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. . . and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.
Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind."
And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons." So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.
"Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation" -- because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."
Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."
- Mark 3:19-35
In yesterday's reading, Jesus was swamped by people who came for healing from all parts of Israel, and beyond. Although He is in Galilee, they come to Him in such great numbers that He instructs that a boat be kept ready (as He was teaching by the sea) in case He might be crushed by the crowds. And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God." But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known. And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder"; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.jk
. . . and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house. The lectionary again gives us this verse, as it did in yesterday's reading. We are reminded that Jesus' life in this world will be plagued by the same things that ail and afflict us. He is here to share life with us, to teach us how to walk in this world as subjects of His Kingdom.
Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind." My study bible says, "His own people are His relatives, who do not yet comprehend Jesus and His mission." We've just read of Jesus' fame. Drawing great attention to Himself is not what His family is happy with; they think He is "beside Himself."
And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons." So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. My study bible notes, "Jesus clearly is plundering the strong man, the devil, whose goods were the people he oppressed. Jesus' work brings total triumph. Not one demon is able to resist Him." Here we have a central metaphor to Mark's Gospel, about which we've spoken in several previous commentaries. His family cannot believe what they are seeing, and others respond in an even more vigorous way. Although there is no open announcement of Jesus' divine identity, the implications of what He is doing are clear, and there are those in the religious establishment who must denounce Him.
"Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation" -- because they said, "He has an unclean spirit." My study bible puts it thus: "The 'unforgivable sin' is the accusation that Jesus performs exorcisms by the power of a demonic spirit instead of the Holy Spirit. This is blasphemy." Jesus makes very clear our own receptivity regarding the work of the Spirit among us: it's a necessity that this work not be blasphemed or attributed to what is evil or against His Kingdom.
Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." My study bible has two notes on the traditional understanding of this passage: "In the Greek patristic tradition, these brothers are identified as stepbrothers of Jesus, sons of Joseph by a previous wife. In the Latin tradition, they are seen as relatives, such as cousins." Still, in the Middle East, extended family are called "brothers." Another note reads: "Jesus is not necessarily belittling His mother and relatives. Who was more obedient to the will of God than Mary who said, 'Let it be to me according to your word' (Luke 1:38)? In effect Jesus is saying, 'Be like My mother. Do the will of God as she does.' In obeying God we become sons of God and brothers with other Christians -- spiritual relationships which are more valuable than natural ones."
Jesus leaves no doubt about the centrality of the Kingdom He has come here to bring. In today's reading, we observe first of all the response of His family, who can't quite grasp what is happening. Jesus' public ministry is something new in many, many ways. They can't understand what He is doing. Next comes the accusation from the religious leadership, that Jesus in fact performs His powerful healing miracles (and exorcisms) via the power of Satan. But Jesus puts this into context: How can Satan cast out Satan? Jesus is here to take the kingdom of the evil one, the "strong man" and thus He is something new. He is the "stronger man" bringing in a more powerful Kingdom. Finally, it is put into context when Jesus condemns those who blaspheme the work of the Spirit, making a clear statement of what He is truly about, and the power that is at work through the things He is doing that make all seek Him and come to Him who are bound with any affliction. And in that is contained a responsibility for each of us; how do we know this work, and recognize it among us? It is this recognition, and following its action in our own lives, that creates true community for us; in essence, forming in us the bonds that make us brother and sister to Christ, having in common a Father, as children by adoption. It is a clear statement of the centrality of this Kingdom, its power and its actions in our lives and in our hearts. How do you respond to the Spirit's work today for yourself?
