Title: “He’s Out of His Mind!”
Text: Mark 3:20-35
Thesis: Christians need to be a little crazy.
Introduction
Yesterday a mother of teenagers in our congregation posted on Facebook, “My kids are the reason I wake up each morning, the reason I breathe… and why my hair is falling out, my house is a mess and I’m crazy.”
A 26 year-old man made news this week for having quit his job as a marketing manager in Atlanta to travel the world giving high-fives to everyone he met. He made a promo video that is posted on YouTube (fitting for a marketing manager type) which portrays his venture as a celebration of life.
He saved his money for 3 years and bought a round trip ticket with 8-stops around the world… in the course of his 8-stops he visited 36 countries…
He jumped off the world’s highest bridge in France. He went on an African safari in Tanzania and swam in the ocean off Namibia. He swam with sharks. Hitchhiked. Slept in airports. He is now in New York deciding what his next adventure will be.
He had saved enough money to place a sizable down payment toward a mortgage on a home but he spent the money on a trip having fun and giving out high-fives. He certainly plays into a growing trend to spend your money on experiences rather than things which is a noble concept. But there is something inside me that screams, “He is crazy!” He could have a house!
At the other end of the spectrum is 91-year-old Walter Thomas who lives in suburban Chicago. One of the life-long dreams on his bucket list was to drive a car through a garage door. So on Wednesday of this past week he put on a motorcycle helmet and did it much to the delight of his family and friends who were watching. Later he said, “I hit the gas, squealed the tires and bang, we went through the door.” (Much to the delight of an area new garage door installer.) Again, something inside me screams, “He’s crazy!” What a waste and have you priced new garage doors lately?
Just a few days ago Bonnie and I were on ladders doing battle with our garage door… realigning pulleys and restringing cables and reattaching a majorly sized spring… all so we could keep the garage door people away as long as possible.
I hope you understand that I am well aware of the seriousness of mental illness and insanity. You may or people you love may suffer from mental illness and it is hurtful to imagine someone just off-handedly labeling you or your loved one as “crazy.”
However it is not uncommon for us to see someone doing something that we think is nuts or crazy. When we remark they are “crazy” we do not mean they are insane. It just means we think what they are doing is risky or silly or not well thought through or dumb or weird.
In our text today Jesus’ family was concerned about what they were hearing about him and came to take him away. Having come to “take him away” is a mild way of putting it. The actual language was they came to “seize” him. To seize means to lay hold of. One commentator suggests it is used in the same way as in “seizing a prisoner.”
When I was a teenager I remember I recall the family getting Grandpa into the backseat of my uncle’s car between two other uncles to make a trip to Clarinda, Iowa… the State Mental Hospital. He didn’t want to go but he went… Jesus’s mother and brothers had come to take him where he did not want to go.
The reason for “seizing” and taking him away is because they said, “he is beside himself.” Being beside himself means he was “out of his mind.” Some translation say Jesus was “mad.”
So it seems Jesus’ family thought he was in trouble and they came to take him home so he could get his head on straight again.
So this raises the question, “Why might Jesus’ family have thought he had run off the rails?”
I. Jesus was radically inclusive – strange behavior for the Jesus they knew.
One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather… Mark 3:20-21
Jesus was 30 years-old. He did not suffer from what we call “failure to launch.” He had launched and that was likely one of the things that had his family in a dither. Jesus purportedly lived at home and had assumed Joseph’s carpentry business. He was a known, skilled and respected young man in town. And then he suddenly hangs up his carpenter’s apron, locks his shop and hits the road as an itinerant preacher.
His family likely had concerns about the suddenness of his career change. They may have wondered why he would give up a job with a regular income. They may have wondered why he would give up security when the wise thing to do would be to play it safe. And apparently he seemed indifferent to what anyone thought.
But what was it that made them decide it was time to do an intervention?
A. Jesus was casting too wide a net
That evening many sick and demon possessed people were brought to Jesus. The whole town gathered to watch… Mark 1:32-33
A quick read of Mark 1-3 is important to understand the context:
1. 1:16-20 – Jesus started recruiting followers
2. 1:21-28 – Jesus performed an exorcism which lit up the media
3. 1:29-34 – Jesus performed exorcisms and healings and the whole town gathered to watch
4. 1:35-38 – Jesus traveled throughout Galilee preaching in synagogues and casting out demons
5. 1:40-45 – Jesus healed a leper and large crowds continued to surround him
6. 2:1-5 – Jesus was speaking to a packed house when some guys cut a hole in the roof and lowered a paralyzed man so Jesus could heal him
7. 2:13-17 – Jesus had the audacity to not only go to a notorious sinner’s house but to then sit down and share a meal with people known to be society’s scum
8. 3:7-12 – Jesus was overwhelmed by the massive crowds of people who were coming to see him perform miracles…
9. 3:13-19 – Jesus chose his disciples… among them were fisherman, a tax-collector, a political radical and a thief.
10. 3:20 – Jesus was so overwhelmed he didn’t even have time to eat. If you were to tell me you are too busy to eat I would think you’re crazy too.
