WEBVTT 00:00:00.020 --> 00:00:03.060 Good morning. It's good to see you all. 00:00:07.020 --> 00:00:11.040 In our membership class here at Trinity, we make a statement about the Christian life. 00:00:11.259 --> 00:00:13.160 We say that believing is belonging. 00:00:13.660 --> 00:00:19.820 And what we mean in that context is that the Christian life isn't meant to be lived alone in isolation or solo, 00:00:19.960 --> 00:00:24.719 but that when we claim to believe in Jesus, we become a part of his family, the church. 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:32.739 The question that we're going to explore this morning related to that is a very real question for people, 00:00:32.879 --> 00:00:35.140 is does it matter what you believe? 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:39.619 There was a survey that came out just recently. 00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:48.379 The Lifeway Ligonier survey from 2022 discovered a striking reality about the state of belief in America. 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:52.879 So statement seven of this questionnaire read, 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:55.420 Jesus was a great teacher, but he was not God. 00:00:57.080 --> 00:01:03.580 53% of Americans agreed with this statement or strongly agreed with it, and 11% were not sure. 00:01:04.460 --> 00:01:09.659 But even more strikingly, inside the church, evangelicals and evangelicals, 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:13.879 and we need to define this these days, not people who self-affiliated as evangelicals, 00:01:14.620 --> 00:01:19.180 nor people who see themselves as a part of a political identity, 00:01:19.180 --> 00:01:23.720 but people who strongly believed the Bible is the highest authority, 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:29.560 believed the importance of encouraging non-Christians to trust Jesus as their Savior, 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:32.880 who believed that Jesus' death removed the penalty of sin, 00:01:32.940 --> 00:01:36.000 and believed that trust in Jesus alone brings salvation. 00:01:36.460 --> 00:01:39.180 So people who assented to those four statements, 00:01:40.520 --> 00:01:46.880 43 of them strongly agreed or agreed that Jesus was a great teacher but was not God. 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:55.099 That's two-thirds of Americans and over two-fifths of people in Bible-preaching churches 00:01:55.099 --> 00:01:59.199 who believe something very different than the historic teaching. 00:02:01.259 --> 00:02:03.099 Now, some of you may be wondering, 00:02:03.259 --> 00:02:04.939 okay, but is this really a big deal? 00:02:05.219 --> 00:02:06.379 You're not alone in that, 00:02:06.620 --> 00:02:08.800 because this survey also asked the question, 00:02:09.359 --> 00:02:12.099 what do you think about this statement? 00:02:12.099 --> 00:02:14.699 Religious belief is a matter of personal opinion. 00:02:14.900 --> 00:02:17.000 It's not about objective truth. 00:02:18.259 --> 00:02:21.979 Sixty percent of Americans agreed with that statement, 00:02:22.379 --> 00:02:25.879 and 37 percent of those in the church, 00:02:26.819 --> 00:02:27.960 the evangelical church, 00:02:28.579 --> 00:02:31.560 also agreed or strongly agreed with that statement. 00:02:32.859 --> 00:02:33.919 It's a survey. 00:02:34.259 --> 00:02:35.079 Surveys are imperfect, 00:02:35.080 --> 00:02:40.920 but it's indicative that the question of whether it matters what you believe 00:02:40.920 --> 00:02:44.480 is a very real one in our world today. 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:47.760 And as we're continuing in our series in the book of Mark, 00:02:47.880 --> 00:02:51.020 we're coming to a passage where Jesus has a response to that. 00:02:51.920 --> 00:02:54.180 And unsurprisingly, maybe, in this church, 00:02:54.600 --> 00:02:55.740 Jesus does care. 00:02:56.160 --> 00:02:58.260 He does care what we think about him. 00:02:58.259 --> 00:03:01.719 And the stakes are actually pretty high about it. 00:03:01.859 --> 00:03:05.399 In this passage, he's going to make claims about himself, 00:03:05.519 --> 00:03:09.579 and he's going to tell us how important it is for us to receive them. 00:03:09.659 --> 00:03:11.819 So that's what we're going to look at this morning. 00:03:12.359 --> 00:03:14.359 We're in Mark chapter 3. 00:03:14.819 --> 00:03:17.599 If you're visiting, we preach through books of the Bible. 00:03:17.799 --> 00:03:19.899 We're preaching through the gospel of Mark. 00:03:20.459 --> 00:03:24.039 And we're going to be in chapter 3, starting in verse 20. 00:03:24.919 --> 00:03:25.719 Can we know? 00:03:25.879 --> 00:03:27.539 Does someone have a page number, Tom? 00:03:28.259 --> 00:03:28.699 787. 00:03:29.099 --> 00:03:29.739 787. 00:03:30.299 --> 00:03:32.599 If you're using a pew Bible, 787. 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:36.340 We're going to be looking at Mark 3, starting in verse 20, 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:39.479 and going through verse 35. 00:03:40.679 --> 00:03:43.219 So with that, let's go ahead and pray together. 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:47.680 Starting in verse 20, I'll explain why we start there in just a minute. 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:50.659 But verse 20. 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:52.139 Then he, that is Jesus, 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:56.799 then he went home, and the crowds gathered again so that they could not even eat. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:01.500 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, 00:04:01.640 --> 00:04:02.700 he's out of his mind. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:06.719 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, 00:04:07.180 --> 00:04:08.860 he is possessed by Beelzebub. 00:04:08.860 --> 00:04:12.600 And by the prince of demons, he cast out the demons. 00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:17.280 And he called them to him, and he said to them in parables, 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:20.519 how can Satan cast out Satan? 00:04:21.119 --> 00:04:25.519 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 00:04:25.779 --> 00:04:30.219 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 00:04:30.500 --> 00:04:34.279 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, 00:04:34.359 --> 00:04:38.019 but is condemned to, or is coming to an end. 00:04:38.019 --> 00:04:42.699 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, 00:04:42.859 --> 00:04:44.979 unless he first binds the strong man. 00:04:45.359 --> 00:04:48.719 Then indeed he may plunder his house. 00:04:49.819 --> 00:04:53.240 Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.560 The children of men and whatever blasphemies they utter, 00:04:58.519 --> 00:05:02.519 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, 00:05:02.699 --> 00:05:05.240 but is guilty of an eternal sin. 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:09.180 For they had said, he has an unclean spirit. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:14.199 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:16.939 they sent to him and called to him, and called him. 00:05:17.400 --> 00:05:20.040 And the crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:23.319 your mother and your brothers are outside seeking you. 00:05:24.100 --> 00:05:27.439 And he answered them, who are my mother and my brothers? 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:31.660 And looking around at those who sat around him, he said, 00:05:31.660 --> 00:05:33.920 here are my mother and my brothers. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:39.319 Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother. 00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:42.939 Let's pray and ask for God's help to understand his word. 00:05:43.699 --> 00:05:46.379 Lord, we do pray this morning that by your Spirit, 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:50.819 you would open our eyes to see and our minds to understand 00:05:50.819 --> 00:05:54.759 and our hearts to believe and to treasure, 00:05:55.259 --> 00:05:57.800 Lord, the truth about you this morning. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:05:59.660 Lord, I pray for your help. 00:06:00.100 --> 00:06:02.100 You would help me to speak as I ought. 00:06:02.100 --> 00:06:06.120 Lord, and that we together would sit under your word this morning. 00:06:06.360 --> 00:06:07.760 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:06:08.620 --> 00:06:09.000 Amen. 