GOD’S BIG GLOBAL FAMILY
Opening Prayer
Father, speak to me through your Word; help me hear how you want me to follow Jesus today.
Read MARK 3:20–35
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Jesus Accused by His Family and by Teachers of the Law
20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family[a] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”
33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Footnotes
- Mark 3:21 Or his associates
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Have there been times in your life when you’ve been surprised to discover that plans you had made were not God’s for you?Unmet expectations are one of the biggest causes of friction in relationships, whether they be spousal, familial, work-related, or friendships. When Jesus came on
the scene, he shattered the religious leaders’ expectations of who the Messiah was and how he operated, to the point that they said he was demon possessed (v. 22). Some Christians worry whether they have committed an unforgivable sin (v. 29,) but in verse 30 Jesus was clear that the sin he was referring to was that of blasphemy, which occurred when the leaders accused him of having an evil spirit.
Opposition was growing and the needs of crowds gathering around him were keeping him from eating. Jesus’ mother and brothers felt they had to rescue him. They were mistaken; they did not understand what he had come to do. He would not go with them— he would stay with those who were receiving the secrets of the kingdom of God.
One of the great mysteries of God’s kingdom is that God became flesh and was born to a human family. Now he would make a way for all humanity to be adopted into his global family.
Apply
In what ways can others identify you as a part of the family of Jesus?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the sacrifices you made—even before the cross—so that I could know the secrets of the kingdom of God. Holy Spirit, please continue to teach me.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
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