Friends, Foes & Family
Text: Mark 3:20-35
Introduction: Writing to the Corinthians the apostle Paul once commented, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” Isn’t that the truth? Last Sunday we saw how Jesus ministry was increasing in popularity. Everywhere he went, people were thronging Him, and out of this growing number He chose His twelve apostles, but with opportunity often comes opposition. The Bible says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” I think that was one of the most shocking discoveries I made as a young Christian.
I recall those first few days after my conversion very well. I remember sharing with my parents that I had been saved, only to have them call out the family minister to see if I was all right. It was funny that he was never asked to come while I was living sinfully. There was no visit from him when I would come home drunk in the late hour of the night, no suggestion he should visit whilst I was a foul mouthed punk, playing in a down town bar which coupled as a strip club by day and rock venue by night. But, the moment I became a Christian, it now necessitated a visit from the family minister for fear that I had somehow taken leave of my senses.
I remember well going into work and sharing with my friends of my conversion. I was so pleased to be saved that I gave a general announcement to the whole office. Everyone all at once! But somehow they didn’t seem to enter into my joy, and far from sharing my pleasure they railed on me from the first!! Later they would leave pornography in my desk drawer, and on one occasion pinned a pornographic picture to the back of my coat! One day I was even physically accosted, having my arm held up my back until it was almost at breaking point, and being urged to curse and swear. These were young men who a few days before had been my party companions, as we drank and partied together. Now one of them was getting married and everyone in that office was invited but me, and it was clear that my invitation was outstanding because I was now a Christian.
Things were little better among my other friends, one by one they disappeared. They stopped calling, phoning and inviting. As I engaged in evangelism I soon discovered it wasn’t only people who knew me that wanted to avoid me, but even people who didn’t know me. Again and again my witness was met with rudeness, and/or open hostility. So, if you ever thought becoming a Christian was going to improve your social life, think again. I am over 30 years on from those days and a little more battle scarred and wiser, but even yet I can be taken aback at the opposition of others towards the gospel, and how that opposition is vented upon me.
Paul was right! Many doors are opened, there is plenty of opportunity for the service of Christ, but there is an equal and opposite resistance to those opportunities that comes through many adversaries. We see that as we close out this 3rd chapter of Mark’s gospel.
Last Sunday we saw the rising tide of opportunity as Jesus’ popularity grew and He was able to hand pick His disciples, but now we see the adversity. He does not have free course to do as He pleases unopposed, rather His ministry is challenged, and those challenges come from three sources,
I. His Friends Opposed Him Driven By His Welfare – vss 20-21.
A. In verse 20 we see that such was the demand on Jesus’ time that He and his disciples, “could not so much as eat bread.”
1. There was no time for lunch, circumstances, the incessant work and His all consuming zeal for that work meant that the Lord and His disciples often went without.
2. They were skipping meals to get things done, and so His friends came.
3. They couldn’t understand it – they said he was “beside Himself.”
4. They said, “Now come on Jesus, you are taking this thing too far, but you are in danger of taking leave of your senses.”
5. Have you ever heard people say things like that? You know, “If you read too much Bible it will drive you mad.”
6. They suggest the mental institutions of our country are full of people driven mad by religious belief and zeal.
7. Of course the reality of the situation is that about half of the folks in mental institutions and in prisons are there because of alcohol related problems, but you never see these same folks entering the bars and saying to their friends, “You know if you drink too much of that stuff it will make you mad.”
8. In all my years as a Christian I have never seen anyone admitted to a mental institution for over reading the Bible. Never.
B. Now lets be kind to these people in Mark’s account, they have Jesus’ interests at heart, after all they are His friends.
1. Maybe they were concerned at his eating habits; maybe they were concerned for His health.
2. Maybe they thought He was over doing it, and working a little too hard.
3. Maybe they were fearful that He was creating too many enemies in high places.
4. Or maybe they just thought He was over zealous – you know, a fanatic.
a. Of course you know the definition of a fanatic, don’t you?
b. A fanatic is someone who loves Jesus more than you do.
c. Isn’t it funny that you can be a fanatic about anything, and anyone, but the Lord.
d. Isn’t funny when you love something worldly you are a fan, but when you love the things of God you are a fanatic! Did you know that the word “fan” is just an abbreviation of “fanatic”?
e. Isn’t is funny you can be a sports fan, a pop fan, a movie fan, but you cannot be a Jesus fan?
f. Illus: Did you know that an online survey of 20 000 football fans revealed that 51% said they would starve themselves for a week if that would bring victory in the upcoming World Cup to their national squad. More than 40% offered to give up dating for a year, 7% said they would gladly give up their job to see their country win the title, and a further 4% were willing to give away a body part!! Now that’s what I call fanaticism!!
g. Can you imagine your friends’ face if you told them that you were going to do something like that for the Lord?
h. But you tell them you go to church 2 or 3 times a week and what? You’re a fanatic. You are beside yourself! You are losing the plot!
i. Well, Jesus heard all that from His friends too.