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:16.280 So this story is going to come to us in three movements, 00:06:16.780 --> 00:06:19.160 and the structure of it is kind of like a sandwich. 00:06:19.520 --> 00:06:21.340 There's a slice of bread, then there's a meat, 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:22.920 and then there's another slice of bread. 00:06:23.280 --> 00:06:26.580 And the bread isn't insignificant, but it shapes it. 00:06:26.579 --> 00:06:28.680 And this is why we're actually starting in verse 20, 00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:31.639 because verse 20 is the beginning of a narrative 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:35.039 about the family of Jesus interacting with him. 00:06:35.099 --> 00:06:38.060 You see it in 20, and then you see it come back to it in 31. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:40.479 And this is why we started in verse 20 00:06:40.479 --> 00:06:43.399 and didn't attach that to the end of the last passage. 00:06:44.139 --> 00:06:46.759 And the sandwich is, the first one is, 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:49.560 what do people around Jesus think of him? 00:06:50.019 --> 00:06:51.379 That's the first slice of bread. 00:06:51.379 --> 00:06:55.180 And then in the middle, how does Jesus respond to their perspectives? 00:06:55.779 --> 00:07:00.639 And then finally, what does this mean for belonging to the people of God? 00:07:01.399 --> 00:07:04.560 So that's our sandwich that we're going to be looking at this morning. 00:07:05.740 --> 00:07:09.100 And we're going to look through it in these three sections, 00:07:09.459 --> 00:07:11.279 the beliefs about Jesus exposed, 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:14.060 Jesus' response and clarification of who he is, 00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:19.540 and then the implications for who can be part of the people of God. 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:22.780 So, this may not be intuitive. 00:07:23.080 --> 00:07:26.060 This passage doesn't hang together, obviously, as you read it. 00:07:26.300 --> 00:07:30.080 But I hope that you will see that I think there's a thread that draws it together 00:07:30.080 --> 00:07:33.200 and that Mark actually created this narrative as a whole 00:07:33.200 --> 00:07:35.759 for us to see the point that he's making, 00:07:36.320 --> 00:07:39.020 the points that we're going to see this morning. 00:07:39.259 --> 00:07:41.240 So, starting in verse 20, 00:07:41.520 --> 00:07:44.320 what do the people about Jesus think of him? 00:07:44.400 --> 00:07:46.580 And remember just where we are in the book of Mark. 00:07:46.660 --> 00:07:48.800 Before we answer that question, remember where we are. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:50.860 Jesus has come in chapter 1. 00:07:50.960 --> 00:07:52.500 He's proclaiming the kingdom of God, 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:55.660 and he's living it out by teaching and preaching 00:07:55.660 --> 00:07:58.460 and healing and casting out demons. 00:07:58.460 --> 00:08:00.920 So, he's doing things to help people, 00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:04.639 showing a foretaste of the nature of the kingdom, 00:08:04.960 --> 00:08:07.560 overcoming the fall and the curse, 00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:10.019 as he's teaching and proclaiming the truth 00:08:10.019 --> 00:08:12.580 about God and his kingdom and his salvation that's coming. 00:08:12.900 --> 00:08:16.439 And this is what we've seen throughout the first couple of chapters. 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:19.100 And what we just saw, if you were here last week, 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:23.480 is that Pastor Nick talked about the calling of the disciples. 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:30.220 That is, Jesus calling a group of men to be representative of the new people of God. 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:31.860 And we looked at what that meant. 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:35.139 And so, the theme of the question, 00:08:35.580 --> 00:08:37.659 how do you be a part of the people of God, 00:08:38.019 --> 00:08:40.259 flows from the passage we've just read. 00:08:40.259 --> 00:08:41.379 All right? 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:42.600 So, that's context. 00:08:43.059 --> 00:08:44.519 Now, verses 20 through 22, 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:46.500 what do the people around him think? 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:47.379 Right? 00:08:47.580 --> 00:08:52.419 There are two groups that we see in verses 20 through 22. 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:54.139 The first one is his family. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:54.740 Right? 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:56.480 And literally, if you look at it, 00:08:56.519 --> 00:08:58.240 it might be a text note in your, 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:01.500 is that it didn't literally use the word family. 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:03.460 It said those who were close to him. 00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:05.279 This was his inner circle. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:07.059 It certainly would include his family, 00:09:07.179 --> 00:09:10.419 but it might have also included his close friends, 00:09:11.419 --> 00:09:12.519 those who knew him, 00:09:12.919 --> 00:09:14.339 not as a public figure, 00:09:14.659 --> 00:09:16.579 but someone who had broken bread with him, 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:17.679 eaten with him, 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:21.079 and knew him more intimately. 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:23.360 And they're looking at the crowds. 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:25.659 They're looking at this thing that's getting, 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:26.799 in their minds, 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:28.079 out of control, 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:31.159 as the crowds are gathering so much 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:33.639 that Jesus and his disciples can't even eat. 00:09:34.419 --> 00:09:34.579 Right? 00:09:34.580 --> 00:09:36.660 And so they see this big thing, 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:39.460 and they think he is out of his mind. 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:41.740 In fact, if you look at verse 20, 00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:44.120 or verse 21, 00:09:44.259 --> 00:09:46.259 it says they went out to seize him. 00:09:46.940 --> 00:09:47.620 That is, 00:09:48.420 --> 00:09:50.220 Jesus has jumped the shark. 00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:52.460 He has lost his way, 00:09:52.680 --> 00:09:57.080 and we need to go and rescue him from this. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:00.600 We need to pull him out of this delusion 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:02.020 or this mass movement 00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:03.899 that to them said, 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:06.340 this is unreasonable and unhealthy. 00:10:06.899 --> 00:10:09.199 Jesus perhaps seems to be deluded, 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:12.240 and they're going to rescue him from himself. 00:10:12.740 --> 00:10:13.740 So that's the first group. 00:10:13.819 --> 00:10:15.699 And then the second group are the scribes. 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:16.299 Remember, 00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:17.740 these are teachers of the law, 00:10:18.199 --> 00:10:21.120 those who pronounce both legal and moral judgment 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.980 for the people of God 00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:26.480 in the nation of Israel. 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:28.960 And they had come down from Jerusalem. 00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:31.560 They had actually gone to the place 00:10:31.560 --> 00:10:33.580 where Jesus was ministering in the north 00:10:33.580 --> 00:10:35.820 in order to make a judgment 00:10:35.820 --> 00:10:37.800 about who Jesus is. 00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:40.060 And what they saw was 00:10:40.060 --> 00:10:42.180 a man who clearly had power, 00:10:42.820 --> 00:10:44.800 a man who clearly had popularity, 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:47.219 but a man who had no regard 00:10:47.219 --> 00:10:48.339 for their traditions 00:10:48.339 --> 00:10:50.439 or their current understanding 00:10:50.439 --> 00:10:52.959 of what it meant to honor God 00:10:52.959 --> 00:10:54.979 because he was not fasting 00:10:54.979 --> 00:10:56.099 the way he should have been. 00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:57.699 He was breaking the Sabbath, 00:10:58.019 --> 00:11:01.120 as we've seen in these past couple of weeks. 