The Opinions of the Servant | Mark 3:16-30
Think back to when you were 16, 15, 17 years old. You probably remember being inundated by opinions all around you and really caring about what your friends thought. Many of us made decisions based on our friends' opinions, even against our parents' advice, just to fit in. Now, if we were honest today, we'd admit that even though we're older and seemingly more mature, we still struggle with the opinions of others. We still want to fit in, we still worry about what people will think, and we often make decisions based on whether others will criticize or affirm us.
Social media amplifies this struggle. Even when I was a teen, social media wasn't really a thing. MySpace was just coming up. How many of you still have a MySpace page? Nobody, that's a good thing. Today, with social media and YouTube, people's opinions have taken on a whole new level. We look for validation and guidance from these platforms, sometimes even structuring our lives around the opinions of people we don't know.
All of us would agree that we've made decisions we regret because of others' opinions. While it's a daily struggle, we can give God praise this morning that He is not deterred by others' opinions of Himself. This morning, as we come to Mark chapter 3, we will see Jesus confronted with others' opinions of who they say He is and how He responds perfectly and scripturally.
In Mark chapter 3, Jesus is at a point where He is very popular but also surrounded by people with negative opinions of Him. Primarily, the religious elites are observing His ministry, doing everything they can to take Him down because they are jealous of His influence. They want to control the narrative about who Jesus is, defining and boxing Him in. Some even want to destroy Him, to end His life and eradicate His influence. Amidst this, Jesus is fulfilling His mission to serve others, ultimately leading Him to the cross.
In our passage today, even people close to Jesus begin to voice their opinions. Before, it was external attacks, but now Jesus faces opinions from those He cares deeply about. How does Jesus respond in this moment?
They Said He Was Out of His Mind
Let's begin reading in verse 20 of Mark chapter 3. "The multitude came together again so that they could not so much as eat bread." This means the demand on Jesus was so great that He couldn't even find time to eat. When His friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on Him, saying, "He is beside Himself." In other words, they thought Jesus was out of His mind.
The demands on Jesus hadn't subsided even though He had ordained 12 men to help Him. The demand was still so high that He couldn't even take time to have a meal. His friends, concerned for His mental health and well-being, tried to physically grab Him, questioning what He was doing. They were essentially saying Jesus was having a mental breakdown.
Interestingly, sometimes in the Christian life, when you commit to walking with the Lord and making a difference, even those closest to you might have a problem with it. Some of you may have experienced that when you became a Christian; your family, who you thought were your people, suddenly had a changed tone towards you simply because you decided to follow Jesus.
In verse 31, Jesus' brethren and His mother come, standing outside and calling Him. They couldn't get inside because He was surrounded by people. When Jesus is told that His family is outside seeking Him, He responds by asking, "Who is my mother or my brethren?" Then He looks at those around Him and says, "Behold my mother and my brethren! For whoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, sister, and mother."
This statement would have been shocking in a family-oriented culture. Jesus is essentially saying that His spiritual family, those who do the will of God, is even more important than His physical family. This spiritual bond goes beyond physical family relationships and connects us directly to God, making us part of His eternal family.
They Said He Was in with the Devil
In verse 22, the scribes from Jerusalem accuse Jesus of being in league with the devil, saying, "He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils." They believed that Jesus' miracles and works were not of God but of Satan. Jesus responds perfectly by calling them to Him and speaking in parables, asking, "How can Satan cast out Satan?" He explains that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. If Satan rises against himself, he cannot stand but has an end.
Jesus further illustrates by saying no one can enter a strong man's house and spoil his goods unless he first binds the strong man. Jesus is implying that He is stronger than Satan, binding him and casting out demons, showing His power and authority as God in the flesh. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, giving us victory over sin through His sacrifice.
In verses 28-30, Jesus speaks of the unforgivable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. He assures that all sins shall be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, because they said, "He has an unclean spirit." This sin is a willful, blatant, and persistent rejection of God's grace in Jesus Christ, attributing His works to Satan. It is a sin that a true Christian cannot commit, as it is rooted in unbelief and defiance against God.
Despite the opinions and accusations, Jesus was not deterred. He knew who He was and why He came—to serve and give His life for sinful mankind. The opinions of others did not faze Him because He was confident in His identity and mission.
Finding Our Confidence in Christ
As Christians, we can take confidence in knowing who Jesus is and that He is our Savior. It doesn't matter what others say about Him. We have His Word and His Spirit affirming the truth. Our task is to take this truth to our community and world, living in obedience to God and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. If you are struggling with sin or have never trusted in Christ, turn to Him today. He offers forgiveness, redemption, and a place in His eternal family.