II. His Foes Opposed Him Driven By Their Wickedness – vss 22-29
A. There are people in the world who just hate Christ and everything Christian.
1. It’s amazing isn’t it? They hate the only One who truly loves them!
2. They don’t express hostility toward Buddha, or Allah, or Confucius, but Jesus they hate.
3. His name is their favourite curse word! And His people are their favourite target.
4. Jesus taught us not to be surprised by that – John 15:18-20.
B. Back in Mark 3 we are once again faced with those who hated the Lord Jesus.
1. In this case it was some scribes who had come down from Jerusalem to Galilee.
a. By the way, though Galilee is in the North, notice they are said to have come down from Jerusalem, rather than up from Jerusalem.
b. You always go up to Jerusalem the city being situated on a hilltop about 2500 ft above sea level. So no matter what direction a man is travelling in Israel he is either going up to Jerusalem or coming down from it.
c. Now these guys (scribes) had come down from Jerusalem to Galilee to pick a fight.
d. They are part of the ruling class who philosophically opposed the claims of Christ.
e. Paul calls such people enemies of the cross.
(i) “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” (Philippians 3:18-19)
C. Now, notice their ACCUSATION – vs 22.
1. These were not the words of ignorant men, but men who were the academics of their day, intelligent men, who thought about things and weighed their words carefully.
2. This criticism is their learned opinion it is a cold, callous and considered affront to the person and work of Christ.
3. They meant what they said, and said exactly what they meant.
4. They could not have conceived of a greater insult, and to make matters worse it was a deliberate, determined statement of unbelief!
5. This statement was loaded with offence.
a. They had heard all Jesus had preached, they had witnessed the miracles He had performed and the accused Him of being in league with the devil.
b. Imagine that! They accused the Spirit led, Son of God of being a child of the devil, and under the influence of Satan whom they call Beelzebub.
(i) Beelzebub means “Lord of flies” and was a name descriptive not only of the filth of demonic activity in the world, but also of its order.
(ii) Remember when Satan fell he took one third of the angels with them – and just as there is an angelic order (angels, cherubim and seraphim), so too there is a demonic order – “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph 6:12)
(iii) So they effectively accused Jesus of being controlled by the demonic! He who had silenced the demons, refusing their testimony (and now we see why) and expelled them from those they possessed.
D. See His ANSWER – vss 23-27.
1. It is interesting to see how Jesus responded to insult. He didn’t get mad, he didn’t react with sarcasm, or scorn, and He didn’t return insult with insult, He simply appealed to their reason.
a. “How can Satan cast out Satan?”
b. For Satan to orchestrate the casting out of Satan seemd a poor strategy to say the least.
c. A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand – nothing is more destructive to a nation than civil war.
d. A home divided against itself will also self-destruct. Squabbling parents are a risk to any family.
e. Then He gives them the parable of a strong man’s house – if a robber breaks into a strong man’s house he must tie up the victim or he will never succeed in the theft. Here, Satan is the strong man, and Jesus the house breaker – what He is saying was that far from being empowered by Satan, I have rendered Him powerless and am freeing men and women from His grip.
d. His answer could not be gainsaid.
E. Think about His ADMONITION – vss 28-29.
1. Here we have the so-called “unpardonable sin,” a subject which has long arrested the minds of theologians and, at the same time, troubled many anxious believers.
2. Let’s be clear about this: the unpardonable sin is just that – unpardonable – Jesus said it could NEVER be forgiven, and Matthew clarifies that when He records Jesus as saying this sin would not be forgiven, “ … in this world, neither in the world to come.”
3. This was a in peculiar to its time. To blaspheme the Holy Ghost was to deny His witness to the work and ministry of Christ. It was to see Him heal the sick, cast out devils, and to hear Him preach the Word with such authority and then say out of a malicious and evil heart, this is not of God, it is the work of the devil.
4. Such a depth of unbelief and hard heartedness revealed a soul beyond redemption, the heart of a man that would never be saved.
5. Some say, “Isn’t that where Christ rejectors are today?” No. All of us are guilty of rejecting Him at some point in our lives, yet all those who have trusted Him have found forgiveness and pardon in Him. God will forgive unbelief, but He would not forgive the blasphemy of those who witnessed His Son in Person and accused Him of belonging to the devil.
