2nd Sunday After Pentecost
Mark 3:20-35 (NRSV)
Mark 3:20-35 (NRSV)
Doing the work of God
And the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind." And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons." And he called them to him, and spoke 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 will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.
"Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" - for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."
Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
And the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind." And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons." And he called them to him, and spoke 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 will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.
"Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" - for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."
Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Reflection
Jesus enters and house and faces opposition from all sides. He faces opposition from his family and the religious leaders of the day. Jesus' family outside was concerned for his well being. Family concerned for their own in that they feared that his religious manic character was beginning to overtake his actions.
There was opposition from within the house from the religious leaders. They hated Jesus. They hated what he was doing, what he was saying and the power that he had obtained from the common people. They even attributed Jesus' work to the work of Satan.
A great difference between these two oppositions that Jesus experienced this day. The family opposition was a caring, loving response yet misguided. But the opposition of the scribes was a denial of God's Spirit active through Jesus. One opposition could be forgiven, but the opposition of denial of the Holy Spirit is a blatant refusal to believe in Jesus. This opposition only leads to death. This sin against God leads to death.
As we fall to sin, Jesus reaches out to us in love to save and redeem us. May God work in our stubborn hearts to bring us to turn humbly and repent of our sin. May Jesus lead us back through the saving Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Lord, forgive my sin. I turn to you this day for forgiveness of those sins I mention now... and for forgiveness of those sins of which I am not aware. Lead all your people together in community to our knees as we confess before you and one another. May our lives be pleasing to you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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