In our text today there are three groups of people: The crowds. Jesus’ family. The religious teachers of the law. The wide-net to which I referred are the crowds of people surrounding Jesus.
B. The Wide Net of Inclusivity included:
1. Demon possessed
2. Sick
3. Sinners and scum
4. Apostles (The rather eclectic group, some of dubious character, whom he called his disciples)
Who does Jesus think he is… this pied piper who plays his pipe and all the children follow him out of town as if strangely entranced? This is not the boy who grew up in my home. This is not the brother I grew up with. This is not the humble craftsman working quietly in his workshop. Something must be wrong.
Who was this populist? What could possibly have come over him that he would go about attracting that kind of popular following? So now that Jesus had returned home his family decided it was a good chance to do that intervention they had been talking about.
What does this mean for us today as we would learn from Jesus?
In our first church there was a family who had a son-in-law who was a pastor. When he would visit he would set about bragging about his success. Interestingly, he never told us stories about people who live where we live. It was always about how he had five attorneys attending his church or two city council members or physicians or politicians. It seemed to me his was a ministry that was more about exclusivity than inclusivity.
Jesus had a heart for sick people. Jesus had a heart for people who were under the influence and control of Satan. Jesus had a heart for people who were on the fringes and marginalized in society. Misfits.
I’m reminded of the old Waylon Jennings song, “Mamas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys. Don’t let ‘em pick guitars and drive them old trucks. Let ‘em be doctors and lawyers and such.”
There is nothing wrong with being doctors and lawyers and engineers and professional athletes and CEOs and such. Jesus never excluded anyone but he was intent on including everyone.
Churches tend to move away from the center and much of the church planting and church growth is away from the center. Churches worry about the changing neighborhood and look to the suburbs. Eventually new churches get built in new places in second and third and fourth ring suburbs where new homes are being built and everyone there is a young, upwardly mobile couple.
Maybe the pertinent question is: Who is no one else trying to reach?
It may be crazy but for us… it is right here! The people around us in this very place that no one is trying to love on.
Who are our sick? Who are our demon possessed? Who are our scummy sinners? Who are our social misfits and radicals?
If we have some idea of who, we might ask why? Why do we reach out to and welcome people into our faith community?
We exist to be a place for people to:
We exist to be a place for people to:
Belong to a caring community.
Believe in the truth of God’s Word.
Become conformed to the image of Christ.
By people we mean… all people. Anyone and everyone. We need to be people who are crazy enough to be all inclusive of everyone.
Not only was Jesus radically inclusive in his caring about people, he was making people mad.
II. Jesus was antagonizing the powers that be
But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons.” Mark 3:22-30
Parents are concerned with many things. One of the many things that concern a parent is the kind of people their kids hang out around. Parents want to meet their children’s friends to make sure their relationships are good ones. Another concern for parents is that their children stay out of trouble. They do not want their kids to hang around with bad influences and they do not want their kids to get into trouble. Jesus was doing both… He was attracting both questionable friends and getting a lot of negative attention.
Jesus was getting a lot of negative attention.
A. Jesus was making enemies
The teachers of religious law said, “He’s possessed… that’s how he gets his power to cast out demons.” 3:22
It really should not have surprised to his mother but some of the things he was doing gave her and the family cause for concern.
1. 2:16-12 – Jesus healed a paralyzed man and then had the audacity to forgive the man his sins which drove the religious teachers nuts.
2. 2:13-17 – Jesus had the audacity to not only go to a notorious sinner’s house but to then sit down and share a meal with people known to be society’s scum
3. 2:18-22 – Jesus’s piety (practice of fasting) was not up to that of the teachers of religious law
4. 2:23-28 – Jesus and his disciples picked and ate some grain while walking through a field of wheat which did not please the teachers of religious law who insisted one cannot harvest grain on the Sabbath
5. 3:1-6 – Jesus healed a man with a deformed hand which brought an immediate rebuke from the teachers of religious law who reminded him it was illegal to work on the Sabbath
In a culture in which religion and nationalism/politics are synonymous you do not want to stir the water too much. Whenever you have a culture where certain people feel entitled and empowered you do not want those people on your case. They will not only attempt to discredit you… they will do all they can to take you down.
His family was rightfully concerned. Jesus had always been a good boy. He had always attended synagogue and observed the religious laws of his culture. Even as a 12 year-old lad he sat at the feet of the religious leaders asking questions. They did not wish to have the good name of their family sullied by suggestions that Jesus was some kind of religious radical or cult leader.
And now, after having been “on the road” so to speak, Jesus had returned home. Not only was his family in the hunt for him, the teachers of religious law had also come to town to put a stop to this trouble maker.
They decided to discredit Jesus in front of all those who were either at the least curious or at most passionate followers of Jesus. They simply accused Jesus of being possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. After all… since he has such power in the underworld of demons, he must be one of them. Why else would demons obey him?
Jesus quickly debunked that theory. Satan does not work against Satan. Satan and his minions work in collusion. Wall Street bankers do not attack each other, they work in collusion. FIFA officials do not report each other for receiving bribes, they work in collusion. There was no colluding going on between Jesus and Satan… You might say it was more of a collision.
If his activities did not sufficiently incite his enemies… his words did.
