Our culture, our families, our training and our experiences all condition us to view life in a certain way. Our thoughts and attitudes conform to the expectations of those around us. We learn to accept the values of our societies. It is a rare person who can perceive the limitations of his own experience and realize that people from other cultures view things differently. It is even more rare for someone to rise above his environment and recognize that other approaches and ways of thinking are valid. If the other person is right, it opens up the possibility that we are wrong or that the things our culture values may not be the best. Therefore, when we encounter someone who does not conform to our expectations of thought or behavior, rather than re-examine our own values it is tempting to dismiss him as being either crazy or evil.
Jesus puzzled many people because He did not act in the way they expected. His thoughts and teaching were beyond their experience. He had little respect for the traditions of the religious leaders. Instead, He challenged their understanding of God’s Law and exposed their hypocrisy. Though Jesus validated His teaching by performing miracles, many could not accept that He came from God. Even Jesus’ own family did not understand His ministry and divine purpose.
In chapter 3, verses 20 through 35 of the Gospel which bears his name, Mark writes about what Jesus’ family and the religious leaders thought of Him, “Then he came into a house. The multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. When his friends heard it, they went out to seize him; for they said, “He is insane.” The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.” He summoned them and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. If Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he can’t stand, but has an end. But no one can enter into the house of the strong man to plunder unless he first binds the strong man; then he will plunder his house. “Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme; but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.” —because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him. A multitude was sitting around him, and they told him, “Behold, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside looking for you.” He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Looking around at those who sat around him, he said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and mother.””
It is probable that this event took place in Capernaum where Jesus had established His home. His relatives lived in Nazareth, so it took some time for news about Jesus’ activities to reach them and for them to arrive in Capernaum. Their reaction to Jesus’ situation may have been prompted by loving concern. No doubt they thought that Jesus was working too hard. If He wouldn’t even take the time to eat, it would destroy His health. If Jesus would not take care of Himself, then it was their responsibility to take charge of Him. They were even prepared to use force if necessary. It is significant that Jesus’ relatives did not inquire why Jesus was acting this way. Since Jesus’ actions did not make sense to them, they jumped to the conclusion that He was out of His mind – that He had lost His mental balance. Even Jesus’ mother did not understand, or had forgotten, the purpose for Jesus’ coming. His relatives did not realize that Jesus was doing God’s will. Another Scripture tells us that even His brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5).
While Jesus’ relatives may have opposed Him out of ignorance and genuine concern for Him, another group of people spoke against him out of malice. The experts in religious law witnessed the miracles Jesus performed. They were unable to dispute that the miracles were genuine. However, this left them with a dilemma. If Jesus healed through the power of God, it meant that Jesus had God’s approval. And if Jesus had God’s approval it implied that the things Jesus said and taught also were from God.
Rather than accept Jesus’ teaching – and, thereby, acknowledge they were wrong – the religious leaders tried to discredit the source of Jesus’ power. They claimed that Jesus cast out demons by means of Satan’s power.
Jesus answered their lies with two illustrations. The first was about civil war. The strength of a nation or of a household depends on it remaining united. If the citizens of a country or the members of household oppose and fight each other, that nation or household will fall. If Jesus used satanic power to destroy Satan’s work, then it meant that Satan’s reign was at an end.
The second illustration Jesus used is of a man protecting his house. Unless a robber is stronger than the owner, he will be unable to break into the house. Therefore, if Jesus was able to destroy Satan’s work – as the miracles clearly demonstrated – then it meant that Jesus was stronger than Satan. If He was stronger than Satan, why would He need Satan’s power to accomplish what He was doing?
Jesus then issued a warning to the religious leaders. Every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven except for blasphemy against God’s Holy Spirit. Mark does not explain why this is so. However, we know from other Scripture that it is through the Holy Spirit, God convicts our consciences of sin (John 16:8). If we so deaden our conscience that it can no longer hear the Spirit when He tells us that we are doing wrong, then we will not recognize our sin and will not repent of it. It is not that God cannot forgive but that we will not ask Him for forgiveness. In our hardness of heart we will not acknowledge that we need forgiveness. By rejecting Jesus and deliberately lying about Him, the religious leaders were in danger of destroying their ability to hear God’s Spirit.
While this controversy was going on, Jesus’ family arrived. When someone told Jesus His family was looking for Him, He replied by saying that it is those who do God’s will who are His family. This leaves us with a question: Which is more important to us – our physical family or doing God’s will? Would Jesus claim us as part of His family?