Sunday February 25, 2024 Worship Services “Our Elder Brother” by Devyn Nelson
February 25th 2024
Gathering
MUSICAL OFFERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
· Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship.
· Session meets today at 10:45am in wee Dining room
· The Gathering Place is open every Thursday
PRAYER REQUESTS
· JoAnn Grimm and Joan Boyd are residents of Fieldstone in DeWitt.
· To the Conzett Family as they Mourn the loss of Annette Conzett
· Bev Hermann as she prepares for knee surgery in April.
· Joan Pinkston, on hospice.
· Ellen and Keith Miller who struggle with health issues. Ellen is at Eagle Point Care Center
· For our brothers and sisters in Israel, Palestine and Ukraine.
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP – (FROM PSALM 138)
L. I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
P. Before the gods I sing your praise;
L. I bow down toward your holy temple
P. And give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted your name and your word above everything.
L. This is the day the Lord has made.
P. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
GATHERING PRAYER
O the depth and riches and wisdom and knowledge of you, God! How unsearchable are Your judgements and how inscrutable Your ways! You have called each of us here, led by the Holy Spirit, to be joined as body of the Son Christ our Lord, who in our joining we gather to praise and exalt. Thank you for this Lord’s Day. In it may we fall before you, in repentance and honor, to call upon Your name and walk in Your ways – and in all things glorify You. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
HYMN Great Is Thy Faithfulness #276
CALL TO CONFESSION
In this time, knowing all the ways we’ve fallen short, we come to you, God, confessing together, …
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from us by our sins, and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts: Cleanse us from all our offenses, and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires, that with reverent and humble hearts we may draw near to you, confessing our faults, confiding in your grace, and finding in you our refuge and strength; through Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Beloved, believe the good news of the gospel. In Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. As people forgiven and drawn together this day let us worship the Lord with grateful and joyful hearts.
SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579
PASSING THE PEACE & INTERLUDE
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
INTERLUDE
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Heavenly Father, you are forever good, and you are forever gracious in all that you have done and do. We thank your word today, and for the eternal Word, our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we open your Scriptures today we ask that you join us by the power of the Holy Spirit in our reading and receiving of them. Use your Word today to melt us down, transform us, and make us new. Incline our hearts and all that we love to you – through your Word today, Lord. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Old Testament: 1 Samuel 8:4-11, 16-20
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead[a] us, such as all the other nations have.” 6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” 10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots ….
16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[a] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
New Testament: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands..
Gospel: Mark 3:20-35
20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter,
29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” 30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.” 31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
MESSAGE Our Elder Brother
This is a rollercoaster of a passage. Just prior to this, in the first half of Mark chapter 3, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand in the synagogue. We know that there is always some conflict between Jesus’ healings and the scribes and the Pharisees; especially when it occurs on the Sabbath, right? That’s always a big issue. Well, this conflict rolls over into our passage today. Mark does an incredible job, really throughout his gospel, but especially in these beginning chapters of taking us on a journey of revealing (1) who Jesus is and (2) what the line of discipleship is that for those who follow Christ and for those who do not. Again, leading up to – and continuing in our passage, Jesus gathers a crowd of those following him, and there are those in our passage who seem to be objecting to and rejecting Christ and his work; for us, in Mark 3:20-35, it is the scribes that are opposing Christ, but with a careful reading of this passage, we realize it is not only the scribes.
Our passage starts with the claim that Jesus went home, Jesus went back to Capernaum next to the Sea of Galilee – and a crowd followed and gathered around him in his home – so many people that Jesus could not even eat! And Jesus’ family hears this, and they begin to think, “what is he doing? Has he not done enough? He needs to rest. We need to stop his teaching even if it is just to get him some food – ‘He is out of his mind,’” they said. As his family is attempting to seize him from what he’s doing, the scribes come down and just pile it on saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” If it wasn’t hard enough that his family is saying that he was a lunatic, the scribes come down from Jerusalem and say, no, no, he’s also a liar! He doesn’t do this by the power of the Living Lord. He does this work, this healing and teaching, by the power of the devil himself!
And what does Jesus do in response? Jesus reveals in his word … he speaks and tells them a parable. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” “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’ parable is speaking to the stark contrast between Jesus’ work – and the devil’s work. One takes captives and one frees them. Jesus is saying, “How dare you! This is not the same work.”
