action? I know that this statement of Jesus has caused huge concern and troubled many spirits- maybe even yours! Is this a specific sin I have been guilty of? Have I committed this sin, perhaps unawares? There have been many learned debates over this, without definite answers. But what we can be definite about is that Jesus is the Saviour of men, women and children. He has promised that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (
1 John 1:9). If we feel despondent or defeated by wrong-doing or sin, let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will give us grace and power to turn in repentance and seek a closer walk with God.
When we read those sobering words of Jesus about His mother and brothers, we may feel that Jesus seems to be harsh by putting His followers ahead of family. When we feel this, I wonder if we realise who Jesus really is? His statement is in the context of Jesus teaching those who He has chosen to be apostles. They are the ones who have been ‘chosen to be sent out’ with the Good News of salvation. Is there anything more important? Today, there will be many people in prison for their Faith who are separated from their family. However heart-broken they are, these folk know they have put Jesus first. Let’s pray today for justice to prevail and for the release of these captives for sake of Jesus.
A Prayer
Dear Father, there are many things in the teachings and sayings of Jesus that are difficult to understand. Help me to worship Jesus as King in my life, whatever sacrifice may follow. Help me to rejoice in the victory of Jesus over sin and death. Give me strength to follow Him more closely in my words and actions today.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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