Mark 3 - Jesus Heals on the Sabbath, Is Called the "Prince of Demons", and Defines His True Family!

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Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

Jesus knew the Pharisees' agenda was against him. He knew what was in a man's heart. Therefore, when a man showed up at the synagogue with a diseased hand, the Pharisees were waiting to see what he would do. Once again he had to set straight their skewed thinking about the purpose of the Sabbath. 

In His question to the religious leaders, Jesus emphasized the truth about the Sabbath: there is never a wrong day to do something truly good.  - Guzik

Jesus knew what was in their hearts and it made him really angry to think that these men who were supposed to be shepherd's of God's people were more concerned about trapping him than having mercy on this poor man. Not only was Jesus mad at them, but in turn they were enraged at him and from then on began to plot with the "Herodians" to kill Jesus. 

 “The Herodians were not a religious party; they were a group of Jews who were sympathetic to King Herod and supported his rule.” - Wiersbe

Crowds Follow Jesus

The crowds followed Jesus because of the rumors they heard about him. The question was were they more focused on what he could do, or who he was. The miracles were meant to point to His nature as the Son of God, but some were more interested in the miracles than Jesus. One thing is for sure, the evil spirits recognized who he was. This is one of the ironies in the gospels that many of the religious leaders who had studied about the Messiah all their lives refused to recognize him, whereas the demons cried out, "You are the Son of God."

Jesus Appoints the Twelve

Jesus called his twelve disciples with essentially two major tasks. One to preach the gospel, the good news about the kingdom, and secondly to heal people even from evil spirits. Importantly he gave them the authority to do these things. We too have been given Jesus' authority to heal and drive out demons, not because Jesus lives in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

When someone has been with Jesus, and is sent out to serve Him, they can expect that Jesus will give them the power to serve Him, including the power to see miraculous works (heal sicknesses and to cast out demons) done in their midst. - Guzik

Jesus Accused by His Family and by Teachers of the Law

Jesus was misunderstood by many people, even his own family. When the crowds grew so large that he and his disciples missed a meal, his family wondered why he left such a safe existence with them living at home. Though Jesus never taught anyone to disrespect their mother, father, or brothers, there were times when he realized God's call on a disciple's life might be misunderstood by one's family. 

When people can't understand something, they often go to extremes lengths to explain it away. In this case the religious reasoned it was by the prince of demons that Jesus was casting out demons. Not only did they say he was being used by demons, but added he was possessed by Beelzebub, who many think is referring to Satan. In Hebrew that name Beelzebub meant "Lord of the flies". 

But Jesus answered their slander by asking them a logical question. Why would Satan try to cast himself out? Why would Satan divide and plunder his own kingdom? 

Jesus showed that if He were an agent of Satan and was working against Satan, then surely Satan’s kingdom was in a civil war and would not stand. Jesus said this to show that Satan would not work against himself. - Guzik

What they didn't want to admit was that Jesus was a power and authority greater than than the evil realm of dark angels. To do so would be to admit that He was God. So instead they claimed he was possessed by the prince of demons. Jesus categorized what they were doing as, "The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit". Then he adds an ominous warning, 

"Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

It is important to understand what this does not mean before we talk about what it does mean. It does not mean that there is some sin that is not covered by Jesus' death on the cross. This would be to diminish the work that Jesus did on the cross defeating sin, death, and the power of the devil once and for all time. In that sense there is no "unforgiveable" sin. 

But specfically what Jesus is calling out is the "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit". This means to negate and call unholy the work of the Holy Spirit. This is the same Holy Spirit that convicts us of our sin and leads us to faith in Christ. So to blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to reject the person of the Trinity who leads us to Christ and through whom we are born again. 

The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven – not because it is a sin “too big” for God to forgive, but because it is an attitude of heart that cares nothing for God’s forgiveness. It never has forgiveness because it never wants forgiveness God’s way. - Guzik

Finally, Jesus defines who is true family is. He says, "Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus' brothers never seemed to really support his ministry before his death and resurrection. See John 7:5  The Pharisees who were supposed to be his religious family rejected him, but many even outside the Jewish faith came to trust in him as their Savior. God's family are those who trust in God and His will, and specifically trust in His Son, who he sent to save them. 

Of course the very best situation is when you natural family is also your spiritual family. Pray for parents that they would pass on their faith to their children and grandchildren. And if necessary pray that children could lead their parents back to God. It sometimes happens in reverse!