He continues on to say something full of grace, “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter,” – and praise be to God, right!? but this comes with a kick, and it is pointed at the scribes and others like them, “but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but it guilty of an eternal sin.” And God tells us why Jesus makes such a deep claim, “for they were saying, ‘He has an unclean spirit.” And so, this is the teaching that Jesus has taught from the inside of his house, Jesus is home, remember, and we now get this sort of pan-out view, as his mother and brother, again, are outside calling to him. Like, “Hey! Can you see us? What are you doing? We are here trying to help you!” The crowd informs Jesus, saying, “Hey, Jesus, your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you” and Jesus answers them, who are telling him about his family’s words, saying, “who are my mother and my brothers?” Jesus pans his house, from his kitchen to his living room, to all those who sat around him, those who understood that Jesus is not a lunatic, he is not a liar, he is the Lord, and he proclaims an incredible truth, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
This passage, one could say, has a small handful of giant realities, hidden truths, and confusing – possibly even harsh statements.
Is Jesus’ family not actually Jesus family? Even more so, why are they so intent on seizing him? Sure, the scribes don’t like Jesus and Jesus’ works but why is this passage connected from his family to this parable of a strong man? Who is that?
Jesus in one hand reveals this immense grace to those whose sins will all be forgiven, and then in the other hand reveals this immense work of justice to those who sin against the Holy Spirit – they will never be forgiven. He says this and then seemingly moves right on and we’re back in a scene of discussing Jesus’ family.
This passage ends with Jesus’ great proclamation of, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
I mentioned earlier that this passage is like a roller-coaster. I say that because I have always thought that some rides need to be rode a couple of times back-to-back, you get done the first time and you hope nobody else is in line so that you don’t have to get out, “I got to do this again,” to be able to finally get off and say, “I can say I really rode that ride, I can say I got it.” This passage is sort of like that, we need to go through it a couple of times to grasp the reality that is being revealed in it. We can easily get to the end, and get to Jesus’ great proclamation and say, “Okay, we just need to do God’s will and Jesus will be our brother.” Ideally, it would work just like that! That would be great right? “I understand Jesus, all I have to do is seek God’s will and do it.” Easy enough. Right, congregation? Easy.
Ideally, we are the “in-group”, I mean we are literally here today, right? We’re in the pew. We call Jesus Lord, or maybe some of us are here inquiring about Jesus’ Lordship, and God bless you if that is you today. But we’re here, doing what Jesus in the word of God has commanded us to do. Yet have we not still failed to do so – to be wholly disciples of Jesus Christ? Do we not fail to be seated at Christ’s feet? Do we sometimes find ourselves outside of Jesus’ house, peering through his windows? Why is this so? Why can’t we just do it? It is what the Bible asks of us.
This is where we get back on the ride of the passage. Jesus’ family at the beginning as we’ve noted, is attempting to seize Jesus. They think he is acting like a lunatic, “He is out of his mind.” That’s what they said.
They were seeking the things of themselves. They sought their own understanding of what Jesus should be doing over what God was doing right in front of them. Just as Jesus tells Peter in Matthew 16:23, “Get behind me, Satan! You are hinderance to me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” This continues for the family throughout the passage. It doesn’t end with Jesus’ mother and brother on the inside. Why can’t we just sit at the feet of God and seek and obey God’s will? Because our hearts and desires are inclined to our understanding and not God’s understanding. We seek to seize and contain Christ for our measure, but we cannot bind the One who binds.
Realistically, just sitting at the feet of Christ and seeking God’s will is not all that easy. We can’t do these things, ultimately, because we are not perfect. Our hearts need renewed and need continual renewal! Our loves need reordered, and our eyes need new vision.
Beloved in Christ, thanks be to God that it is not in what we do that our hearts are transformed but that by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in us! Jesus says, “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 says, “but first I must go and defeat the power of sin and death! Then I will take you, my children, for my own, for you are mine and I am yours!” Isaiah calls us in chapter 49:24, calls us “captures of the tyrant.” And today you are now called “free in Christ.”
Christ, the one whom the family was going out to seize, the one who they were seeking, as though to bind him, is the Almighty Binder! He has bound the strong man and plundered his goods. He sought us out and saved us. But for the grace, he does not only save us, he forgives us, “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter.” Not only does he save us, not only does he forgive us, but Christ then brings us into His family, our family! Our brothers and sisters! This is incredible news! What grace is this?
