JESUS TRUE FAMILY Mark 3:20-35 Key Verse 3:35 1. Read verse 20. Where did this event take place? This event took place in a house by the lake, quite possibly Peter s or his motherin-law s. Why did a crowd gather around Jesus? Jesus has healed many of their diseases and demon possessions and many more people now had come to Jesus for healing. Why couldn t Jesus or his disciples even eat? There were so many people crowding the house that the number of people disrupted lunch. What does this event teach you about him and his ministry? It tells us that Jesus had a real shepherd s heart for the people and they could sense it. They saw the work of God going on and wanted to follow him. 2. Read verse 21. How did Jesus family interpret this? His family thought that he was out of his mind, and that he wasn t who he said he was. He was bringing undo attention to the family. What did they want to do? They were going to go get him and bring him home and set him straight so he wouldn t cause any more trouble for them. What was the cause of his family s misunderstanding? (See also John 7:1-10, Lk. 2:35, Acts 1:14; Ja. 2:1) John 7:1-10 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come." Having said this, he stayed in Galilee. However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. Luke 2:35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too. Acts 1:14 They all join together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the Mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. James 2:1 My brothers as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don t show favoritism. The cause was from jealousy and from prophecy. They looked at Jesus with a very humanistic approach. 3. Read verse 22. Why did the teachers of the law from Jerusalem come to Galilee? They came to Galilee in order to discredit Jesus and his ministry before the people. How did they criticize Jesus? They said that he was possessed by demons and that his power came form the prince of demons. How did they view the work of God through Jesus? They viewed this work of God and called it a work of Satan. This revealed their evil hearts. They didn t believe in God so they could only call God s work as the work of the devil. 4. Read verses 23-26. How did Jesus defend his ministry? Jesus asked a simple return question to show the magnitude of the error in their accusation. Jesus asked them, why would Satan heal people, if his goal is to destroy God s people? This question reflected back to the Pharisees and their lack of compassion for people.
Why will Satan not drive out Satan? Because if he does, he is defeating himself. A house divided against itself will fall. Satan s job is to destroy God s people, he will not willingly give up an inch of ground. 5. Read verse 27. Who is a strong man? The strong man is Satan, who has power and shackles people s lives with sin. He is strong and no one can defeat him. What is his house? His house is the earth, which he is the ruler of. How can someone rob his house? By tieing him up first so that he is rendered helpless. Then we can take what is in his house. Who can tie up strong Satan and rescue men from its grip? Someone stronger than Satan, and that would be Jesus Christ. HE came to tie up Satan and defeat him and rescue all the people in his house. 6. Read verses 28-30. Why is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit an unforgivable sin? Because if you consider the work of God as the work of the devil, then you will never repent and be forgiven your sins. Therefore you will not enter heaven. How did Jesus view the work of God? (Ge 1:2; Jn 3:5-8; Jn 16:8-11; Jn 16:13-15; Acts 1:8) Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. John 3:5-8 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
John 16:8-11 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. John 16:13-15 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Jesus saw the work of God in creation, and also in judgment. Jesus also saw the work of God as salvation through the Holy Spirit. The work of God was clearly different than the work of Satan. God was trying to build up, Satan was trying to tear down. 7. Read verses 31-32. How did Jesus family inform their arrival to Jesus? They stood outside waiting for him since the crowd was so large. Then they sent a message in that they were there and that Jesus should come out. What did they expect Jesus to do? They expected Jesus to obey his mother and come out and go home with them. They thought they had the highest authority. 8. Read verse 33-35. Who are Jesus true family members? Jesus asks, Who are my mother and my brothers? Jesus says that those who do the work of God are his true mother, brothers, and sisters. This does not mean to abandon your earthly family. What can we learn from Jesus who our true family members are? Those who engage in the work of God become our spiritual family. This is difficult for unbelievers to understand. But Jesus and the work of God is a higher priority than even our family bonds. What is God s will for Jesus and us? (Jn 6:38-40; Lk 22:42; 1Th 4:3; 1Th 5:18; 1Pe 2:9; Eph 2:10) John 6:38
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." Luke 22:42 Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.