Questioned! • Mark 3:20-30
By Rick Henson
As Jesus returned to Nazareth, the crowds pressed in on Him. He went to a house to eat and unexpectedly, his family waited outside. Surprisingly, the Gospel writer revealed they wanted to take Jesus with them, thinking he was out of his mind.
Jesus’ transition from carpenter/brother/son to prophet/healer/theologian must have confounded and confused His mother and siblings. The original verb translated by the King James Version in verse 21 as “lay hold on” is used elsewhere to describe when the Temple Guard arrested Jesus (Mark 14:1, 44, 46 NKJ).
The word also means to seize or arrest; apparently His family wanted to take Jesus away.
Later Mark 3:31-32 reads, Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You” (NKJ).
These unexpected actions reveal that John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, may have been the only family member who understood Jesus was (and is) the Messiah, the Son of God. No wonder that when Paul lists some resurrection appearances of Jesus, He mentions specifically an appearance to James, His half-brother.
1 Corinthians 15:6-7 reveals, After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles (NKJ).
Another part of this event is that even Mary, the mother of Jesus, did not know who He was. We see a contrasting view of Mary in Luke 11:27-28: And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!” But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (NKJ).
Even then, some wished to venerate Mary although Jesus had replied that those who obey the Word of God are blessed more than Mary. Many in Christendom may think that reply is blasphemy, considering their elevated view of Mary but they can take that up with the Lord Jesus Who spoke it.
Jesus then addressed genuine blasphemy to the scribes who claimed He cast out demons by Beelzebulb, the prince of demons. Jesus replied in Mark 3:24, If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand (NKJ). He then stated that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would not be forgiven.
Many have questioned what constitutes blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, or what is the unpardonable sin?
After the well-known John 3:16, John further explains in John 3:17-18, For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (NKJ).
When Jesus died on the cross, He paid for all sins of all time.
1 John 2:2 explains, And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world (NKJ). The term “propitiation” means “sin offering.” Jesus was the sin offering for our sins and those of the entire world.
According to John 3:17-18, humans no longer are judged based on individual sins after Calvary but are judged only by the sin of not believing in Jesus. Those who believe are saved and those who do not are condemned as stated in this text
Jesus told the scribes in Mark 3:28-29, Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is subject to eternal condemnation (NKJ).
Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit in John 16:14, He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you (NKJ).
The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to the lost. Those who respond in faith are saved, and those who do not are condemned. I believe this denial of the Spirit’s revelation is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, or the unpardonable sin.
Henson is minister of outreach and evangelism at Bethel Church, Brandon.
