Exodus 34-35/Mark 3:20-35
Tomorrow’s Reading: Exodus 36-38/Mark 4:1-20
Exodus - Moses comes down the mountain with the Ten Commandments
Mark - Jesus is accused of being possessed, even his family (Mary/brothers) come to Capernaum from Nazareth.. approx 30miles away -to say "He's out of his mind". Jesus corrects both groups. hehe
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Exodus
Setting: Still at Mt. Sinai – Israelites just created the golden calf, probably from ear-rings/jewels given to them when the left Egypt.
Moses creates a new set of tablets per God’s request – Moses pleads with God to continue to lead/stay with them, which He agrees. God gives Moses Ten Commandments on new tables and as he (Moses) comes down off the mountain, his face is radiant. The whole deal about covering his face with a veil, I had originally thought he was either embarrassed or didn’t want to frighten the Israelites – but NIV notes say ’so that the Israelites would not see the fading away of the radiance but would continue to honor Moses as the one who represented God’.
Chapter 35 is just a repeat of what God told Moses on the mountain – as Chris will say from time-to-time, “no big”.
Mark
Setting: Jesus has just named the 12 apostles; Simon (Peter), James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Thadaeus, Simon, and Judas.
Jesus enters into house of Peter/Andrew (brothers) to eat and crowds continue to follow. Then the teachers of the law claim Jesus is possessed by Beelzebub (the prince of demons – Greek form of Hebrew name for the ‘Lord of Flies’, ‘Lord of Dung’ (hahah) Baal-Zebub, a mockery of Baal-Zebul… meaning Exalted Baal). Jesus states ‘how can Satan drive out Satan’ – if Jesus is trying to drive out evil, he himself cannot be evil. I got hung up on vv31-34 – after researching a little, seems others did too. Jesus’ family arrived v21 saying ‘he is out of his mind’, they seemed to be concerned/object to his public display – embarrassed, perhaps (thoughts here?).
In v33, I don’t think Jesus is being disrespectful to his mother/family – I think, given the fact He was speaking to the crowds about ‘the way’ (thoughts? What do you think he was telling them), he had a captive audience/teaching opportunity – he demonstrates how God comes first, even above family.
Mary and Brothers Actions in Mark 3:21-35
Setting: Jesus has just named the 12 apostles; Simon (Peter), James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Thadaeus, Simon, and Judas. And shown in chapter 2 that He had authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:5) and as proof He also heals physical ailments (Mark 3:9-10) and even the demons acknowledge He is God (Mark 3:11).
Mark 3:20) Then He [Jesus] went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat.
Jesus enters into house of Peter and Andrew (brothers) to eat and crowds continue to follow because of He healing (Mark 3:9-10). Because Jesus is attracting crowds and speaking against them, the Pharisees and Herodians are plotting to kill Jesus (Mark 3:6). Jesus is trying to not let this get out of hand prematurely by telling those He heals not to tell anyone (Mark 3:12)
(Mark 3:21) And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, "He is out of his mind."
ex-is'-tay-mee—to put (stand) out of wits, that is, astound, or (reflexively) become astounded, insane: amaze, be (make) astonished, be beside self (selves), bewitch, wonder.
Jesus is accused of being possessed, even His family (identified later in Mark 3:31 as His mother Mary and brothers) come to Capernaum from Nazareth--approximately 30miles away—to say "He's out of his mind".
Jesus confirms that both His family and His enemies are accusing Him of being possessed by the devil, as we’ll see as the story unfolds.
(Mark 3:22) And the Scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "by the prince of demons he casts out the demons."
Then the teachers of the law claim Jesus is possessed by Beelzebub (the prince of demons—Greek form of Hebrew name for the ‘Lord of Flies’, ‘Lord of Dung.’ Baal-Zebub is a mockery of Baal-Zebul—meaning Exalted Baal).
(Mark 3:23-7) And He called them to Him and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.
Jesus calls for those Scribes who have made a long journey from Jerusalem to find fault with Jesus and try to blunt His popularity, and tells them that if He were from Satan then He would not be opposing Satan by casting out demons. If Jesus is trying to drive out evil, He Himself cannot be evil.
Jesus compares what He has been doing by driving out demons to a strong man (Jesus) who ties up the master of the house (Satan) and then plunders it (casts out Satan’s demons). Thus, Jesus is not possessed by Satan, but is LORD over Satan.
(Mark 3:28) “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"—for they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."
Jesus now makes clear to those who were accusing Him of being possessed by a demon—an unclean spirit—that He is in fact filled with the Holy Spirit and to blaspheme—blasphēmeō—to vilify; specifically to speak impiously: (speak) blaspheme, defame, rail on, revile, speak evil—against the Holy Spirit is to push Him away and condemn oneself to unforgiveness. This is true because it is only through the action of the Holy Spirit that one is given the faith that results in forgiveness of sins.
(Mark 3:31-5) And His mother and His brothers came, and standing outside they sent to Him and called Him. And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, "Your mother and Your brothers are outside, seeking You." And He answered them, "Who are My mother and My brothers?" And looking about at those who sat around Him, He said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God, He is my brother and sister and mother."
Jesus now ties the two events together. First by pointing out that those who have come to hear Him are His family by their faith. And second by making clear that His mother and brothers are outside God’s will—just as the Scribes were—in accusing Him of being possessed by an evil spirit.
From Jesus remark in Mark 3:28, it seems clear that Jesus is accusing both the Scribes and His family of being unbelievers by their actions.
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