Mark 3:31-35

Mark 3:31-35 

English Standard Version 

  This is such a hard verse for us to interpret in modern American life.  Our culture values friends as much as family, often moreso, and the community a person has is often one they've built.  In the first century, the family was multi-generational and far more rigidly defined -- family was everything.  For Jesus to be this inclusive of everyone was a radical departure, and it likely left some people with mouths agape as they tried to discern exactly what Jesus was saying.

  But what a gift it is to us -- no matter where we come from and how lost we may feel, we're welcomed into the family of God.  This isn't just any family -- it's the family currently comprised of the Creator of the Universe, God's Holy Spirit, and the Savior of the world.  

  I want to join that family -- and Jesus has arms open wide to let us in!

  Now imagine how we can change the world, every day, by taking that understanding out into the community and welcoming others into our church with the same radical spirit of inclusivity.

Mark 3:22-30

Mark 3:22-30 

English Standard Version 

  Sometimes, when you decide you don't like someone, you'll come up with any argument to put them in a bad light.  Every once in a while, you haven't thought it all the way through because you're angry, so you just say the first thing that comes to your mind and hope no one picks it apart.  Usually, we get away with this -- I feel like we're not a society that delves deeply into arguments anyway.  We tend to accept whatever is presented at face value, which is an entirely different problem for another day.  

  The Pharisees are doing this with Jesus -- they're mad at him, so they pick up whatever objection comes to mind first.

  Only Jesus has time to delve deeply into things.  He can pick apart the flaws in their logic.  He can ask hard questions.

  When we come to Jesus, we need to be prepared to think, to be challenged, to study, to learn.  Jesus asks much of us -- all of our hearts, minds, and bodies.  However we come, we are then challenged to build a foundation of faith, to grow, day by day, to learn.  Sometimes, it can be tough, and we want something easier, but Jesus is building us into people that will live forever.  Of course that's hard!  It's supposed to be!  

  So let us engage with all of heart, mind, and strength, and Jesus will build us up, not tear us down.  In our churches and communities, may we also be the kind of people that build one another up!

  

Mark 3:13-21

Mark 3:13-21 

English Standard Version 

  Jesus is the mentally strongest person who ever lived.  

  Even he needed a community to help him endure the trials he would face.  His family thought he was crazy, and much of the world around him was opposed to his mission and ministry.  He'd face constant opposition.  

  Thankfully, he had a group of people around him -- people of diverse backgrounds who brought different strengths to the group. They'd be together consistently throughout Jesus' ministry, and think of how much they learned in the way they relied upon one another.  I'm certain this became even more important after Jesus ascended into heaven and they had to lead the church on their own.

  May we each find such community.  Life is so hard to do on our own, and it can be incredibly challenging to sort out questions of faith without people to bounce these things off.  We should support and encourage one another, asking big questions and listening patiently as others explore the same questions we are asking.

Mark 3:7-12

Mark 3:7-12 

English Standard Version 

  One of the fascinating things about Mark's Gospel is that most people don't realize who Jesus is, but the unclean spirits and demons all know about him.  Jesus' identity is a mystery to many, despite the miraculous works he performs.

  When I think of our modern age, it doesn't seem that different.  People don't know who Jesus is.  They maybe think of him (if they think of him at all) as a nice teacher, but they don't believe that he has power and authority.  There's so much noise, so much to chase in this day and age, that we've lost touch with the spiritual world, relegated it to another time, choosing instead to believe in modernity and technology.  These things are fine, but they cannot save us, they cannot deliver us. They do a fine job of distracting us, but the core issues of loss and hurt and division are still there, no matter how much time we spend whistling past the graveyard.

  The demons get it.  They understand there is a far bigger world than this one, with greater powers at work.  They know, and they know who is in charge -- that's why they recognize and respect and fear Jesus.  

  May we keep perspective as well, and not get so caught up, so lost, in the day-to-day, that we miss the bigger picture.