Jesus is portrayed here as almost a workaholic. He is working late and he takes his work home; his work right now is casting out demons and he has a lot of work to do. It is dinnertime. He comes to a house to eat but there are so many people that he just keeps working: he and his disciples don’t even take time for a meal.
His family is worried about him. They are no doubt worried because he’s not eating anything. He is not taking enough time for himself. He is not taking time to relax. He is just working without a break. Is it any wonder that his mother and brothers, throw up their hands when they hear all of this and say, Verse 21,“He is out of his mind” – “he’s crazy!”
Jesus’ family decide it is time to take charge and make him rest. (The Greek word here KRATESAI is the same one used when the authorities ARREST someone. This is what his family is doing.) They are so concerned about him that if Jesus won’t take care of himself, they will take charge of him because, as they understand it, “he is out of his mind” (V.21).
“He is demon possessed,” the teachers of the Law say. “He is [even] possessed by Beelzebub…the prince of demons,” So this is interesting. Both Jesus’ family and the religious experts agree that Jesus is not acting normally here. He is out of his mind; he is demon-possessed. And again, in this crazy scene, we can probably understand what they are each saying to some degree, can’t we?
Jesus understands and he answers both the teachers and his biological family. The interesting part is that even though the Pharisees and Jesus’ family’s motives may be quite different, both are attempting to interfere with the work of God. Mark directly compares the actions of Jesus’ family who love him to those of his enemies who will be looking to destroy him. He shows here that they are both doing the same thing: they are getting in the way of the work of God. Thus Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and he denies his own mother and brothers.
I think this might be quite convicting for us as well. In our own lives, are there times and ways when – even though we mean well – we wind up opposing or obstructing the work of God and risk denial as much as Jesus’ own mother and brothers? And conversely, Mark 3:35, Jesus encourages us: “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” What are some ways that it shows in our lives that indeed we are a part of the family of God?
His family is worried about him. They are no doubt worried because he’s not eating anything. He is not taking enough time for himself. He is not taking time to relax. He is just working without a break. Is it any wonder that his mother and brothers, throw up their hands when they hear all of this and say, Verse 21,“He is out of his mind” – “he’s crazy!”
Jesus’ family decide it is time to take charge and make him rest. (The Greek word here KRATESAI is the same one used when the authorities ARREST someone. This is what his family is doing.) They are so concerned about him that if Jesus won’t take care of himself, they will take charge of him because, as they understand it, “he is out of his mind” (V.21).
“He is demon possessed,” the teachers of the Law say. “He is [even] possessed by Beelzebub…the prince of demons,” So this is interesting. Both Jesus’ family and the religious experts agree that Jesus is not acting normally here. He is out of his mind; he is demon-possessed. And again, in this crazy scene, we can probably understand what they are each saying to some degree, can’t we?
Jesus understands and he answers both the teachers and his biological family. The interesting part is that even though the Pharisees and Jesus’ family’s motives may be quite different, both are attempting to interfere with the work of God. Mark directly compares the actions of Jesus’ family who love him to those of his enemies who will be looking to destroy him. He shows here that they are both doing the same thing: they are getting in the way of the work of God. Thus Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and he denies his own mother and brothers.
I think this might be quite convicting for us as well. In our own lives, are there times and ways when – even though we mean well – we wind up opposing or obstructing the work of God and risk denial as much as Jesus’ own mother and brothers? And conversely, Mark 3:35, Jesus encourages us: “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” What are some ways that it shows in our lives that indeed we are a part of the family of God?
Presented originally to Swift Current Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Thursday 09 October 2014
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