Before we look at today’s Gospel reading, let’s see what preceded it. In the first 6 verses, Jesus heals a man who’s hand was withered and useless. The key verse is four: Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. NIV
Jesus does not make a big deal of this event, except for the question. In effect, he was asking, ‘how can it be wrong to do good?’
In verses 7-12 we see Jesus healing many people by the lake. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” NIV This prepares us for what follows.
He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. NIV Jesus was able to drive out demons and now he gives that authority to the Twelve, yes, including Judas.
And that leads us to the crowded house—likely Peter’s—and Jesus being accused of being in league with the devil. The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying that he was possessed by Beelzebub, and that he drove out devils because he was in league with the prince of devils. Phillips Jesus could have been more derogatory and called the scribes stupid for such inconsistent statements. ‘Why would the devil want anyone to drive out his demons?’
Let’s look at two different versions of this segment.
I assure you that human beings will be forgiven for everything, for all sins and insults of every kind. But whoever insults the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. That person is guilty of a sin with consequences that last forever.” He said this because the legal experts were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.” Common English Bible
“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and all the abusive and blasphemous things they say;but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit and His power [by attributing the miracles done by Me to Satan] never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin [a sin which is unforgivable in this present age as well as in the age to come]”—[Jesus said this] because the scribes and Pharisees were [attributing His miracles to Satan by] saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” Amplified Bible
I don’t often use the Amplified Bible but it is helpful here. God, through the Holy Spirit, drove out demons from people. Jesus points out that Satan had nothing to do with it. Giving him credit instead of the Spirit of God is the worst sin a person can make. God heals, Satan enslaves.
Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit in today’s reading in this way. The outward man does indeed suffer wear and tear, but every day the inward man receives fresh strength. These little troubles (which are really so transitory) are winning for us a permanent, glorious and solid reward out of all proportion to our pain. For we are looking all the time not at the visible things but at the invisible. The visible things are transitory: it is the invisible things that are really permanent. Phillips
We in America have the misfortune to live in the end phase of an empire. The end phase is always characterized with greed, over consumption, and the rejection of religion. That is over simplified, but this is not a critique of the history of the USA. The question for Christians is how to be followers of the Messiah in such a time.
We must reject the prosperity gospel, for example. It always leads to the downfall of those who practice it. Jesus was not here to bring wealth to the poor but to bring life to the poor. Life comes from God alone.
As Jesus said in Matthew 11:4-6—Jesus gave them this reply, “Go and tell John what you see and her—that blind men are recovering their sight, cripples are walking, lepers being healed, the deaf hearing, the dead being brought to life and the good news is being given to those in need. And happy is the man who never loses faith in me.” Phillips
With his background we should not be surprised with Jesus’ words in Mark 3:34-35. And looking at those who were sitting around him in a circle, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” NET
Be righteous and do good.
Mike Lawrence
Mike Lawrence Books 