loudandclear

Mark 3:20-35

 ²² But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.”

 ²³ Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked. ²⁴ “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. ²⁵ Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. ²⁶ And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. ²⁷ Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

 ²⁸ “I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, ²⁹ but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” ³⁰ He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”

 ³³ Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” ³⁴ Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. ³⁵ Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

(((Jesus’ popularity continues to grow and many people don’t know what to do about it.  His brothers and sisters seem to be embarrassed by His popularity and the Pharisees again try to condemn Him and make Him lose legitimacy in the public’s eyes by calling him possessed by Satan! Jesus logically shows how if He was Satan, He couldn’t cast out Satan.)))

(((Jesus says some extremely startling words in verses 28-29.  He says that anyone who blasphemes or curses or speaks against the Holy Spirit CANNOT be forgiven.  This leads us to ask what does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit?  Many scholars believes that this means to attribute God’s power to the work of the Evil One.  In other words, it is denying the work of God to come into our lives and not giving God the glory He deserves by trusting Him with our lives.  If we deny that God is God by the end of our time on earth, we are ultimately choosing life without Him…or eternal punishment.)))

(((Jesus ends this chapter by talking about true family.  Although we are part of our loving earthly families, Jesus looks beyond the temporary to the eternal.  He states that anyone who does His Father’s will or lives in His Kingdom will be considered His brother and sister.)))