In Christ’s glorious work he does something for humanity before doing something to it. He forgives the paralytic and then he heals him. Christ takes on the cross and then Him and the Father pour out the Spirit upon us. Christ frees us from the strong man, the power of sin and death, and gives us a new life and a new family and calls us his brother and sister – those who sit at his feet and seek the will of God.
It is not in us but in the glorious and saving work of Christ and the sanctifying work of the Spirit that our hearts are free, so that we sit at the feet of Christ, so that we seek the will of God, to look up from our cross-legged positions at our Brother, in glory and awe – ready to take on all that God has commanded for us – and all that God brings us to. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” We seek Him first, before all things, and all things will follow.
In this passage in Mark, we are taken on a journey of understanding (1) the meaning of Jesus Christ and (2) the meaning of true discipleship. True discipleship is to be inside of Christ’s house – not outside. Jesus makes it clear that without his sacrifice and salvific work we would be in the nature of seeking to bind him, claiming he was a lunatic – and only work for our will. Though once we were chained by the strong man – who the scribes said Christ worked from – claiming he was a liar; beloved of God, we are now free; given the freedom to live into God’s call for us today, which is to be true disciples of Christ! What good news is this to be given life to sit at the Source of life! As true disciples freed to love God and others we are called to repent of the ways that we have not sought after God – as in repentance we find grace. Though we are not perfect, we are to let go of the ways we once held, we are to let go of some of the ways we hold onto today, and here forth stray from the ways the world calls us, and let our hearts be renewed so that our desire and loves are to God alone!
Christ has bound the strong man, Christ has saved us, and is it in that freedom and only in that freedom, that we can sit at the feet of Christ, claiming with those who sat at his feet that Christ is Lord. We can hear his word and receive God’s commands. We must only ask ourselves; do we find that we are inside or outside the house of Christ? Are we inside at the feet of Christ or are we outside peering in through the window? If we are outside, let us pray to God, and be open to the transformative work of the Spirit in our heart which lead us to the feet of Christ. If we are inside, how can we scooch, inch by inch, ever closer to our living Lord?
Optimistically, by the grace of God, Christ institutes a new family, and we fall into it relieved as the brothers and sisters who are around us are too seeking the will of the Father. In Jesus house – at Jesus’ feet – we are all brothers and sisters with Christ, called and guided to glorify the Father and seek His will in all that we do.
Amen? Amen.
*HYMN Take My Life #391
PASTORAL PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we pray for the holy church of God, that it may be filled with truth and love, and be found without fault at the day of your coming.
We pray leaders of the church, and for our minister(s), and all ministers, and for all the holy people of God.
We pray for the mission of the church, that in faithful witness it may preach the gospel to the ends of the earth, and we pray those who do not yet believe, and those who have lost their faith, that they may receive the light of the gospel.
We pray for the peace of the world, that a spirit of respect and forbearance may grow among nations and people.
We pray for those in positions of public trust, that they may serve justice, and promote the dignity and freedom of every person.
We pray for all who live and work in this community, and a blessing upon all human labor, and for the right use of the riches of creation, that the world may be freed from poverty, famine, and disaster.
We pray for the poor, the persecuted, and all who suffer; for refugees, prisoners, and all who are in danger; that they may be relieved and protected.
We pray for this congregation, for those who are present, and for those who are absent, that we may be delivered from hardness of heart, and show forth your glory in all that we do.
We pray for our enemies and those who wish us harm; and for all whom we have injured or offended.
We pray for ourselves; for the forgiveness of our sins, and for the grace of the Holy Spirit to amend our lives.
We pray for our families, friends, and neighbors; that, being freed from anxiety, they may live in joy, peace, and health.
We pray for all who have died in the communion of your church, that, strengthened by their witness, we may be grateful for their example, living in justice and love until we join them in life eternal.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, and one another, and all of life to Christ our God.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD
As the people of God, we are called to respond to God through our giving – in the ways that God calls us. We are called to give monetarily, or through our time, or through our gifts. Let us give today, and this week, through joy in our Lord, in the ways that God has placed on our hearts.
*DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Lord we thank you for these gifts you have given us. We now give you these gifts, and we pray that through them you will be at work in the world, bringing your lights, your truth, your justice, and your peace. We pray this in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
*HYMN We Give Thee but Thine Own #428
*CHARGE & BLESSING
May the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you this day and forever more. Amen.