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:04.120 He was doing all the religious stuff wrong 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:06.519 as he was embodying the kingdom of God. 00:11:07.179 --> 00:11:07.679 And they thought, 00:11:07.819 --> 00:11:09.679 how do we judge this? 00:11:09.859 --> 00:11:11.199 There's only one thing. 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:13.340 With all the power that he has, 00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:14.960 it can't be from God 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:16.800 because he's clearly disobeying God. 00:11:16.800 --> 00:11:20.420 So he must be empowered by Satan. 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:23.220 There must be a demonic power in him. 00:11:23.280 --> 00:11:24.800 He's possessed by a spirit. 00:11:25.740 --> 00:11:29.020 He is being controlled by the, 00:11:29.220 --> 00:11:31.480 if you look at verse 22, right? 00:11:31.540 --> 00:11:34.080 The prince of demons is his power. 00:11:36.920 --> 00:11:39.900 And Baal's a bull, by the way, 00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:42.480 could be described as someone 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:43.840 who is the master of the house. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:44.539 And this is helpful 00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:46.220 because Jesus picks up this imagery. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:48.159 They're accusing him of saying, 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:51.500 he is, look at verse 22 again. 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:54.600 He's possessed by the master of the house, right? 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:57.199 He's possessed by this one 00:11:57.199 --> 00:11:59.439 who has control over this house. 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:01.379 And Jesus is gonna pick up that image later 00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:03.639 and do something beautiful with it. 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:06.379 So what we see is two groups, 00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:08.120 one coming in from the outside, 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:10.440 one who knows Jesus intimately 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:14.340 and both of them do not see him rightly. 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:16.840 Now before we move on, 00:12:17.139 --> 00:12:18.840 let's stop and think for a minute. 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:23.279 How much are we like these people? 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:26.940 I think regarding his family, 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:30.379 for those of us who have grown up in church, 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:32.419 for those of us who've grown up 00:12:32.419 --> 00:12:34.299 in Christendom of various forms, 00:12:34.299 --> 00:12:38.399 for those of us for whom some knowledge of Jesus 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:41.419 has been part of our life the whole time, 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:46.459 how easy is it for us to be inoculated 00:12:46.459 --> 00:12:48.219 against the true Jesus 00:12:48.219 --> 00:12:52.699 by a shallow understanding of who he is? 00:12:53.179 --> 00:12:55.179 Maybe some of you have a view of Jesus 00:12:55.179 --> 00:12:56.459 that is flannel boards 00:12:56.459 --> 00:12:58.879 from your childhood growing up. 00:12:58.979 --> 00:13:01.120 Some of you don't even know what a flannel board is. 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:05.440 It's a way of teaching children about Bible stories. 00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:07.480 And when done well, 00:13:07.580 --> 00:13:09.159 it can be a lovely visual. 00:13:09.659 --> 00:13:11.419 But in many places, 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:14.060 Jesus becomes a two-dimensional felt figure. 00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:19.299 And it's easy for us to see Jesus in these ways. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:21.879 And one of the things that we have seen 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:23.360 in the last five, ten years 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:26.340 within the conservative church movement 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:31.080 is that that felt Jesus doesn't match up 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:33.019 to the realities of the world. 00:13:33.680 --> 00:13:38.180 And when we face racism and social unrest, 00:13:38.180 --> 00:13:41.080 when we face abuse within the church, 00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:44.960 when we face great evils and wrongs in the world, 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:49.480 that felt Jesus seems like a great disappointment at best 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:51.580 and a fraud at worst. 00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:57.060 And we see Jesus as insufficient for the world. 00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:59.040 And we dismiss him. 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:00.360 And people say, 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:01.680 well, just trust in Jesus. 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:04.900 And look, that can be said flippantly. 00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:07.680 But people who say that are dismissed. 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:08.780 You're out of your mind. 00:14:09.420 --> 00:14:10.860 That's way too simplistic. 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:15.180 We even sometimes feel the need 00:14:15.180 --> 00:14:17.879 in this moment of disillusionment and disappointment 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:18.980 to rescue Jesus, 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:22.120 to rescue Jesus from this kind of, 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:25.419 from the Bible, 00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:27.539 because, well, it can't be that, 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:30.860 because that thing that I learned was too shallow. 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:36.019 And so, for those of us who are in the church, 00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:37.220 who've grown up in the church, 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:38.680 there's a danger, isn't there? 00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:43.739 There's a danger that we might misunderstand Jesus 00:14:43.739 --> 00:14:46.120 and start saying things like, 00:14:46.199 --> 00:14:47.519 well, Jesus can't be X, 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:49.139 because that doesn't fit. 00:14:50.319 --> 00:14:53.879 And we need to recognize how much this pressure is increasing 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:57.679 as we live in a world that is increasingly divergent 00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:02.239 in its social practices from faithful Christianity. 00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:05.299 It's going to be a lot easier to say, 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:07.019 Jesus can't be X, 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:09.120 because the world will say, 00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:10.240 that's not good. 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:13.220 And we have to continue to go back to the Bible 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:18.120 to overcome our familiarity with Jesus, 00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:20.319 to see him as he truly is. 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.679 Now, what about the scribes? 