Half A Deck

Half A Deck – Mark 3: 20 - 35

Intro: Every family has that one person who is a little different from the rest. You know, this is the person who at family reunions everyone talks about to everyone except that person. I want to confide in you. If you are the only person that no one speaks to at the family reunion; then, it’s you! You’re the “different one” that everyone else is talking about. They may think you are “odd” because you keep up with the fashion trends. (Even though you know that just because they make it in your size, doesn’t mean you should wear it!) They may think you are “odd” because every time you open your mouth, you put your brain on parade. (You can’t help it that you are highly educated and want everyone to know it.)

They think you are “odd” because you are a vegan. (Half of those present don’t even know what that is.) You can’t help that you don’t eat meat because you believe cows contribute to global warming by passing methane gas. YES, YOU MAY BE THE ODD ONE IN THE FAMILY!

I This passage has two episodes, one embedded inside the other. VS. 2 “When his family (associates) heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

A You know that expression “out of his mind.” There are others like: “paying with half a deck”/ “looney tunes” / “Half-baked.” My favorite one I heard just recently on TV “a few tomatoes short of a salad.”

B These people intend to take Jesus away by force (??at?sa? / kratesai) here translated as “to take charge” / it implies to forcibly take Jesus away.

C They want to do this because they believe “He is out of his mind.” The GK word here is (???st?µ? / existemi) here translated as “out of his mind.” / “to be beside himself / beyond oneself with astonishment / to be amazed / astounded. Literally translated as “He has stood outside.” Modern translations might include “he is really out of it” / Southern interpretation “He’s been out in the sun too long.”

II The second episode is in VS. 22 “And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.’”

A The word here translated as “Beelzebul” is a translation of the GK word (Sata???/Satanas) an adversary / the 2nd name given to the prince of the devils / false accused / the oppose / prince of the fallen angels.

B “By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” Jesus answers with a logical answer in VS. 23 & 24 “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.”

C Another word used for Beelzebul is (da?µ????? / daimonion) Those who rule and direct human affairs. This is the 1st name given to the prince of devils. Whatever it is that controls who you are and what you do are your daimonion (demons)

III The one verse over which many are concerned is found in VS. 29 “but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

A This commonly referred to as “the unforgiveable sin.” It is the one sin singled out by Christ Jesus as the one thing that God will never forgive.

B This “sin” in GK. is (ß?asf?µ?? / blasphemeo). It means to hurt the reputation / to speak evil of / or to revile God and divine things/ to resist the convincing power of the Holy Spirit.

C Putting it into the correct context, blasphemy is the inability or unwillingness to tell the difference between the power of the Holy Spirit and the demonic.

Concl: Jesus says to us, “I offer you neither riches nor wealth. But, let those who love me come and follow me and live amongst those who love me too! Let the world call us crazy; but, let us love one another and the world. --- When I asked Woody Meredith why he asked me to become the pastor of this church he said, “The people here know you. They seem to like you. Besides, you are crazy and you will fit right in.” I guess he is right because you have to be a little crazy to want to do this job because people do treat you differently: they watch what they say around you, some even squirm in your presence, others keep you at arms length while others hold you to a higher standard putting you on a pedestal from which I am constantly jumping off.