POSTLUDE
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.
Gathering
MUSICAL OFFERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
· Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship.
· Session meets today at 10:45am in wee Dining room
· The Gathering Place is open every Thursday
PRAYER REQUESTS
· JoAnn Grimm and Joan Boyd are residents of Fieldstone in DeWitt.
· To the Conzett Family as they Mourn the loss of Annette Conzett
· Bev Hermann as she prepares for knee surgery in April.
· Joan Pinkston, on hospice.
· Ellen and Keith Miller who struggle with health issues. Ellen is at Eagle Point Care Center
· For our brothers and sisters in Israel, Palestine and Ukraine.
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP – (FROM PSALM 138)
L. I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
P. Before the gods I sing your praise;
L. I bow down toward your holy temple
P. And give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted your name and your word above everything.
L. This is the day the Lord has made.
P. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
GATHERING PRAYER
O the depth and riches and wisdom and knowledge of you, God! How unsearchable are Your judgements and how inscrutable Your ways! You have called each of us here, led by the Holy Spirit, to be joined as body of the Son Christ our Lord, who in our joining we gather to praise and exalt. Thank you for this Lord’s Day. In it may we fall before you, in repentance and honor, to call upon Your name and walk in Your ways – and in all things glorify You. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
HYMN Great Is Thy Faithfulness #276
CALL TO CONFESSION
In this time, knowing all the ways we’ve fallen short, we come to you, God, confessing together, …
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from us by our sins, and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts: Cleanse us from all our offenses, and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires, that with reverent and humble hearts we may draw near to you, confessing our faults, confiding in your grace, and finding in you our refuge and strength; through Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Beloved, believe the good news of the gospel. In Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. As people forgiven and drawn together this day let us worship the Lord with grateful and joyful hearts.
SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579
PASSING THE PEACE & INTERLUDE
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
INTERLUDE
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Heavenly Father, you are forever good, and you are forever gracious in all that you have done and do. We thank your word today, and for the eternal Word, our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we open your Scriptures today we ask that you join us by the power of the Holy Spirit in our reading and receiving of them. Use your Word today to melt us down, transform us, and make us new. Incline our hearts and all that we love to you – through your Word today, Lord. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Old Testament: 1 Samuel 8:4-11, 16-20
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead[a] us, such as all the other nations have.” 6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” 10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots ….
16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[a] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
New Testament: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands..
Gospel: Mark 3:20-35
20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter,
29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” 30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.” 31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
MESSAGE Our Elder Brother
This is a rollercoaster of a passage. Just prior to this, in the first half of Mark chapter 3, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand in the synagogue. We know that there is always some conflict between Jesus’ healings and the scribes and the Pharisees; especially when it occurs on the Sabbath, right? That’s always a big issue. Well, this conflict rolls over into our passage today. Mark does an incredible job, really throughout his gospel, but especially in these beginning chapters of taking us on a journey of revealing (1) who Jesus is and (2) what the line of discipleship is that for those who follow Christ and for those who do not. Again, leading up to – and continuing in our passage, Jesus gathers a crowd of those following him, and there are those in our passage who seem to be objecting to and rejecting Christ and his work; for us, in Mark 3:20-35, it is the scribes that are opposing Christ, but with a careful reading of this passage, we realize it is not only the scribes.
Our passage starts with the claim that Jesus went home, Jesus went back to Capernaum next to the Sea of Galilee – and a crowd followed and gathered around him in his home – so many people that Jesus could not even eat! And Jesus’ family hears this, and they begin to think, “what is he doing? Has he not done enough? He needs to rest. We need to stop his teaching even if it is just to get him some food – ‘He is out of his mind,’” they said. As his family is attempting to seize him from what he’s doing, the scribes come down and just pile it on saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” If it wasn’t hard enough that his family is saying that he was a lunatic, the scribes come down from Jerusalem and say, no, no, he’s also a liar! He doesn’t do this by the power of the Living Lord. He does this work, this healing and teaching, by the power of the devil himself!
And what does Jesus do in response? Jesus reveals in his word … he speaks and tells them a parable. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” “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’ parable is speaking to the stark contrast between Jesus’ work – and the devil’s work. One takes captives and one frees them. Jesus is saying, “How dare you! This is not the same work.”