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:26.939 Well, we could talk for a long time, 00:15:27.199 --> 00:15:28.879 but in the 20th century, 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:33.720 there has been not a new movement, 00:15:33.939 --> 00:15:36.100 but a strong movement in the last, 00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:38.299 I don't know, 150 years at least, 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:42.320 within the church leadership broadly. 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:44.939 And by church, I'm thinking Protestant church, 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.039 but I'm thinking broadly. 00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:52.120 A movement to make Jesus more human and less divine. 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:58.019 A desire to diminish his miraculous characteristics. 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:00.580 A desire to say, 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:04.860 Jesus couldn't be supernatural in the ways that the Bible describes him. 00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:06.779 And so we dismiss his miracles. 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:09.539 We deny that he rose from the dead. 00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:14.480 Instead, we call him a good teacher, 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:16.699 an exemplary man, 00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:20.279 but no longer is he the Son of God come in power 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:23.879 to live and die and to rise again to rescue people. 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:27.919 So it strikes me that these are two of the ways 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:31.600 in which our world today is like the first century. 00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:36.939 We need to be aware of how easily we might be drawn in 00:16:36.939 --> 00:16:38.080 to these perspectives. 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:42.919 Because Jesus says something very different about himself 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:44.559 than these views of him. 00:16:44.939 --> 00:16:47.600 So let's go on to verse 23 through 30 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:50.059 and see how Jesus responds to their perspectives. 00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:51.100 Right? 00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:54.000 He addresses the scribes' concern first. 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:57.340 In verse 23, he says, 00:16:58.560 --> 00:17:01.240 he calls them together and he speaks to them. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:01.779 Right? 00:17:02.060 --> 00:17:03.920 And he starts with a logical argument. 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:06.839 What you are accusing me of makes no sense. 00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:11.059 You say, I am empowered by Satan or by demonic powers 00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:13.120 and I'm casting out demonic powers. 00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:15.620 And he just says, that doesn't make any sense. 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:18.140 Why would Satan cast out Satan? 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:20.620 If demons are fighting against demons, 00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:22.479 you should be rejoicing, not accusing. 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:23.219 Right? 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:24.979 This is not a bad thing in the world 00:17:24.979 --> 00:17:27.439 because a house divided cannot stand. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:27.819 Right? 00:17:28.139 --> 00:17:30.939 A kingdom that's fighting against itself will fail. 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:36.459 And so Jesus is saying, 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:38.259 what you're saying is really nonsensical. 00:17:38.719 --> 00:17:39.359 It doesn't... 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:41.739 So he just exposes the foolishness 00:17:41.739 --> 00:17:44.139 and the hard-heartedness of the scribes 00:17:44.139 --> 00:17:45.019 as he does this. 00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:47.879 But then he moves on to the parable in verse 27, 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:50.900 which I think is where he picks up this idea 00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:52.740 of Beelzebul being the master of the house. 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:53.000 Right? 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:54.400 Look with me in verse 27. 00:17:54.879 --> 00:17:56.759 No one can enter a strong man's house 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.779 and plunder his goods 00:17:57.779 --> 00:18:00.379 unless he first binds the strong man. 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:02.240 Then indeed he may plunder his house. 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:02.980 Right? 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.740 This is a parable. 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:04.759 What is he saying? 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:06.839 He's saying, look... 00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:09.400 And let me just expose. 00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:13.039 Plunder to us has a very negative connotation. 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:17.000 But here, Jesus is using it 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:19.200 in ultimately a positive sense. 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.399 What he's saying is, 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:22.799 if you go in to a strong man's house, right? 00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:25.019 If you go into the mafia boss's house, 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:27.139 you've got to get the mafia boss 00:18:27.139 --> 00:18:28.599 before you can get his goods. 00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:29.339 Right? 00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:30.619 If you try to get his goods, 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:32.480 the mafia boss is going to come after you. 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.740 And if you're not stronger than him, 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.819 you're going to lose it all. 00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.899 So Jesus is saying, 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:41.740 if I'm coming and plundering the house, 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:43.599 that is, the people who are under 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:45.220 the possession of demons, 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:48.240 if I am freeing them from that, 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:51.180 then I have already, 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:54.120 or I have the power to overcome 00:18:54.120 --> 00:18:57.579 the strong man who controls the house. 00:18:58.319 --> 00:18:59.319 Jesus is saying, 00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:01.140 I am the stronger man 00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:03.740 than the one who is controlling these people. 00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.960 And when I bind him, 00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:07.880 then I have the power 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:10.440 to free all of these, 00:19:10.540 --> 00:19:12.200 to rescue them from darkness, 00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:15.040 bringing freedom and healing and wholeness 00:19:15.040 --> 00:19:16.480 to those that, 00:19:16.780 --> 00:19:18.300 and just like you've seen it. 00:19:19.540 --> 00:19:21.280 It's a massive claim. 00:19:21.520 --> 00:19:22.140 Jesus says, 00:19:22.300 --> 00:19:24.140 I have greater power than Satan. 00:19:27.260 --> 00:19:28.720 And he then goes on 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:30.740 in verses 28 and 29, 00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:32.200 and you think, 00:19:32.320 --> 00:19:34.020 okay, what is the connection here? 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:37.379 How did we just get to the unforgivable sin from this? 00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:40.099 But you see the flow of thought, right? 