August 29th, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Divine Sanity

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Father, I am convinced that, even before I reach out to You, You are already reaching out to me. Thank You.

Read Mark 3:20-35

[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 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 Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” [23] So Jesus called them and spoke 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 and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. [28] I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. [29] But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” [30] He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil 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.”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

What draws you to Jesus? Take a few minutes to reflect on this question. Is it personal or family need, anxiety about the world, or the recognition of Jesus’ lordship?

Think Further

Consider the crowd that pressed upon Jesus. Who were they, and what was their motivation? We know that many were the poor and the sick, the confused and the searching (1:32-34, 6:34; Matt. 4:23-25). Others were probably just sightseers, attracted by the healings, exorcisms, and controversy. Then there was the sinister presence of the scribes, religious officials sent from Jerusalem, part of the conspiracy to destroy Jesus (3:6). The tension and conflict that would end with Jesus’ crucifixion was already palpable. Jesus’ own family was so disturbed by his radical attack on the religious/political hierarchy that they worried about his sanity (21).

The intensity and significance of Jesus’ conflict with the Jewish authorities explains Jesus’ response to the anxiety of his mother and siblings. (There can be no question that Jesus loved them deeply. Even when in agony on the cross, one of his last acts was to ensure that his mother would be cared for (John 19:26,27). What was at stake here was something of absolute importance—the careful and deliberate establishment of a new community of faith, a relational community centered on Jesus and obedient to him. How wonderful that we are part of this global, forgiven, relational community of Jesus’ companions, in all its wonderful diversity and richness!

The vehemence of the scribes’ rejection of Jesus forced them into the venomous, clearly ridiculous assertion that Jesus was a tool of Satan, thus committing the unforgivable sin: “To identify the work of God as the work of the devil is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit; it is the ultimate blindness, the point from which there is no turning back” (J. Kernaghan). What a tragedy when a person develops such resistance to God’s overtures as to become immune to them, and moves beyond the reach of the Holy Spirit.

Apply

Prayerfully, thankfully, consider both what you receive and what you can contribute to the extraordinary community of Jesus’ friends and followers.

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, I’m so glad that because I belong to You, I’m part of a great world-wide family of all who belong to You. May I bless it as it blesses me.

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