He continues on to say something full of grace, “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter,” – and praise be to God, right!? but this comes with a kick, and it is pointed at the scribes and others like them, “but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but it guilty of an eternal sin.” And God tells us why Jesus makes such a deep claim, “for they were saying, ‘He has an unclean spirit.” And so, this is the teaching that Jesus has taught from the inside of his house, Jesus is home, remember, and we now get this sort of pan-out view, as his mother and brother, again, are outside calling to him. Like, “Hey! Can you see us? What are you doing? We are here trying to help you!” The crowd informs Jesus, saying, “Hey, Jesus, your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you” and Jesus answers them, who are telling him about his family’s words, saying, “who are my mother and my brothers?” Jesus pans his house, from his kitchen to his living room, to all those who sat around him, those who understood that Jesus is not a lunatic, he is not a liar, he is the Lord, and he proclaims an incredible truth, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
This passage, one could say, has a small handful of giant realities, hidden truths, and confusing – possibly even harsh statements.
Is Jesus’ family not actually Jesus family? Even more so, why are they so intent on seizing him? Sure, the scribes don’t like Jesus and Jesus’ works but why is this passage connected from his family to this parable of a strong man? Who is that?
Jesus in one hand reveals this immense grace to those whose sins will all be forgiven, and then in the other hand reveals this immense work of justice to those who sin against the Holy Spirit – they will never be forgiven. He says this and then seemingly moves right on and we’re back in a scene of discussing Jesus’ family.
This passage ends with Jesus’ great proclamation of, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
I mentioned earlier that this passage is like a roller-coaster. I say that because I have always thought that some rides need to be rode a couple of times back-to-back, you get done the first time and you hope nobody else is in line so that you don’t have to get out, “I got to do this again,” to be able to finally get off and say, “I can say I really rode that ride, I can say I got it.” This passage is sort of like that, we need to go through it a couple of times to grasp the reality that is being revealed in it. We can easily get to the end, and get to Jesus’ great proclamation and say, “Okay, we just need to do God’s will and Jesus will be our brother.” Ideally, it would work just like that! That would be great right? “I understand Jesus, all I have to do is seek God’s will and do it.” Easy enough. Right, congregation? Easy.
Ideally, we are the “in-group”, I mean we are literally here today, right? We’re in the pew. We call Jesus Lord, or maybe some of us are here inquiring about Jesus’ Lordship, and God bless you if that is you today. But we’re here, doing what Jesus in the word of God has commanded us to do. Yet have we not still failed to do so – to be wholly disciples of Jesus Christ? Do we not fail to be seated at Christ’s feet? Do we sometimes find ourselves outside of Jesus’ house, peering through his windows? Why is this so? Why can’t we just do it? It is what the Bible asks of us.
This is where we get back on the ride of the passage. Jesus’ family at the beginning as we’ve noted, is attempting to seize Jesus. They think he is acting like a lunatic, “He is out of his mind.” That’s what they said.
They were seeking the things of themselves. They sought their own understanding of what Jesus should be doing over what God was doing right in front of them. Just as Jesus tells Peter in Matthew 16:23, “Get behind me, Satan! You are hinderance to me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” This continues for the family throughout the passage. It doesn’t end with Jesus’ mother and brother on the inside. Why can’t we just sit at the feet of God and seek and obey God’s will? Because our hearts and desires are inclined to our understanding and not God’s understanding. We seek to seize and contain Christ for our measure, but we cannot bind the One who binds.
Realistically, just sitting at the feet of Christ and seeking God’s will is not all that easy. We can’t do these things, ultimately, because we are not perfect. Our hearts need renewed and need continual renewal! Our loves need reordered, and our eyes need new vision.
Beloved in Christ, thanks be to God that it is not in what we do that our hearts are transformed but that by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in us! Jesus says, “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 says, “but first I must go and defeat the power of sin and death! Then I will take you, my children, for my own, for you are mine and I am yours!” Isaiah calls us in chapter 49:24, calls us “captures of the tyrant.” And today you are now called “free in Christ.”
Christ, the one whom the family was going out to seize, the one who they were seeking, as though to bind him, is the Almighty Binder! He has bound the strong man and plundered his goods. He sought us out and saved us. But for the grace, he does not only save us, he forgives us, “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter.” Not only does he save us, not only does he forgive us, but Christ then brings us into His family, our family! Our brothers and sisters! This is incredible news! What grace is this?