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.359 Jesus is saying, 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:43.779 look, sins are forgivable, 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:44.940 even blasphemy. 00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:46.759 And blasphemy is defined as speaking, 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:47.960 claiming something, 00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:50.480 something from God 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.940 to come from another source, 00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:53.759 or cursing or reviling God. 00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:56.019 These would be broad definitions of blasphemy. 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.500 And Jesus says, 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:01.519 even blasphemy can be forgiven, right? 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.539 A moment of, 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:04.160 a statement of wrongdoing, 00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:05.420 a statement out of, 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:08.859 out of lack of knowledge or ignorance, 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:12.180 a statement that is said at one point in life. 00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:14.480 All of these things can be forgiven, 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.599 but, 00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:17.000 verse 29, 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:18.400 right? 00:20:19.139 --> 00:20:21.279 Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:23.460 This is unforgivable. 00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:24.980 Now look, 00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:26.160 in the Gospel of Mark, 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:29.079 we need to see what Mark has said 00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:30.400 about the Holy Spirit. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:32.880 The Holy Spirit has shown up primarily 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:34.200 in the first chapter. 00:20:34.600 --> 00:20:35.640 And do you remember what happened 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:36.500 in the first chapter? 00:20:37.080 --> 00:20:38.580 Jesus went out to John, 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:40.960 as John the Baptist was baptizing 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.540 in the wilderness. 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:43.680 And as Jesus baptized, 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:45.440 or as John baptized Jesus, 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:47.080 as he came up out of the water, 00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:48.160 what happened? 00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:51.320 He saw the Holy Spirit descending on him, 00:20:51.780 --> 00:20:53.500 and he heard a voice from heaven saying, 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.740 this is my son, 00:20:55.080 --> 00:20:56.340 in whom I'm well pleased. 00:20:56.339 --> 00:20:57.899 The Holy Spirit, 00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.019 in Mark, 00:20:59.099 --> 00:20:59.720 right here, 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:01.039 in its immediate context, 00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:04.500 has the role of affirming Jesus' deity, 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:06.099 his godness, 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:10.459 and God's affirmation that this is the one 00:21:10.459 --> 00:21:12.419 that God has sent to bring his kingdom. 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:16.500 So when Mark says blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, 00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:18.519 when Jesus says blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.439 he is saying, 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:21.740 when you deny this thing, 00:21:22.100 --> 00:21:24.400 the Holy Spirit's affirmation of Jesus, 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:26.980 this is the unforgivable sin. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:28.759 And again, 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:31.259 maybe some of you grew up in homes 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:33.240 where that was your perspective, 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.960 but now it's not. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.640 Jesus, again, 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.500 is not saying, 00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:39.320 if you ever said this once, 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:41.320 the unforgivable sin is not, 00:21:41.620 --> 00:21:43.400 I said the magic words wrong, 00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:45.140 and now I'm condemned forever. 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.660 Nor is it, 00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:47.360 by the way, 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:51.139 I did the one sin that our culture thinks is beyond the pale. 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:52.139 I drove a Prius, 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:55.199 but I didn't get the hybrid, 00:21:55.699 --> 00:21:56.479 or whatever, 00:21:56.699 --> 00:21:56.979 you know. 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.399 I mean, 00:21:57.459 --> 00:21:59.339 we can laugh and choose whatever, 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.039 you know, 00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:04.279 but there are some of you who may be fearing, 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.759 I've committed the unforgivable sin. 00:22:06.899 --> 00:22:08.839 I've done something so bad 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:11.639 that Jesus can't forgive me of those things. 00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:13.899 That is not what this passage is about. 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:16.039 This passage is about the verb tense, 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:16.539 it's actually, 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.879 those who blaspheme, 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:20.720 those who have a fixed opinion 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.960 that says, 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:24.059 Jesus is not God, 00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:26.779 and his power comes from somewhere else, 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.139 not from God. 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:30.700 This is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:32.500 that is an unforgivable sin, 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:33.339 right? 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:36.180 When we don't believe who Jesus is 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:37.599 as he's revealed in the scriptures, 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:39.980 when we deny his kingdom power, 00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:43.720 when we say he did not raise from the dead, 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.460 right? 00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:47.200 This is the denial of Christ 00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:49.240 that is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:51.600 and the Holy Spirit's attestation 00:22:51.600 --> 00:22:53.400 of who Jesus is. 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:57.100 And Jesus says 00:22:57.100 --> 00:22:58.920 that if this is your opinion, 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:00.799 if this is your perspective, 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.759 as he was accusing, 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:05.660 he was responding to the scribes 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:07.019 and he was revealing to them, 00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:07.579 said, 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.619 then you are lost 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:10.960 and there is no forgiveness for you 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:13.119 and there is an eternal judgment 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:14.399 against you 00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:15.619 that awaits. 