IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

People Misunderstood Jesus

Date: Feb. 11, 2022

Passage

Mark 3:20-35 (ESV)

20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

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.” 23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 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.

28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 3:35

For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus' popularity grew. Jesus was very busy serving the crowd day and night. In this passage, we see two groups of people with different intentions, but both groups misunderstand Jesus' ministry.

There were the teachers of the law. They intended to discredit Jesus' ministry, claiming Jesus was driving out demons by the power of the prince of demons. Jesus usually avoided arguments about his identity. People came to know him through the evidence shown to them. However, he pointed to their blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Jesus was saving people by bringing God's forgiveness to sinners (28). Speaking against the Holy Spirit was an offense against God (29).

On the other hand, Jesus' mother and brothers were concerned about Jesus since the crowd made him too busy to even eat. Instead of supporting his ministry, they wondered if he lost his mind. They came to take him home so he would eat and rest. It is hard to deal with misunderstandings from loved ones. Jesus says those who do God's will are his mother and brothers (35). We come to understand Jesus' heart as we try to live according to God's will.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, help me to know your heart and work to do your will.

One Word: One Word: Know God's will and live by it

Daily Bread

Repent of Compromise with the World

Revelation 2:12-29

Key Verse: 2:16

Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

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