In Christ’s glorious work he does something for humanity before doing something to it. He forgives the paralytic and then he heals him. Christ takes on the cross and then Him and the Father pour out the Spirit upon us. Christ frees us from the strong man, the power of sin and death, and gives us a new life and a new family and calls us his brother and sister – those who sit at his feet and seek the will of God.
It is not in us but in the glorious and saving work of Christ and the sanctifying work of the Spirit that our hearts are free, so that we sit at the feet of Christ, so that we seek the will of God, to look up from our cross-legged positions at our Brother, in glory and awe – ready to take on all that God has commanded for us – and all that God brings us to. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” We seek Him first, before all things, and all things will follow.
In this passage in Mark, we are taken on a journey of understanding (1) the meaning of Jesus Christ and (2) the meaning of true discipleship. True discipleship is to be inside of Christ’s house – not outside. Jesus makes it clear that without his sacrifice and salvific work we would be in the nature of seeking to bind him, claiming he was a lunatic – and only work for our will. Though once we were chained by the strong man – who the scribes said Christ worked from – claiming he was a liar; beloved of God, we are now free; given the freedom to live into God’s call for us today, which is to be true disciples of Christ! What good news is this to be given life to sit at the Source of life! As true disciples freed to love God and others we are called to repent of the ways that we have not sought after God – as in repentance we find grace. Though we are not perfect, we are to let go of the ways we once held, we are to let go of some of the ways we hold onto today, and here forth stray from the ways the world calls us, and let our hearts be renewed so that our desire and loves are to God alone!
Christ has bound the strong man, Christ has saved us, and is it in that freedom and only in that freedom, that we can sit at the feet of Christ, claiming with those who sat at his feet that Christ is Lord. We can hear his word and receive God’s commands. We must only ask ourselves; do we find that we are inside or outside the house of Christ? Are we inside at the feet of Christ or are we outside peering in through the window? If we are outside, let us pray to God, and be open to the transformative work of the Spirit in our heart which lead us to the feet of Christ. If we are inside, how can we scooch, inch by inch, ever closer to our living Lord?
Optimistically, by the grace of God, Christ institutes a new family, and we fall into it relieved as the brothers and sisters who are around us are too seeking the will of the Father. In Jesus house – at Jesus’ feet – we are all brothers and sisters with Christ, called and guided to glorify the Father and seek His will in all that we do.
Amen? Amen.
*HYMN Take My Life #391
PASTORAL PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we pray for the holy church of God, that it may be filled with truth and love, and be found without fault at the day of your coming.
We pray leaders of the church, and for our minister(s), and all ministers, and for all the holy people of God.
We pray for the mission of the church, that in faithful witness it may preach the gospel to the ends of the earth, and we pray those who do not yet believe, and those who have lost their faith, that they may receive the light of the gospel.
We pray for the peace of the world, that a spirit of respect and forbearance may grow among nations and people.
We pray for those in positions of public trust, that they may serve justice, and promote the dignity and freedom of every person.
We pray for all who live and work in this community, and a blessing upon all human labor, and for the right use of the riches of creation, that the world may be freed from poverty, famine, and disaster.
We pray for the poor, the persecuted, and all who suffer; for refugees, prisoners, and all who are in danger; that they may be relieved and protected.
We pray for this congregation, for those who are present, and for those who are absent, that we may be delivered from hardness of heart, and show forth your glory in all that we do.
We pray for our enemies and those who wish us harm; and for all whom we have injured or offended.
We pray for ourselves; for the forgiveness of our sins, and for the grace of the Holy Spirit to amend our lives.
We pray for our families, friends, and neighbors; that, being freed from anxiety, they may live in joy, peace, and health.
We pray for all who have died in the communion of your church, that, strengthened by their witness, we may be grateful for their example, living in justice and love until we join them in life eternal.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, and one another, and all of life to Christ our God.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD
As the people of God, we are called to respond to God through our giving – in the ways that God calls us. We are called to give monetarily, or through our time, or through our gifts. Let us give today, and this week, through joy in our Lord, in the ways that God has placed on our hearts.
*DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Lord we thank you for these gifts you have given us. We now give you these gifts, and we pray that through them you will be at work in the world, bringing your lights, your truth, your justice, and your peace. We pray this in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
*HYMN We Give Thee but Thine Own #428
*CHARGE & BLESSING
May the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you this day and forever more. Amen.
POSTLUDE
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.
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