00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:18.099 Now look, 00:23:18.199 --> 00:23:19.279 even in this moment, 00:23:19.379 --> 00:23:20.939 we see in the breadth of scripture, 00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:23.079 if that scribe had said, 00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.279 oh my gosh, 00:23:24.399 --> 00:23:25.059 you're right, 00:23:25.939 --> 00:23:27.819 and had gotten down on his knees 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.240 and said, 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:29.279 forgive me Jesus, 00:23:29.439 --> 00:23:30.240 I was wrong, 00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:32.579 Jesus would have responded to that, 00:23:32.919 --> 00:23:33.179 right? 00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:34.700 Because that would be shown 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.840 that the fixed opinion 00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:37.660 wasn't as fixed as it looked. 00:23:38.140 --> 00:23:38.480 And so, 00:23:38.600 --> 00:23:40.940 so there is always a turn of repentance, 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:43.140 but there is a great warning here. 00:23:43.600 --> 00:23:45.000 There is a great warning 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:47.840 that the consequences 00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:49.519 of rejecting Christ 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.620 in these ways 00:23:50.620 --> 00:23:51.980 are dire 00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:53.799 and significant. 00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:58.940 Again, 00:23:59.000 --> 00:23:59.940 before we go on, 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:02.860 how easily do we deny the power 00:24:02.860 --> 00:24:05.140 and the person of Christ 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:06.360 in our lives? 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:11.580 How easily we can deny 00:24:11.580 --> 00:24:13.519 that he's able to transform 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.920 the hardened skeptic 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:17.120 at our workplace 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:19.960 or a family member 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:23.059 who seems to hate church and Christ? 00:24:25.360 --> 00:24:27.120 How easily do we deny 00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:28.660 that Jesus can help us 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:30.200 to be free 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.500 from sexual sin 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.519 or addictions 00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:34.340 and bring wholeness, 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:37.040 can restore broken relationships, 00:24:37.540 --> 00:24:38.680 can bring justice 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:40.040 to a broken world? 00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:42.460 How easily do we deny 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:43.220 that Jesus 00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:44.940 has the power 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:45.680 to do 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:48.040 everything that he claimed to do? 00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:51.720 How quickly do we abandon him 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.180 and look 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:54.000 to our own devices, 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.460 our own strategies 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:56.259 to bring about 00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:57.200 the kingdom of God 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:58.740 rather than looking to him 00:24:58.740 --> 00:25:00.200 and trusting him 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:01.940 to bring his power 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:02.740 and his kingdom 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:04.200 in his time 00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:05.200 to our world? 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.620 Jesus says, 00:25:07.840 --> 00:25:08.220 look at me. 00:25:09.840 --> 00:25:11.140 Look at who I am, 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.480 what I've done 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.539 in my life, 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.740 in my death, 00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:16.279 in my resurrection. 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.480 Look at the cross 00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.220 and the tomb 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:20.319 and know that I have overcome 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:22.080 sin and death 00:25:22.080 --> 00:25:22.880 and Satan. 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.400 Look at me 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:25.300 and believe. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:32.040 Jesus then goes on 00:25:32.040 --> 00:25:33.100 and he says, 00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:34.680 do you see how important this is? 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:37.160 Because the way you respond 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:38.259 to this challenge, 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.519 to this clarification 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:40.640 of who I am, 00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:41.720 this 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:43.940 will define 00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:45.019 whether you're actually 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.960 truly a part 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:47.420 of the people of God 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:48.160 or not. 00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:49.380 This is what he does 00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:51.280 in verses 31 through 35. 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.940 This is why the sandwich 00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:53.700 is important 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:55.059 because this transition 00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:56.420 from 30 to 31 00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:58.440 looks really random, 00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.059 right? 00:25:59.359 --> 00:25:59.779 It's like, 00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.059 okay, 00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:01.000 what happened here? 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:01.259 Like, 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:02.500 is this a new section? 00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:03.639 It's not a new section. 00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:04.940 It's the end of the story. 00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:06.700 It started with those close 00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.539 to him at the beginning 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:09.079 and now it's closing up 00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:10.259 with them in the end, 00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:10.819 right? 00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:14.160 Jesus has already, 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:16.319 and the narrative picks up. 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:17.319 Mark sort of picks up 00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:17.660 the narrative, 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:18.279 right? 00:26:18.379 --> 00:26:19.740 The crowd is mobbing. 00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.940 His family shows up. 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.160 They can't even get to him, 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.139 right? 