Project 119: Mark 3:13-35
| Project 119 | Mary Splawn
In this passage, we have what commentators call a “Markan Sandwich.” This is where Mark interrupts one story with what may appear to be an unrelated story. But, they aren’t unrelated at all. In fact, the combination of the verses brings a powerful teaching point!
In this passage we see:
a. Rejection by Jesus’ Family 3:20-21 (bread)
b. Rejection by Jewish Leaders 3:22-30 (meat)
c. Rejection by Jesus’ Family 3:31-35 (bread)
I think Mark breaks up the story about Jesus’ family just to highlight the depth of rejection. Not only do the Jewish leaders misunderstand who He is—His own family rejects him as well!
While Jesus receives rejection from those closest to Him and also from the leaders of the people He has come to save, He is surrounded by some people He considers family. Look at why He considers them His true family–because they do God’s will.
What I notice in this story is the physical proximity of the people to Jesus who are doing His will. Mark tells us they are sitting in a circle around Him. This reminds me that the most important factor in doing God’s will is being in God’s presence. Take some time this morning to remember the PERSON of Christ. Imagine yourself sitting in a circle with other disciples surrounding Him. Rest in His presence and ask for Him to illuminate your life and show you the way you should go today!
Note: I understand that this passage can be difficult for many who wonder about the unpardonable sin mentioned here. One commentator helped clarify this issue for me: “The idea of an unforgivable sin has haunted the minds of sensitive people in all Christian centuries, but all such anxiety is misdirected. As the context makes plain, Jesus’ warning is against disregarding His message by calling it Satanic (see esp. 3:30), a quite specific deed. A person doing such a thing would have no concern about Christ’s forgiveness for it. So, the very anxiety lest one may have done something that cuts one off from Christ’s forgiveness is, ironically, evidence that one believes Christ to be sent from God, and thus proof that one cannot have committed the sin warned against here” (New International Biblical Commentary on Mark, Hurtado, 66).
Mark 3:13-35 (ESV):
13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons. 16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”
22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.
28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.”33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”