B. Jesus likened the accusations of his enemies to the unpardonable sin
“I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven. But anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.” 3:28-30
1. All sin and blasphemy are forgivable
2. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable
So what is it that constitutes blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
Over the years I’ve been in a few discussions about what it means to blaspheme the Holy Spirit? At what point is a person irreparably lost and unforgivable?
Jesus says it is when a person refuses to see and receive the work and the will of God. When a person’s heart is so hardened that they say what God is doing through his Holy Spirit is the work of Satan and refuse to believe otherwise… that is unforgivable.
Blasphemy is the utter and complete rejection and denial of the truth about Jesus.
What can we learn from Jesus?
1. We must not flinch in the face of opposition. We can expect resistance when we obey the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Opposition may come from anywhere. It can come from a neighbor down the street who doesn’t want a house full of unwed teen moms in the neighborhood. Opposition may come from your family and friends who would distract you from ministry. Opposition may come from people who don’t want things to change. Opposition may come from people who really do not care for the marginalized who do not wish to invest time, money and effort in reaching out to them in Christ’s love.
2. We must be open to God’s leading and the work of the Holy Spirit.
I am not very appreciative of Christians who are set up as models of Christlikeness for the world to see who then are embroiled in some disheartening controversy that discredits themselves and hurts those who serve Jesus faithfully and without fan fair.
It seems that every new day reveals the dark underbelly of religious and political leaders who have been zealots for righteousness and heavy handed in their judgment of others. What is condemned in others is covered up in their own home. A powerful and influential person of stellar faith is forced to resign from the board of a major Christian college when his past comes to light.
When Jimmy Swaggart was wallowing in the muddiest puddle of his ministry the treasurer of my church came to me and told me that he was listening to Jimmy Swaggart on the radio while working in his shop when he felt compelled to get down on his knees and turn his life over to Jesus. At the time the first thing that crossed my mind was to ask, “Heavens to Betsy, haven’t you been listing to the news?”
Fortunately he was listening to the Holy Spirit who was at work in a most unlikely time and place.
I love the passage in Acts where the High Priest convened the High Council to determine what would be done about the apostles who were gaining so much favor with the public, what with their healing of the sick and preaching about Jesus. The Council was furious but among that group was a man named Gamaliel who was an expert in the law and respected by all the people.
Gamaliel cited a couple of examples of upstart cult-followings that had gotten them all stirred up but eventually amounted to zip. This is what he said, “My advice is to leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things on their own it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves working against God.” Acts 5:33-39
3. It may feel crazy but it is always best to go with God rather than stand in the way.
Another clue as to why his family might have been concerned for his mental well-being was that he was redefining the meaning of family.
III. Jesus was redefining the meaning of family
Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:31-35
As we come to the end of our text today we have come full circle. When we began in 3:21 Jesus’ family was trying to seize him and take him away because they thought he had lost his mind. Now in 3:31, they are back and they want to see Jesus. They did not go into the meeting but rather sent someone in with a note that read, “Someone with license plate BR549 left their lights on.” Actually it was, “Hey Jesus, can you come outside for a minute” Love, Mom and your brothers
The thing Jesus did next likely drove the nail into any semblance of sanity he may have had left with his family.
Jesus asked the question, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? That lady outside with those sober-faced brothers of mine… are they my family?” Then he looked intently to the group that sat before him and with a sweeping motion of his right arm said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
The family is a sacred institution in every culture and it was sacred in Judaism. And here Jesus’ family hear him ask, “Who is my family?” And as they wait for him to point out through the door and say there is my mother and my brothers… he said, “Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Jesus redefined the meaning of family. He did not negate family in the sense of shared physical DNA and heritage and so on. What he did was expand the concept of family to include those with whom we share spiritual DNA.
• Family is about physical DNA which is shared by parents and their children and their children’s children.
• Family is also about spiritual DNA which is shared by all who are called children of God.
What can we learn from Jesus about our understanding of family?
It may seem crazy but Christians may actually feel a closer kinship with fellow believers who share the same love of God and desire to serve God and the same passion for others than they do for blood relatives who do not.
Conclusion
Perhaps it could be said that Jesus was certifiable or confused or demented or deranged or manic or schizo or of unsound mind or delusional. But it really doesn’t matter what anyone thought of Jesus at the time or even now. Jesus was simply living outside the comfort zones of some people. As a result, while he did not have any conflict with God or the general public, he did however have conflict with his family, the religious establishment and with Satan. Sadly his family thought he was out of his mind.
After Steve Jobs died an Apple commercial from the 90s went viral on YouTube. It was aired in 1997 and was an attempt to rebrand Apple products with the commercial tagline, “Think different.”
The commercial showed a collage of photographs and film footage of people who have invented and inspired and created and sacrificed to improve the world, make a difference. They showed Bob Dylan, Amelia Earhart, Frank Lloyd Wright, Maria Callas, Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King, Jr., Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, Mahatma Gandhi and on and on.
As the images rolled by, a voice read this poem:
“Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” (Apple Inc.)
By the grace of God and the leading of God’s Spirit: People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world by faithfully following and emulating Jesus, are the ones who do.”