III. His Family Opposed Him Driven By Their Worries – vss 30-35
A. Now comes Mary and His brothers.
1. Perhaps they have been sent for by His friends, maybe they have heard how the religious rulers of Israel are out to get Him.
2. Like His friends their intervention is well meaning, but equally unwelcome.
3. Understand, though Mary and Joseph were privy to His miraculous birth, His brothers were in unbelief – they were unsaved.
4. If you are living in a home with unsaved family members, take comfort in the fact that Jesus has been there too.
a. See John 7:1-9 cp. Psalm 69:8
b. Have you ever felt that way? An alien in your own home?
c. The Lord knows how that feels – you are not alone.
5. His brothers doubted Him, maybe they were even embarrassed by Him, and perhaps they hated the unnecessary attention He seemed to be bringing to their door, and understand, when you made trouble with the Pharisees and co., you often made trouble for your whole household.
a. John 9:17-23.
b. To be put out of the synagogue was no small thing. It was social suicide!
c. Maybe that was their concern. But whatever their cause one thing was sure they had to stop Him, and so they came to the place, and “standing without” they called unto Him.
d. They were on the outside, looking in, and you know that is not a happy place for loved ones to be.
e. That is where our unsaved loved ones often find themselves – they cannot understand our love of God and the things of God, they are “standing without”, calling us away.
B. But notice, it is not just His unbelieving brethren, but Mary too!
1. Sometimes even our Christian relations may get caught up in the opposition.
2. Instead of standing up for us, they stand alongside others against us – that hurts!!
3. Let me tell you something, sometimes the people who are putting obstacles in our way, and making life difficult for us are the very people who should be supporting and encouraging us.
4. I have found this in youth work. It never ceases to amaze me how Christian parents place have the wrong priorities when it comes to spiritual matters.
5. Young people keep out of church to revise, kept from church youth activities as a punishment, excusing their absence because they had to be in bed early, they had a homework, they have school tomorrow, they need to visit their auntie, or whatever.
a. And then they wonder why their kids go astray as they grow up.
6. Or maybe it is a spouse, a half hearted believer, who resents their husband/wife’s devotion to the Lord and are constantly putting up stumbling blocks, and creating reasons why they cannot serve as they should.
a. We need to spend some time together, I need to visit my mother, you have to mind the kids while I work overtime – you can’t drag them to church. Sometimes I wonder if these folks are saved at all!
C. So here stands Jesus’ brethren and Mary without calling Him.
1. There was a distance between them, and they were here to take Him home.
2. But now He does something no one could have seen coming – He puts clear blue water between his natural relations and His spiritual relations.
a. He asks, “Who is my mother, or my brethren?” This is the One who is “… without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” He is God.
3. And then pointing to those who are sitting at His feet, hanging on His every Word he says, “Behold my mother and my brethren!”
4. The new birth was more significant to Him than the natural birth, and His new family took precedence over His natural family.
a. This is what happens – see Matthew 10:34-36.
b. This division occurred in Jesus’ home and it may occur in yours also – but you have to decide, who, and what is more important in your life.
5. Finally He says, “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”
a. There are times when a brother or sister in faith maybe nearer or dearer than a loved one in the family.
b. And certainly the Lord should have first place in our lives, over and above all others, including loved ones – Luke 14:26.
Conclusion: So opposition comes, sometimes from friends, sometimes from foes and even sometimes from families, but our first duty is to do the will of God.
If you are here, and not a Christian, the will of God for you is to be saved. To become a part of God’s family, by acknowledging your sin, and placing your heart’s trust in Jesus as your Saviour. To accept His death as the punishment for your sin and His resurrection as your hope of eternal life. Will you do that tonight, and be counted as part of His family? As His brother, his sister?
But to the Christian who is finding life a struggle right now I want to say two things. First of all, that shouldn’t surprise you. Peter said it is no “strange thing” if we enter into times of trail and opposition. But then secondly I want to say to you don’t be distracted or discouraged by the opposition. Keep going on. Keep doing what’s right. Keep serving Jesus.
One stormy night a boat could make no headway, and while the captain was struggling to get into port, a nervous passenger said to him: "Do you think we will get in all right?" He replied: "This is a leaky old boat, and we may go down; and the boilers are not in very good condition, so we may go up. But, whatever happens, we are going on."
“I’m Going On,” is the name of an old gospel song written by Charles Naylor, and what a message for those facing opposition:
“I mean to go right on until the crown is won;
I mean to fight the fight of faith till life on earth is done.
I’ll nevermore turn back, defeat I shall not know,
for God will give me victory if onward I shall go
Should opposition come, should foes obstruct my way,
Should persecutions fires be lit as in the ancient day;
With Jesus by my side, His peace within my soul,
No matter if the battle’s hot, I mean to win the goal”
