Our Sermons

Bible Passage: Mark 3:20-35
Pastor: Pastor Schlicht
Sermon Date:  June 10, 2018

They say “Blood is thicker than water.” It’s a phrase with a highly debated origin which has come to mean that family ultimately holds the strongest loyalty. That when it really comes down to it, family should come first. And we’re inclined to agree. We love our families and we would do anything for them. But would Jesus agree? Today Jesus teaches us a correct understanding of family loyalty and, frankly, it’s not so simple as a 5-word maxim. Because it is not usually a simple thing to balance faith and family, is it? Jesus’ words in Mark 3 hold great application for all who try to navigate the uncertain waters of family ties and radical faith. Let’s get started!

Mark 3:20-35 is what is called an intercalation, or a story sandwich. The section begins with  story, but another event is inserted in the middle, and then the original story concludes. These “sandwiches” are quite distinctive of Mark’s Gospel. There are seven of them within his 16 chapters. (Some count 9.) Perhaps the most well-known example is the healing of Jairus’ daughter which is interrupted by the bleeding woman who touched Jesus’ robe in Mark 5. The interesting thing about these story sandwiches, is that, just like edible sandwiches, the inner contents or “meat” of the sandwich defines the whole sandwich. We don’t call them bread sandwiches, we call them PB&J sandwiches or ham sandwiches. It is the middle that interprets the whole. And the same is true with this sandwich; the inserted middle verses will help us interpret the larger story. Here is the composition of the sandwich in chapter 3:

Bread: Mark 3:20–21, describing the setting and the start of the search for Jesus by his family

Meat: Mark 3:22–30, the scribes’ insinuations and Jesus’ response which climax with a warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

Bread: Mark 3:31–35, the arrival of Jesus’ family and his shocking words about family loyalty

Let’s start with the top piece of bread. Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.  When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” (Mk 3:20-21)  Jesus enters a house with so many eager followers that they pack in so tightly  he and his his disciples could not put a meal together and sit down to eat. Then we hear that his family, literally “those near to him”, set out to take charge of him. This is the same verb to “take charge” that is used later in Mark during Jesus’ arrest in the garden of Gethsemane. They have come to more than just talk with him. Why? Because they think “he is out of his mind.” Now, it may sound incredible that they think this, but they do have plenty of reasons to worry about him when you think about the situation. Jesus, to this point in Mark’s gospel, has already began teaching without approval of the scribes, he healed unclean lepers, he ate with sinners, he denounced the Pharisees concerning the Sabbath, he has driven out demons at an alarming rate–some of which even know his name! It’s gotten to the point that religious leaders are thinking of charging him with blasphemy, a capital offense, and he has hardly begun his ministry! What would you think if you were his family? “This is spiraling out of control! We know that Jesus is the Messiah, but he’s hated by the religious leaders and people are starting to say some disturbing things. Some call him the prince of demons, they say the demons listen to his voice and even know his name! He’s not demon possessed, he’s just a little out of his mind. It’s time for an intervention, we will go take charge of him.” They come because they care about him. 

But as they are on their way, we come to the meat of this sandwich. The scribes, the religious officials from Jerusalem, had arrived first and begin to spread accusations. They say, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.  Jesus deals with their accusation by pointing out that it makes no sense. If I were the prince of demons, why would I be driving out demons? If Satan opposes himself, he cannot stand! Jesus continues, In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.  I love this parable. Jesus says, I’m not the devil. No, I am the stronger one. I am the Son of God, who has bound up the devil and have begun to plunder his house. I have bound up the strong man and have been setting free those who belonged to him. I am taking back the souls bound by sin, just like Isaiah said. (Isaiah 61:1) And here is how he finishes, 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.” He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.” They said that Jesus had an impure spirit, but the truth is that he had the Holy Spirit. That was their terrible sin. The one that Jesus said, if persisted, would be an eternal sin. They were calling the Holy Spirit impure. They were calling the work of Holy Spirit the work of Satan. That is the unforgivable sin. If you scorn the Holy Spirit you have cut off his ability to work in your heart! You will not be forgiven, because you have turned away from forgiveness itself. (The old adage holds true: If you are concerned about having committed this sin, then you haven’t committed it.) These religious leaders needed a strong warning because they were doing just that.

And then comes the final piece of bread. Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

We could talk about a thousand things, but if we want to understand the main thrust we need to know how the meat relates to the bread. First and foremost, there is a clear parallel drawn between Jesus’ family and the accusing religious leaders. Jesus’ family does not accuse Jesus of being possessed, but they do join the scribes in actively opposing his ministry. Their intent might be different, but the root of their sin is the same: the Devil himself. Beelzebub has inspired their attempt to domesticate Jesus just as he has the scribe’s rejection of the Holy Spirit. This is a warning for each of us. Let that sink in. The Devil is at work, even sometimes through our family members, to work against the ministry of the Spirit. And when he speaks through those we love most, the temptation is extremely strong. Where will your loyalty lie?