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:24.519 We've seen this before. 00:26:24.619 --> 00:26:26.019 The crowds are so big 00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:28.000 that people can't get to Jesus, 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:28.980 right? 00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:30.559 And Mark is using this also 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:32.200 in a beautiful narrative way. 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:32.619 He's saying, 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.799 his family is in the outside, 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:37.079 not in the inner circle, 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.379 but they're on the outside 00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:39.779 right now looking in. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:41.019 And they come 00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:42.220 and they call to him. 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.639 And again, 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:44.359 remember what their intent was. 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:45.079 They're going to come 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:46.099 and rescue Jesus 00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:47.480 from his delusion, 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:50.359 rescue him from this mob 00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:52.459 as they see it 00:26:52.459 --> 00:26:54.039 so that they can 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:55.719 seek him 00:26:55.719 --> 00:26:57.039 to take him away 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:58.279 from them. 00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.779 And the call 00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.980 from his family 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.740 and particularly 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.379 his mother 00:27:02.379 --> 00:27:03.279 would have been 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:04.339 a very strong 00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:05.359 cultural call. 00:27:05.619 --> 00:27:05.919 I don't know 00:27:05.919 --> 00:27:06.559 what kind of culture 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.299 you grew up in, 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:09.019 but in first century 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.699 Jewish culture, 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:11.939 if your mom called, 00:27:12.439 --> 00:27:13.199 you responded, 00:27:13.879 --> 00:27:14.099 right? 00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:14.699 You didn't say, 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:16.179 I'll be there sometime 00:27:16.179 --> 00:27:17.559 or yeah, yeah, 00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:19.459 next week I'll get back to you. 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:21.939 It was an important thing culturally. 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:24.740 But Jesus doesn't respond. 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:27.240 Jesus does not respond 00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.859 to the psalmons 00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:28.159 and say, 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:28.480 hey, 00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:29.919 bring my family in 00:27:29.919 --> 00:27:30.399 or hey, 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.199 I'm going to go out 00:27:31.199 --> 00:27:32.059 to my family now 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.959 because they're here. 00:27:33.439 --> 00:27:34.279 But what he does 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.079 is he takes this 00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:36.339 as an opportunity. 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:38.559 And in verse 34 and 35, 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.079 he says, 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.639 this is my family. 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:42.860 These are the people of God, 00:27:43.860 --> 00:27:44.160 right? 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:46.759 Not my biological family 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.880 with whom I shared, 00:27:48.340 --> 00:27:49.120 you know, 00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:50.080 a genetic pool, 00:27:50.860 --> 00:27:51.180 right? 00:27:51.620 --> 00:27:53.520 But who is the real people, 00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.060 right? 00:27:55.360 --> 00:27:56.680 My family is those 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:58.000 who do the will of God. 00:27:59.140 --> 00:27:59.860 And recognize 00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:00.960 how much of a challenge 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.340 this was, 00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:02.680 not only to his own family, 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:04.360 but also to the scribes. 00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:06.020 Because the Jewish people 00:28:06.020 --> 00:28:07.420 identified themselves 00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:08.580 as God's people 00:28:08.580 --> 00:28:09.900 as a family. 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:11.420 They were the descendants 00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:12.240 of Abraham, 00:28:12.620 --> 00:28:13.280 for heaven's sake. 00:28:13.360 --> 00:28:14.259 They were all a part 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:15.560 of one family, 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:17.040 one genetic stock, 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.040 right? 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.160 And this was part 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:20.380 of their ID badge. 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:21.220 I am Jewish 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.280 because I am descended 00:28:22.280 --> 00:28:23.420 from Abraham. 00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:26.480 And Jesus says, 00:28:27.320 --> 00:28:28.019 the new kingdom 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.740 comes with a new family. 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.560 And the family 00:28:31.560 --> 00:28:32.259 is defined 00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.500 not by those 00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.500 old identities, 00:28:35.300 --> 00:28:36.980 but by something 00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.860 even greater. 00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:40.519 is a question 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.299 of whether, 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.759 of how you respond 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.240 to me. 00:28:43.419 --> 00:28:44.879 Because when Jesus says, 00:28:45.439 --> 00:28:46.039 it is those 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:47.259 who do my will 00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:48.279 who are my mothers 00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:49.039 and brothers 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.819 and sisters. 00:28:50.379 --> 00:28:51.759 Remember what we've seen. 00:28:51.919 --> 00:28:52.219 What is, 00:28:52.419 --> 00:28:54.199 what is the greatest thing 00:28:54.199 --> 00:28:55.459 that Jesus is saying 00:28:55.459 --> 00:28:56.159 is God's will? 00:28:56.419 --> 00:28:57.319 The kingdom of God 00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.939 is at hand. 00:28:59.939 --> 00:29:01.000 Repent and believe 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.939 the good news. 00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:02.500 And remember 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.539 what Mark has told us? 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.219 The good news 00:29:04.219 --> 00:29:05.519 is about Jesus, 00:29:06.139 --> 00:29:07.099 the son of God. 00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:09.219 So the greatest act 00:29:09.219 --> 00:29:10.740 of following God, 00:29:10.819 --> 00:29:12.240 of doing the will of God, 00:29:12.439 --> 00:29:14.179 is believing in Jesus. 