January 17, 2017
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

True Perspective

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

Opening Prayer

Spirit of the Living God, grant me a right faith, a sure hope and a perfect love.

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 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.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

It is not uncommon to experience a conflict between what God wants you to do and what your family expects of you.

 

Have you ever seen the optical illusion which shows either an ugly old woman or a beautiful young girl? In this passage we see paradoxical perspectives of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus’ family members see the disorderly and undignified mess around Jesus and are convinced that he has gone mad. The Jewish leaders take offence at Jesus’ lifestyle and deliverance ministry because he was not following the religious codes for table fellowship and exorcisms—and yet he was acting authoritatively. They conclude that he uses demoniacal power which is evil and abhorrent to them and God. Jesus absolutely refutes this. The real truth is that Jesus enters Satan’s domain and defeats him, binds him up and takes lost sinners as plunder because he is stronger. Jesus’ perspective shows the breathtakingly beautiful sovereignty and supremacy of God over the strongman, Satan.
Jesus is no fool. He is not mad; he is not evil. We cannot call the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ ministry delusion or illusion. There is only one right perspective on who Jesus is and what he is doing. To persist in seeing Jesus as mad—as his natural family did—or evil—as the Jewish leaders did—is to commit an unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit, who reveals that Jesus is the One sent from God to rescue those bound by folly, evil and sin. To accept Jesus is to come into his family and be called his brothers and sisters, those who do the will of God (35). When we see him as the Holy Spirit reveals him, in true perspective—as our strong Deliverer and Redeemer—we can think of nothing more beautiful than to call him brother.

Have you ever seen the optical illusion which shows either an ugly old woman or a beautiful young girl? In this passage we see paradoxical perspectives of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus’ family members see the disorderly and undignified mess around Jesus and are convinced that he has gone mad. The Jewish leaders take offence at Jesus’ lifestyle and deliverance ministry because he was not following the religious codes for table fellowship and exorcisms—and yet he was acting authoritatively. They conclude that he uses demoniacal power which is evil and abhorrent to them and God. Jesus absolutely refutes this. The real truth is that Jesus enters Satan’s domain and defeats him, binds him up and takes lost sinners as plunder because he is stronger. Jesus’ perspective shows the breathtakingly beautiful sovereignty and supremacy of God over the strongman, Satan.

Jesus is no fool. He is not mad; he is not evil. We cannot call the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ ministry delusion or illusion. There is only one right perspective on who Jesus is and what he is doing. To persist in seeing Jesus as mad—as his natural family did—or evil—as the Jewish leaders did—is to commit an unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit, who reveals that Jesus is the One sent from God to rescue those bound by folly, evil and sin. To accept Jesus is to come into his family and be called his brothers and sisters, those who do the will of God (35). When we see him as the Holy Spirit reveals him, in true perspective—as our strong Deliverer and Redeemer—we can think of nothing more beautiful than to call him brother.

 

Apply

Are you attuned to God’s perspective of the world? Jesus is stronger than the devil. How are you standing firm and secure in the power of the Spirit against the lies of Satan (Eph. 6:10–17)?

Closing prayer

Mighty God, I praise You, my strong Deliverer and Redeemer. I’m grateful to be a part of Your family.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store