Which brings me to Jesus’ final words. “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Jesus’ family, those first described as being “near him”, found themselves standing outside, not because they didn’t care about him, not because Jesus was mean, but because, despite their best intentions, they were not doing God’s will. And so Jesus looked around at those actually near him, those outcasts and sinners, those unclean and broken, those formerly possessed and sick, and he says, “Here is my family. Those who believe in me are my family. Those who trust the Spirit inside of me and do the will of God, these are my mothers and my brothers!”Jesus’ words redefine what constitutes family. For as long as humans have been born we determine family on two things: blood and heritage. But Jesus has rejected the religious “fathers” of Israel and ignored his own blood! Blood may be thicker than water, but the Spirit is thicker than blood.

One caveat: If you, and it is natural, are surprised at Jesus harshness here keep in mind two things. First, notice that it doesn’t say Jesus never talked to his family. He might have went out and talked to them later, we don’t know. But second, and more certainly, Jesus was not mean to his family. Not at all, in fact, we find out later that  Jesus’ love convinced his brother James to become a leader of the early church. And who can forget how Jesus, in his darkest hour, used his last breaths to provide for his mother as she knelt the foot of his cross. The truth is that Jesus loved his family with perfect selflessness. He never broke the fourth commandment; he never dishonored his family. In fact, it is because of his love for his family that he needed to speak so strongly. And this isn’t the only time he spoke about family: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be My disciple! (Lk 14:26)” “Let the dead bury their own dead. (Mt 8:22)” And finally, “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Mt 10:37)”

He speaks like this to wake us up. Jesus’ words are meant to shock us. “Who are my mother and my brothers?” would sting any family. But in love, Jesus needs to speak like this in order to break through our cultural stupor which exalts family above God. There may be no other sin as overlooked or accepted in American Christianity as the idolatry of family. The sin of going to church and praising God, but going home and finding our deepest joy, our deepest love, and our deepest hope in our family, not God. Satan would like us to hold onto the idol of family, but Jesus’ words shake us so that we let go. Family and God are not to be pitted against each other, but there is supposed to be an obvious distinction in our lives about where our loyalties lie.

What application does this hold for you? I don’t have time today to go as deep as I’d like, but I ask you to take some time on your own to think about this. I’ll make just three specific applications this morning.

#1: A Challenge. Parents, you do your kids no favors if they think you love them more than God. Even the stay-at-home parent who gives every second of every day to their children. They ought to love them only under the umbrella of their greater love for God. You can probably already feel the tension. Parents, do you must care more about your children doing God’s will than their success? Do you care more about their understanding of the Spirit than their athletic prowess? Do you care more about their Christian character than their GPA?  Do you care more about their church attendance than their relationship status? I ask you, in light of God’s Word, to consider these questions and lead your households in keeping God as the highest loyalty.

#2: An Encouragement. Perhaps you are in a position where your Christian faith has caused friction in your family. If your family is trying to domesticate your Christianity, be encouraged! Don’t give in. don’t dull your witness at all. You don’t have to throw a Bible at them or constantly talk about church, but continue to do the will of God. Come to church, gather with Christians, pray, let them see your loyalty lies with God. Be radically  humble, and loving, and selfless. Perhaps some in your family too will think you are out of your mind. That’s ok, you wouldn’t be the first. It would be a compliment if they can see something of your crazy brother, Jesus, in you. Family likeness is based on doing the will of God, not by conforming to what our families think is normal or reasonable.

#3: A Fact. Finally, for all of us here today. Don’t forget the meat of the sandwich. There is forgiveness for every sin. That is a fact. Jesus has bound up the strong man. Yes, the Devil is strong, but our Savior is stronger. He crushed the serpent’s head; he has reclaimed us as his own from the house of Beelzebul. That is a fact. No matter how this world has domesticated your witness to Christ, there is forgiveness. That’s a fact. You have become a member of God’s family. That’s a fact. You are headed for heaven. That’s a fact. You have purpose and meaning every day because of Christ. Yes, that’s a fact. There is a new opportunity before each of us today to leave behind the constraints of our culture and put the family in its rightful place. God has put us each in families, and no matter how dysfunctional or functional, how close or separated, how faithful or faithless, each of us can hold out the forgiveness and love of God to them and ourselves. God takes his Word seriously and that includes not only his command of our loyalty, but his promise of love and blessing to those who refuse to domesticate Jesus. May he bless your contemplation of this message today and its effect in your life moving forward.

Amen.