A WILD AND CRAZY GUY--NOT!
Text: Mark 3:5-12, 20-21
(Mark 3:5 KJV) And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched [it] out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
(Mark 3:6 KJV) And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
(Mark 3:7 KJV) But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,
(Mark 3:8 KJV) And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and [from] beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
(Mark 3:9 KJV) And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
(Mark 3:10 KJV) For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
(Mark 3:11 KJV) And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
(Mark 3:12 KJV) And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.
(Mark 3:20 KJV) And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
(Mark 3:21 KJV) And when his friends heard [of it], they went out to lay hold on him: for they said,
He is beside [Strong’s Concondance Greek #1839--confused, astonished, bewitched] himself.
Do you have a great zeal for God and the things of God? Do you get all excited and tell everybody that Jesus Christ is God? Do the complacent ones around you feel threatened by your enthusiasm?
In our Scripture text, Jesus was causing quite a stir. His words and actions exposed the self-centered, egotistical shallowness of those supposedly elite and pious religionists which said and did not! These characteristics were addressed by Jesus in Matthew 23:3 (KJV), " All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not."
As we walk with God it is easy to be misunderstood by our peers. Author Franklin K. Lane alluded to this thought in his work The Unconquerable Soul. He stated: "The bravest sight in all the world is a man fighting against odds.
"No great advance has ever been made in science, politics, or religion, without controversy." -Lyman Beecher
". . . religious controversy does only harm. It destroys humble inquiry after truth, and throws all the energies into an attempt to prove ourselves right-a spirit in which no man gets at truth."_____Frederick W. Robertson
Mark 3:21 (KJV) And when his friends heard of it [all that took place in the prior verses of Mark Chapter Three], they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. The friends of verse 21 refer to Jesus’ family and close friends. Jesus grew up in Galilee and practiced His ministry there. There were many that knew Him before this time of popularity.
Why was it said that Jesus was beside Himself? Were they thinking He was out of His mind? There may have been several reasons for their concern. Some were:
He left a business (carpenter’s son) to become a journeying preacher.
Family and friends were afraid for Jesus.
He skipped regular mealtimes.
Huge crowds began to follow Jesus.
He showed spiritual power and ministry.
He picked an unlikely group of disciples.
His brothers did not believe in Him until after His resurrection.
Some concluded there was genuine need for concern. One is not safe when political leaders are plotting your murder and there is no backing down. Mark 3:6 (KJV), " And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him."
Some probably thought the large following Jesus had would go to his head. The God-man would not give in to the weak and beggarly elements of fame and attention. Mark 3:7-8, "But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him."
The events of Mark 3:9-11 exhibited a spiritual power and ministry that Jesus had never shown earlier in His life. Was something very wrong for this man and his unlikely group of disciples? Here is what Mark 3:9-11(NIV) states, Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, ’You are the Son of God.’
Mark 3:13-19, "Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve-designating them apostles-that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him." Some thought it feasible to question Jesus’ judgment.
The question may have been asked, "Do the brothers of Jesus have a zealous religious fanatic in the family?" Often one’s zeal is an embarrassment to those who are lethargic and complacent.
Now concern and controversy, real or fancied, gives way to the out right rejection of Jesus and His ministry. He has actually threatened the status quo of the religious leaders. Cole said that it is not easy when one is misunderstood in their walk with God. Cole further states that Jesus may well have been speaking from bitter experience when He said, "A man’s enemies will be those of his own home [see Matthew 10:36]." It is obvious that it was painfully challenging for Jesus to deal with the way His own people rejected Him.
Satan will not let us be victorious without a test. He will attempt to discourage and defeat. Now greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. We are on the winning side just as Jesus was on the winning side in our Scripture portion.
We, as Jesus, must strive to let commitment rise above the misunderstandings. Let us have living testimonies of our professions of faith. Jesus remained committed to His Father’s will. The doubts within and the doubters without must be overcome. A good Bible verse to consider--Isaiah 50:7 (KJV), For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
Here are some thoughts and principles to keep in mind during the pursuit and performance of God’s will:
Yesterdays decisions formed us for today.
Dreams for tomorrow can energize and discipline us.
Today can be allowed to strengthen past commitments.
A strenthening of our resolve can take place as we think back to the time and place where the Lord changed our lives.
Now it was not necessarily the place, but the Lord of the place. Remember when past decisions overcame obstacles? God has not changed. The fact that Jesus honors faith and unwavering commitment has not changed. His Word had not changed. We can be encouraged and impelled by Hebrews 13:8 (KJV), "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
If our commitment to the Lord’s purposes gives others the perception that we are wild and crazy guys, so be it.
One’s life is measured by the obstacles overcome. Decisions overcome obstacles. Success is measured by holding on and not giving up.
