Mark, The Gospel of Passion Mark 3:20-35 “Charged with Insanity”

Read Together: Mark 3:20-30  20 Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. 21 But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind." 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons." 23 So He called them to Himself 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 cannot stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 27 No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. 28 "Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation"-- 30 because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."

The 7 Elements of the Charge  The zeal and enthusiasm of the crowd  The response of the people and the esteem  He was selecting a (strange) band of disciples  His life and behavior were so radically different

The 7 Elements of the Charge  The authorities were opposing and threatening to kill Him, yet He refused to back down  His healing ministry necessitated some explanation  His teaching and doctrine were so different from anyone

I. (vs.20-21) The Charge of Insanity: (From His family)  This was a “caring” concern, not a critical concern.  It also was a sign that the family did not completely understand “WHO” He was!

II. II. (vs.22,23) The Confusion from the charge: (From the Scribes)  THIS SECTION IS KNOWN AS THE BEELZEBUB CONTROVERSY:  John 10:19-21 (“He is demon possessed and raving mad”)  Beelzebub is the “PRINCE OF THE DEMONS”  The Accusation: That Jesus and Satan are in collusion together.

III. (vs.24-27) The Clarity of Christ:  Civil war, internal strife, and divisiveness will cause a kingdom to fall.  Constant bickering and arguing will cause the house to crumble.  Casting out his own evil spirits and destroying his own kingdom of evil subjects.

IV. (vs.28-30) IV. (vs.28-30) The Consequences from Blaspheme:  The Good News:  The Good News: (28) All sins will be forgiven! Eph 1:7  Bad News:  Bad News: (29) “to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit” to credit the work of Jesus to the Devil or Satan; to die in that state.  The Worst News:  The Worst News: (29b) “eternal condemnation”