The Gospel According to Mark 3:31-35

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.” But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

You are welcome to ask questions, share comments, or to request prayer, as we study God’s Word together. The following is a brief review of our current lesson:

Your Mother and Brothers Are Seeking You

Jesus was not the only child of Mary, and His father Joseph. He had physical brothers and sisters.

Jesus had physical parents, and brothers and sisters; and walked as a man; yet, He was Emmanuel — “God with us!” Even as a young person, we see His relationship with His earthly parents, as well as with His Father in heaven, as we read in Luke 2:47-49. When Jesus was 12-years-old, His parents brought Him with them to Jerusalem. He was missing for three days before they found Him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, listening to them and asking questions.

Jesus was obedient to His earthly parents, while obeying the will of His heavenly Father.

Who is My Mother, or My Brothers?

What Jesus is saying is that there is a bond that exists in the family of God that is deeper than the bond in the human family. When we are followers of Jesus Christ, we come into this deep, beautiful inner-relationship with Christ, and with each other.

“Whoever does the will of God” — whoever is walking with Me — the same is “My brother and My sister and mother.” We’re the family of God. We’ve been bonded to each other through a common relationship with Jesus Christ. We’re one, together in Him, the body of Christ. May God help us to realize this beautiful bond that exists, as we are one in Jesus, bonded together in the family of God by His love of us.

When Jesus’ mother and brothers came seeking Him, He did not ignore them, but used their visit as a lesson about the kingdom of God. Following Christ requires total surrender of our lives to Him. He is our Lord and Saviour. He is to be honored above all, including our family members, and even our own selves.

If you have any questions; would like to offer a comment; or request prayer, just click on the no comments/comments below:

The Gospel According to Mark 3:20-30

Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. 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.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.” So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables:

“How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 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.”

“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’– because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

You are welcome to ask questions, share comments, or to request prayer, as we study God’s Word together. The following is a brief review of our current lesson:

His Own People

Jesus constantly faced the rejection of the religious and political leaders of the day because He threatened their status quo. Undoubtedly, it was far more painful and challenging for Jesus to deal with the way His own people rejected Him. God’s children are frequently misunderstood or criticized, as we try to walk with God, particularly by those who we grew up with, as family members or friends. Jesus warns us that, as believers, we will be hated.

He has Beelzebub

The scribes (the lawyers of the day) sent by the religious leaders in Jerusalem, accuse Jesus of being possessed by Satan (Beelzebub). In essence, they were denying that Jesus’ authority, and power, was from God.

Beelzebub – is another name for Satan, the Devil, or Lucifer. The name, Beelzebub, came from the patron god of the Philistines in ancient Palestine. He was also identified with the god of Ekron, Baal-Zebub. Satan is the ruler of the demons and his fallen angels who were all cast out of heaven to earth.

A Kingdom Divided Against Itself

One of the saddest conditions of the body of believers is division. We are told that there are many members, but one body (Romans 12:4 & 5); thus, it is a very grievous situation when we are involved in, or hear about, division within the church. Christ warns that if we become divided against one another, we cannot stand.

However, there is a big difference between dividing because of selfishness, envy, and strife, and dividing with those who have become false teachers.

Throughout the New Testament we are exhorted to be unified, and our walk with fellow believers should be one of building up and encouragement.

Blaspheme Against the Holy Spirit

To, “blaspheme” is to speak of, or address, God with irreverence, or to take His name in vain.

Jesus adds more emphasis on the severity of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, in that it is an unpardonable sin: it cannot, or will not, be forgiven; thus, salvation becomes impossible. This is a sin whereby, a person’s heart has turn cold; whether willfully and deliberately, or not, they reject the mercy of God, and ascribe the work of the Holy Spirit as evil, and unto the Devil.

So, blaspheming the Holy Spirit is denying that His work is of God. This is a sad and serious situation, in that, the person guilty of this sin is subject to eternal condemnation. This has troubled many. Some feel totally defeated and hopeless before God, convinced that they have committed this unpardonable sin. But is it really possible for a child of God to commit this sin?

Never! Jesus said in John 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”

If you have any questions; would like to offer a comment; or request prayer, just click on the no comments/comments below:

The Gospel According to Mark 3:13-19

And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the [son] of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.

You are welcome to ask questions, share comments, or to request prayer, as we study God’s Word together. The following is a brief review of our current lesson:

The Calling of His Disciples

Jesus chose the ones He wanted to be His disciples. They did not volunteer, nor were self-appointed for the job — they were all called by God. He picked those that He specifically wanted, even knowing ahead of time that one of His followers would betray Him.

Empowered and Commissioned

A disciple was a student, but not in a classroom lecture sense. A disciple learned by being within hearing-distance of his teacher. A disciple was an apprentice, and learned from the teacher first-hand. Then Jesus chose His disciples so that He might send them out to preach.

Who Were the Twelve Disciples

Jesus could have chosen anyone in His creation to be on His cabinet of advisors. He had the pick of all the mighty kings, warriors, scholars, physicians and builders. Yet, He chose followers, not leaders or advisers, as He calls two brothers who were common fishermen (Matthew 4:19) to follow Him: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Why did Jesus choose Judas? We don’t know for sure, but Jesus does give us a picture of the body of believers as “wheat and tares”(Matthew 13:49), and sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31). He allows both believers and unbelievers to co-habitate until He separates them when He judges the world.

If you have any questions; would like to offer a comment; or request prayer, just click on the no comments/comments below:

The Gospel According to Mark 3:7-12

But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him. So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.” But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.”

You are welcome to ask questions, share comments, or to request prayer, as we study God’s Word together. The following is a brief review of our current lesson:

Jesus Withdrew with His Disciples to the Sea

Jesus did not come to this earth to be received as an earthly king, with pomp and ceremony, seeking fame and fortune. He came as a humble servant to serve.

The crowds wanted to make Him known as a great prophet, or even as a celebrity. But Jesus would withdraw from them to a secluded spot to pray.

A Great Multitude Followed Him

Jesus drew large crowds wherever He went. It is wonderful for people to be attracted to Jesus. But, what were they coming to see? Were they coming to Him because they wanted to be forgiven of their sins, seeking salvation? Or were they coming just to be healed of their physical sicknesses, or to see a miracle?

Because of the large crowds of people desiring to be healed with various afflictions pressing in to try and touch Him, it became difficult for Jesus to move around. So He requested of His disciples a small boat to be anchored just off shore – this would allow Him to continue to serve the crowds until He needed a means of escape for His safety.

Unclean Spirits Cry out That He Is the Son of God

It’s interesting to see a correlation between those who are physically sick and those who are possessed with unclean spirits. Jesus is the Great Physician, and divine Healer of both body and soul, who can cleanse us of our sins.

Jesus knew who these demons are, and they knew that He is the Son of God. Satan and his cohorts may know who Jesus is, but they tremble knowing that their fate is sealed — that they are destined to be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10) at the end of time, and that they will never have anything to do with Christ.

If you have any questions; would like to offer a comment; or request prayer, just click on the no comments/comments below: