Master Passion Series

Master Passion (11/27/22)

Mark 3:20-35

Good Morning,

Passion can be defined as an inclination or desire to do something a person likes to do or thinks is important.

The Spanish poet and theater director Federico Garciá Lorca used the word duende (Dwen-day), or life force, to signify a deep passion.

How can people start believing their lives are worth living?

Figuring out our passion is one way to do so and living life with on purpose to fulfill that passion makes life worth living.

Please open your Bible to Mark 3 as we continue in the verse by verse study of that Gospel.

Last time when we were in Mark, we learned how Jesus retreated up on a Mountain and called His Apostles to Himself.

Then Jesus gave these Apostles specific credentials and Kingdom authority.

These men were nobody’s; but, once empowered by the Spirit, they set the world on fire with the Gospel. He did not call them because of what they were, but He in spite of what they were!

We learned that once a Christian is called to a specific purpose, the believer’s job is to surrender to that calling.

If you are in Christ; God’s not done with you yet!

Today, we will learn how Jesus’ own people thought He was wasting His life, when in fact; He was living for His master passion, the most important mission, following the Father’s will.

I. Jesus’ family misunderstands.

Read Mark 3:20-21

Last time we saw that Mark 3:19 ended with telling us that Jesus and twelve Apostles went into a house.

Immediately following Jesus choosing the twelve Apostles, Jesus is back at a house and another large crowd shows up. The crowd was so large; there was not enough room to even eat.

This crowd was so big, with so many needs, Jesus and His disciples didn’t even have time to eat or rest regularly.

In the eyes of others, Jesus was not living a normal life.

Joseph had a carpentry business and Jesus should have been concerned with making a life for Himself; not just meeting the needs of other people, with no concern for His personal needs.

So notice what happens,

Re-read verse 21

In some of the other versions, it says, Mark 3:21 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him home with them. "He's out of his mind," they said. NLT

At the end of Mark 3 we again see Jesus’ mother and brothers trying to convince Him to go home and rest.

Jesus’ own family did not understand His mission at this point

Warren Wiersbe said, “Our Lord’s friends were sure that Jesus was confused, and possibly deranged!

The great crowds they saw following Him, and the amazing reports they heard about Him, convinced them that He desperately needed help.

“He simply was not living a normal life, so His friends came to Capernaum to ‘lay hold of Him’, or to ‘take charge of Him’”

They didn’t just go there to say, “Hey Jesus! Why don’t you come back with us and rest, having a little family time?”

Lay hold of Him means to “arrest, seize, or take possession of”!

The family went to forcibly take Jesus under their control and haul Him back home!

William Lane said “The word Mark used carries the sense of psychic derangement.”

Jesus appeared to be crazy because He was doing and saying things that put Him in direct opposition to the most powerful people in Israel.

Not to mention, the twelve men He just choose as His closest followers; and the family thought He was delusional concerning who He thought He was and about His mission.

Here, He is not eating regular, so the family needed to intervene.

God’s servants have been misjudged throughout history and called crazy for following a God they cannot see.

Dwight Moody was called “Crazy Moody” by many people in Chicago, and even the apostle Paul was called mad in Acts.

When I first gave my life to Jesus, I had many friends and even some family members who believed I lost my mind as well.

I went from a trouble maker in high school to a Jesus freak over night; so, many people thought I was crazy.

I even had a favorite aunt of mine write me off because of my faith in Christ;

Here’s the truth…

If my friends and family acknowledged Jesus was real and that He changed my life; then they would have to do something with Him themselves, because there is no middle ground with Jesus.

Jesus is the most divisive figure in history because it is divisive to proclaim there is an absolute truth for every single person.

While it is true that Jesus came to save lost sinners and provide a way for lost souls to be saved by His Grace alone, through Faith.