Mark is about the revelation of Jesus, the son of God, who calls us to be His disciples. Mark also shows us how Jesus declares the coming of the kingdom.
In this section we see two groups of people that do not recognise the power of the kingdom. The kingdom comes with rivals to the kingdom, a power struggle, usurpation.
(A) Jewish scribes do not recognise the power of the kingdom (Mark 3:22-30)
Mark 3:22 speak of the scribes who came down from Jerusalem. They are experts of the law but they are not Pharisees (Mark 7:1). Mark 7:3 also helps us to see that the Pharisees are a sect of religious leaders that enforced their interpretation of the law.
Why Jerusalem? Jerusalem was where the temple is, and the people head up to celebrate the Feasts and worship. It is where the religious gather, but yet, they have come down from Jerusalem in Mark 3. They came to judge the nature and character of Jesus’ miraculous ministry.
They spoke about Jesus’ ministry (Mark 3:22). Jesus attracts people and people have views about Him. The question is whether they had the right or wrong view.
To the scribes, Jesus was possessed by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons hence whatever is going on is not of the God of Israel. They also alleged that the people are still under the authority of demons for there is no kingdom change — the prince of demons is merely asking demons to move. This is no kingdom at all. The kingdom of God is not in this man (c.f. Matt 12:24). Jesus’ announcement in Mark 1:14-15 is not true. This means that it is religious business as usual.
Why did the scribes care? Their entire religious life and system is under threat. Their ability to control and maintain the compliance of the people is at risk.
Jesus called the scribes to Him (Mark 3:23b). He knew their thoughts and responds to their allegations that they were making in the background. He is omniscient.
He asks, “How can Satan cast out Satan?” (Mark 3:23b). The word “Satan” is literally translated opponent or adversary, the one who is against us. It is not just a proper noun but has a meaning in itself. He is hostile, opposed and against God. The logic of his name is built into this point — how can the opposer cast out the opposer?
Jesus then goes on to make three statements with three “ifs”. The content gets more specific — kingdom, house and Satan. He begins with the kingdom, and picks up on the theme of the kingdom in Mark (Mark 3:24). What kind of a kingdom is here, and what is this kingdom doing? This is also a question that is relevant for us right now. Have you been thinking about the kingdom of God? Has it crossed your mind today? As someone who has come to faith in Christ, you are not just taken out of earth and slapped with a sticker that says “bound for heaven”, and going about your day without any other considerations. Instead, here, Jesus is asking if we recognise the character of this kingdom. Can we recognise the kingdom if it is right in front of us? Are we transformed and changed for this kingdom? Does our life reflect the kingdom of God? The scribes are unable to recognise that He is the king of the kingdom. Jesus is not a part of Beelzebul’s kingdom.
Jesus also repeats it with a house (Mark 3:25). And in the third statement, Jesus speaks about Satan (Mark 3:26). Even if a kingdom can be opposed and stand, logically, it must be coming to an end. A divided kingdom that is fighting among itself cannot stand, and will end. This logic is a comfort to a Christian — for the fallen kingdoms of the world that is divided will come to an end.
Jesus then switches to talk about His closing parable, marked by the word “but” (Mark 3:27). In this parable, Satan is the strong man, and his house is the world. The goods are the demon-possessed. Therefore, Jesus is the plunderer in this parable.
Are you surprised? It is helpful for us not to pigeonhole Jesus. Ask God to give you a fresh view of Jesus as you read His word. Ask Him to break our views so that we will not mould Jesus into our image but be moulded by Him.
But let us pause and consider this picture. How will this change our understanding and perspective of who we are in in Christ? We were trapped in the strong man’s house, but Jesus came, bound him and took us away.
Jesus’ kingdom is different from that of Satan/Beelzebul.
In Genesis 3:15, we have the gospel in seed form. Notice what it says. It describes enmity between two warring individuals and their offspring. The climax of this conflict is a mutually destructive blow. The serpent will receive a deadly blow to the head; the serpent will bruise the heel of the woman’s offspring. Right since Genesis, we are to understand that there are two opposing lines and the conflict will work towards and climax at the cross.
As we see also in 1 John 3:8, The devil has been sinning from the beginning.
If you are not a Christian or are not sure if you have placed your faith in Jesus, ask Him tonight to bind the strong man and set you free. This is what Jesus sets out to do when He came and proclaimed that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
If you are a Christian, this verse should cause our heart to sing. Did we contribute to our salvation? Were were a deserving and pretty furniture in the strong man’s house? Not at all.
Jesus makes His closing statement, and opens with the phrase “truly, I say to you”, signalling the importance of what He is about to say next. All sins will be forgiven except the sin of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:30). To understand this, we need to see that this set of teaching is against the ongoing allegation that they are making about Jesus, that He has an unclean Spirit (Mark 3:31). Blasphemy against the Spirit is not just saying bad things about the Spirit but it is fundamentally to lie about, disregard and misunderstand who the Holy Spirit is and what He is doing through Jesus. This Spirit has been working through Jesus to bring about revelation of the Kingdom, and when the scribes reject the signs, evidence and teaching and even claim that it is the work of Satan, that is blasphemy.
It is a firm rejection of the gospel. The enemies of God are the ones who reject Jesus. It was not because they did not know or did not receive evidence. They rejected after seeing all that He did and concluding that He is not who He is, and has an evil spirit in Him. It is a wilful an d committed rebellion, what Romans 1 says is a suppression of the truth.
The rest of Mark unpacks for us what being in the Kingdom looks like. It is like relocating to a new country, where we have to adapt to a new environment and develop a new way of life. But first, we need a visa to enter.
(B) Jesus’ family do not understand the purposes of the kingdom (Mark 3:31-35)
The narrative switches focus as we move from the scribes to his family (Mark 3:31). They were standing outside as a crowd was sitting around Him (Mark 3:31-32). The crowd had committed themselves to sit under Jesus’ teachings. Jesus came to teach about the kingdom of God. This is a reminder here for us that Jesus did not primarily come to do miraculous works. These signs are not the point in themselves. They are always given to validate the teacher.
Do you care about the kingdom of God? Do you want to know the language, character, custom, ways, relationships of the kingdom? As we read Mark, we should ask ourselves what is the Kingdom like? How does our life look more and more like this Kingdom?
His family asked Him to stop (Mark 3:32). They did not understand His ministry and His brothers did not believe in Him.
However, Jesus uses this opportunity as a teachable moment. He did not speak to His family but spoke to the crowd (Mark 3:33). His focus on teaching was undisrupted. He asks, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”. He goes on to say that those in the crowd who listened to the teaching of Jesus are His family (Mark 3:34). Those who does the will of God are also His brother, sister and mother (Mark 3:35).
How do we know the will of God to do the will of God? We do the will of God by learning the will of God. We learn the will of God by sitting at Jesus’ feet.
What is the teaching of Jesus? We cannot act as Jesus would simply by asking “What would Jesus do?” because we are all tempted to make Jesus in our image and make up what Jesus does. As we read these verses, is it clear what the will of God is? Start by repenting and believing the gospel, for the time is fulfilled and the kingdom is at hand.