00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:17.039 Now look, 00:29:17.099 --> 00:29:17.619 I know it's not 00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:18.559 just as simple as that. 00:29:18.639 --> 00:29:19.639 There's a whole thing, 00:29:19.699 --> 00:29:20.439 there's a life 00:29:20.439 --> 00:29:21.799 that flows from that 00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:23.179 that's really important. 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.319 But what Jesus 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:25.779 is saying here is, 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.980 these people around here, 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:29.759 these people who see me 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:32.359 as I really am, 00:29:32.439 --> 00:29:33.699 coming from God, 00:29:34.119 --> 00:29:35.159 demonstrating power 00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:36.660 over the powers 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.759 of evil and sin 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.519 and darkness, 00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:40.160 by my ministry, 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.900 by my teaching, 00:29:42.540 --> 00:29:44.279 these people here, 00:29:45.540 --> 00:29:46.640 these are the people 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:47.779 who get what it means 00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:49.900 to be in God's new family 00:29:49.900 --> 00:29:52.180 because they understand 00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:52.980 who I am 00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:54.900 and they see me. 00:29:55.580 --> 00:29:56.660 They have responded 00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:58.200 to what the call 00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:59.019 that we'll see later 00:29:59.019 --> 00:29:59.700 in the book of Acts, 00:29:59.820 --> 00:30:01.680 believe in the Lord Jesus Christ 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:03.100 and you will be saved. 00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:05.840 And friends, 00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:06.720 this is the good news 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:07.360 of the gospel. 00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:10.120 Jesus says it matters. 00:30:10.840 --> 00:30:12.779 It matters what we believe. 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:14.700 It matters that we believe 00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:16.940 that Jesus really is God, 00:30:17.180 --> 00:30:18.880 that he really did live 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:20.400 and die and rise again, 00:30:20.600 --> 00:30:22.060 that his death on the cross 00:30:22.060 --> 00:30:22.820 for our sins 00:30:22.820 --> 00:30:24.799 made a spiritual difference 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:25.539 in the world 00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:27.660 and that by rising from the dead, 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:29.180 he has established 00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:30.740 and accomplished a redemption, 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.740 that he's continuing 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:33.480 to apply in the world 00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:34.660 and one day will bring 00:30:34.660 --> 00:30:35.759 to its fullness 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.779 and its completion 00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:37.680 in a way that will 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:39.720 be gloriously wonderful. 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:42.740 And we need to believe 00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:44.359 that these basic truths 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:46.240 of the gospel are true 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.240 and that we see 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.620 that Jesus is the one 00:30:48.620 --> 00:30:49.480 who has done 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.620 these things for us. 00:30:52.620 --> 00:30:54.180 If we say that Jesus 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:55.660 is merely a good teacher 00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:56.960 but was not God, 00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:59.640 he has no power to save us. 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:02.079 And the strong man 00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:02.940 is still ruling 00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:04.799 in our world 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:07.259 and the strong man 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:08.140 will still be ruling 00:31:08.140 --> 00:31:09.420 in your heart 00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:11.359 if we deny him. 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:14.079 So Jesus comes 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:14.799 and he says, 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.339 look at me, 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:18.140 see me for who I am, 00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:20.200 believe in me 00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:22.160 for this is how you 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:24.180 can be the people of God. 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:24.819 Let's pray. 00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:35.720 Lord, we thank you 00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.799 for this word. 00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:40.839 Lord, for some of us 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:42.079 it is a great comfort 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:43.179 to be reminded. 00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:46.319 But for some of us 00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:47.259 it is a challenge 00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:49.119 for we recognize 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:49.619 the weakness 00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:51.659 of our own understanding 00:31:51.660 --> 00:31:53.019 and the hardness 00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:53.840 of our hearts. 00:31:56.400 --> 00:31:57.660 Lord, we see how 00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:58.560 there are places 00:31:58.560 --> 00:32:00.360 where we have denied you. 00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:01.820 There are places 00:32:01.820 --> 00:32:02.740 where we have not 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:04.180 believed you rightly. 00:32:07.580 --> 00:32:08.880 Lord, I pray this morning 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:10.080 that you by your spirit 00:32:10.080 --> 00:32:10.880 would help us. 00:32:11.540 --> 00:32:12.279 Lord, bring us 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.060 to a place 00:32:13.060 --> 00:32:14.920 of humble reception, 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.880 humble reception 00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:17.620 of the gospel 00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:18.699 that you have 00:32:18.699 --> 00:32:20.479 proclaimed, 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:22.859 that you have embodied, 00:32:23.459 --> 00:32:24.679 that you have accomplished 00:32:24.679 --> 00:32:26.319 the good news 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:27.959 of Jesus. 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:30.699 Lord, I pray 00:32:30.699 --> 00:32:31.679 for those this morning 00:32:31.679 --> 00:32:32.719 who may be exploring 00:32:32.719 --> 00:32:33.179 Jesus 00:32:33.179 --> 00:32:34.019 that they would hear 00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:34.539 your call 00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:35.500 to come and see 00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:36.159 and believe 00:32:36.159 --> 00:32:37.919 and to become 00:32:37.919 --> 00:32:38.819 a part of the people 00:32:38.819 --> 00:32:39.279 of God. 00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:42.379 Pray this in Jesus' name. 00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:43.299 Amen.