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!
I have been surprised as I've read Mark so far that even though there have been a number of stories told, they have only had four settings. There are the wilderness and mountain stories (Jesus baptism, calling of the twelve), the sea side stories (often involving Jesus teaching), synagogue stories (controversies), and stories in houses. The first home story is the healing of Peter's mother-in-law. This is followed by the forgiveness and healing of the paralyzed man whose friends deliver him to Jesus feet by removing the roof of a house. The first of the Sabbath controversies takes place at Levi's home.
This passage again begins at a house, and like all but the story of Peter's Mother-in-law, involves a crowd. When we think of a house, we think of family. And while the mother-in-law story has that connotation, the other two stories seem to have nothing to do with family--unless family is defined as something other than blood relations.
The "home" story that precedes this one involves a controversy with the religious authorities over what behavior pleases God. This "home" story revolves around the issue of what constitutes a family. Just as Jesus has refuted the pharisees conception of the fast, Jesus now overturns the idea of family.
His family is on their way, but when they get there will not even be able to enter the home (the place a family typically resides) because there is not even enough room for Jesus and his disciples to eat. But Jesus' family has set out on this journey, believing they are acting out of familial concern have come to take him to his own home, by force if necessary.
His flesh and blood journeying to the house provide the frame for what is happening inside. There Jesus is in a controversy with some other people who think he is crazy. Apparently Jesus' ministry has attracted attention far beyond the small circle of Galilee. The teachers of the law (the religious police) have shown up from Jerusalem to accuse Jesus of being possessed. Their logic--since they are unable to drive out demons--Jesus must be in the league of demons to do what he does. It does not seem to occur to them that Jesus is wielding the power of God that has eluded them in their teaching.
Jesus speaks to them in parables, but not the type we are most accustomed to hearing. They are not the dramatic stories of Luke but more like the riddle parables told by other rabbis. Surely a demon won't throw out a demon--only if the strongman is bound can the house be plundered. Jesus has offended the pharisees already by offering forgiveness now he makes what would have been an even more astounding claim to them. Jesus says that he has defeated Satan and is taking over his house.
Jesus says that he has so much power that all sin can be forgiven except blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Numerous interpretations of this have been offered, but I read this as meaning that the only sin that God can not forgive is not believing that God can forgive sin. This of course means that without renewed hearts, the teachers of the law from Jerusalem are in danger of missing out on forgiveness.
And so the three layers of the house story are unveiled. Jesus is cleaning house. First, he has bound Satan in the house. Then, he has bound the teachers of the law in the house. There is one more attempted binding still to come.
Jesus' family finally arrives to attempt to take charge of him. When told by the crowd that his mother and brothers are outside, Jesus refuses to be bound by familial obligation. Or more precisely he is bound by familial obligation to his Father who has declared him his son who brings him pleasure. The household is no longer defined by blood lineage but by faithful service. The home is no longer a place where families bind their members, but a place where God binds together those who serve God--a new family has been formed.
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