Who Are You Mark 3:20-35
Today’s events take place in the early part of Jesus ministry. Jesus has already performed several healings miracles and he’s starting to get well known in the area. We see that many people are trying to get to him, in fact so many are keeping him busy that scripture says “…he and his disciples were not even able to eat.” (Mark3:20) There were so many people there that all of Jesus time was taken up and the disciples, all twelve were totally occupied with preliminary interviews, triaging people’s needs and keeping the crowd moving. All this while at the same time keeping the people from totally over running Jesus.
Verse 21, “When his family heard about this they went up to take charge of him…” This is Jesus homecoming, he’s back with his family. As we think about this, we can have certain ideas about how this family reunion should go.
His family went to get him and take him away from the crowds. They should be concerned for Jesus physical wellbeing. They should be saying, “Jesus, come with us and get something to eat, you need to keep your strength up.” “You’re going to completely exhaust yourself, come home with us and get some rest.” His family should be concerned for his mental health, “Jesus you’re overworked, you can’t keep up this pace come with us before you collapse.” I know this is how Jen treats me, “Jim, you’ve been running all week, tonight we’re not doing anything so you can get some rest.” This kind of reaction we should be able to expect from Jesus family, but that’s not how they reacted. Again, we look at verse 21, “…they said, ‘He is out of his mind.”
This is Jesus family. The angel of the Lord spoke to Mary before his birth and they don’t understand him or his mission. We can look at this and see a couple of layers in it.
As I said the angel spoke to Mary. Jesus’ brothers must have been told that story. They all should remember how at twelve years old Jesus was found teaching in the Temple, and yet they forget.
Whether you’re a Christian for twenty years or for twenty minutes, we all can forget to put Christ and our faith front and center. Sometimes it’s the heat of the moment, things happening so fast that I don’t think I just react. It’s later that I think, “That wasn’t very Christian of me. Sometimes it’s a conscience decision, “I know I should try but you just ticked me off, nice isn’t happening today.” We’re human and we can all be tempted to go home and put God on a shelf until next Sunday.
The other thing here that we can discern is, not everyone will understand us when we profess or live out our faith. This especially can be the case if we come to Christ late in life or from other faiths or from a family that isn’t interested in God. Sadly, it can be the people closest to us that don’t see or understand the changes in our lives. Even if you’ve been a believer all your life, you mature in faith as you understand more so maybe you’ll hear “You’ve been a Christian for twenty years and now you don’t want to do this, now suddenly this is important to you?” Sometimes people don’t want to see the change in you because it exposes them. Changes in our life can show others that they that they don’t have the rock-solid foundation our faith gives our lives. It can show them that they don’t put Christ at the center of their lives.
As we look at our reading we can see that the teachers of the law accuse Jesus of all kinds of things. The more central Jesus is to your life the more some people feel the need top accuse you of abuses. I’ve been accused of trying to show I’m better than others, that I think I’m holier than thou.
In our reading Jesus tells those accusing him of being false how their accusations cannot stand up against the truth. “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” (Mark 3:23-24)
How can Satan drive out Satan? If my actions are only to make me look good, made to make me feel better instead of lifting others up; then the truth will eventually be found out because with this fallacy in my life I can’t keep up appearances. The deceptive way I live cannot change the true nature of my heart.
If a kingdom is divided against itself, it will fall. By acting nice and supportive without it truly being in your heart to do so, eventually something will make you act in a way that will let those around us see the truth and the façade you built for your life will crumble. In our story this is what Jesus is doing to the teachers that day. He is exposing their true motivations and their lack of a heart for God.
Next, Jesus tells us the beauty and glory of God; verse 28, “Truly I tell you people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter.”
When we come to God, when we accept Jesus sacrifice as our own, when we let the Holy Spirit into our hearts our motivation for our actions become more in line with God’s Word. All our sins past, present and future are forgiven. We will start to respond to our lives and to others more like Jesus. We will still slip up, we’re human, but over time with a maturing faith we will get better at it.
This salvation is glorious news, but Jesus also gives a warning; verse29, “…but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven…”
What constitutes blaspheming the Holy Spirit? Well let’s start by looking at what’s not. I get mad at someone, and Jesus says it’s the same in God’s eyes as murdering them. Definitely sin but it’s forgiven and not blasphemy. I’m having hard times, “God, why, where are you when I need you?” Questions and doubts are part of our reactions, but doubt is not blasphemy.
2 Timothy 1:14, “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you (the love of Jesus Christ), guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” 1 Corinthians 3:16, “…you are a temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you.”
Before Christ God dwelled in the Temple’s Holy of Holies. After Christ God lives inside each believer. To deny the Holy Spirit a temple, to shun God, to refuse Christ’s sacrifice, to continue in unrepentant sin; that is dismissing the Holy Spirit’s teaching and work. That is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Refusing Jesus and the salvation he offers is the one sin God cannot and will not forgive.
And finally
Jesus explains how the forgiveness of sins changes our family relationships; verse 32-33, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you. Who are my mother and brothers, he asked?”
Throughout history family has been first in our loyalties. When I came here many of you knew some things about me because of my family name. What would you think of me our who my family is if you saw me not by the name Macarille but by the name “Child of Almighty God?”
As a child of God my family line no longer through Maryanne and Tom, Emily and Frank, Rose and James; my line now goes through Abraham, Jacob, Boaz, Jesse, Mary, Joseph and Jesus.
Jesus asked who are my mother and brothers. I have a mother, father, sister, wife and son and soon a daughter in law. I would die for any of them, I would empty my bank account for them if it’s needed. They are all family.
Verse 35, “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” As believers we are all God’s family with Jesus, we are his brothers and sisters. And as Jesus’ brothers and sisters we are brothers and sisters with each other. In John 15:12 Jesus says, “My commandment is this: love each other as I have loved you.” We are told to treat our family in God with the same loyalty, the same unwavering dedication, the same respect that we treat our earthly birth family with.
Today Jesus tells us our faith is paramount and it is never wrong. People may not understand, they may accuse you of being fake, but Jesus tells us not to get discouraged, stay the course because the course is God in heaven.
I tell you as believers, fight the temptation to put Jesus on a shelf. Christ isn’t to be in our lives only one hour on Sunday; Christ and our faith are for our whole life and for every part of our life.
As believers our family tree has expanded from our birth family. Give of yourselves to each other as true brothers and sisters. Support and help each other. Love each other. And also take strength, comfort and security from your family in Christ.
My prayer for you today comes from Peter’s second letter, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!”
Amen.