Mark: Living the Way of Jesus in the WorldSample

First Thought

Retreating to the mountains, Jesus appointed the twelve disciples. His public ministry was rapidly gaining momentum. There were so many people around at times that it was difficult even to eat. Perhaps not surprisingly, His family was worried about Him. Jesus didn’t share their concerns. Responses to Jesus varied hugely. Mark sometimes uses the idea of ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’ in his Gospel to help draw this out. Here, Jesus’ family are ‘outsiders’, though they will come to understand Jesus better and become part of His movement. Jesus takes the opportunity to help people grasp His radical inclusivity. All those who have committed to do the will of God are ‘family’. Amongst the opposition were religious leaders from Jerusalem who declared that Jesus must be possessed by Satan. It was, of course, nonsensical. Why would Satan drive out evil spirits? The reality was that Jesus was ‘binding the strong man’, overpowering Satan, to set people free. Jesus warned them against treating Him as an agent of Satan. The truth is: Jesus is the bearer of the Spirit of God.  

What Does the Bible Say?

What strikes you about Jesus in this passage? 

Living it Out

How does knowing that Jesus sees you as His brother or sister make a difference in your everyday life?

Responding in Prayer

Father God, thank you that I belong to your family. Is there an area of obedience that you want to speak to me about today (…)? Help me do your will. Amen.