2nd April 2006
Mark 3:21-35

Those who follow Jesus, and especially those who want to follow Him  closely enough to learn from Him, must be prepared to deal with being misunderstood by friends and slandered by enemies, particularly enemies of the Cross. In this passage Jesus deals with both and provides instruction for us who want to learn from Him.

  Slandered by enemies  

These particular enemies of Christ had journeyed from Jerusalem for the express purpose of undermining His standing in the eyes of the people. His teaching of Scripture was at odds with their teaching so they claimed that His success was down to the power of Satan.

“He casts out demons by the power of Beelzebub”

  Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: The welfare of any community, kingdom, city, or family, depends on its unity and unanimity; Satan, like every other ruler, wants to rule his empire in peace and security so how then can he be in league with Jesus who opposes his authority, and is destroying his kingdom?"

The reasoning of the scribes was not explained, and Jesus, knowing their thoughts, demonstrated to them ample proof of his omniscience. Our Lord's masterly demolishing of their arguments, by a conclusion drawn from their own assumptions, might have humbled and convinced these men. His reasoning, and His miracles, were both lost upon a people who were determined to disbelieve everything good, relating to Christ.

  And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

A good cause will produce a good effect, and an evil cause an evil effect. Jesus points out that if He was on Satan's side, He would act in the interest of Satan and confirm Satan’s influence among the people. In fact Jesus opposed Satan’s teachings by Heaven’s doctrine and Satan’s influence by His divine power.

  Jesus then turns the argument back on His opponents. “And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? They shall be your judges.”

Children, or sons of the prophets, mean the disciples of the prophets; and children or sons of the Pharisees, the disciples of the Pharisees. From Acts 19:13-14, it is evident there were exorcists among the Jews, and, from our Lord's saying here, it is also evident that the disciples of the Pharisees did cast out demons, or they wanted to have it believed that they had such a power. Our Lord's argument here is quite conclusive: “If the man who casts out demons proves himself thereby to be in league with and influenced by Satan, then your disciples, and you who taught them, are all of you in league with the Devil.” They must either give up their assertion, that Jesus casts out demons by Beelzebub, or else admit this conclusion, in its fullest force and latitude, that they were all children of the Devil, and in league with him against God. Envy causes people often to condemn in some, what they approve in others. The methods used by Jewish exorcists depended on magical washings and incantations for it was well known that they professed to cast out devils.

  But if Jesus casts out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come among them. The Spirit of God does not rely on the magical incantations of the Jews but they had the evidence of the quiet effectiveness of His power working through the Lord Jesus Christ.

  The destruction of the kingdom of Satan plainly implies the setting up of the kingdom of God. The Scribes and the Pharisees pretended to be expecting the coming of the kingdom of God, and consequently of the destruction of the kingdom of Satan. By not being prepared to receive the proofs Christ had given of his divine mission, they showed that their expectation was only pretended. They were too carnal pay any attention to spiritual things.

Mark 3:21 He is beside himself.

Another slander that was directed at Jesus at this time was, “He is delirious or deranged”. One reason why this report gained any credence was that he had lived among them as a carpenter; that he was poor and unknown; and that now, at 30 years of age, He had given up his occupation, abandoned his common employment, spent much time in the deserts, denied himself the common comforts of life, and was claiming to be the Messiah when by all the people expected the Messiah to come with great pomp and ceremony.

  The charge of “derangement” because of attention to religion has not been confined to the Saviour. Many a man has similarly suffered when he was became conscious of his sins, and began to spend much of time in prayer. The same charge has been made when a Christian loses interest and no longer finds pleasure in the ordinary amusements or business of life. The world cannot understand it if a Christian decides to devote himself to God, and acts as if he believed there was an eternity for which he should prepare and warns his neighbours of their danger. If a minister shows uncommon zeal and spends his strength in the service of his Master the world is not slow to call it derangement. Sadly, none seem more ready to believe the charge than ungodly parents or other family members especially if they are a self-righteous Pharisee or professor in the church.

At the same time, people can go to great lengths for wealth; or spend their substance on fashion, folly, and vice. They can go without sufficient sleep and neglect their duties to their family because of the demands of business, and in the view of the world it is wisdom and proof of a sane mind.

  There are times, when we are slandered, that the slander is best ignored and there are times when the slanderer must be publicly confronted. It requires the wisdom of Heaven to know how to react. From my study of this passage it seems that if the slander is personal it is better ignored. The Lord will eventually vindicate us and may, in time, avenge us. Those who are secure in their relationship with the Lord can afford to do this.

  On the other hand, if it is the work of the Gospel that is being called in question or if the message of salvation is being brought into disrepute we have an obligation to answer the critics and leave them in no doubt their slander of the gospel will have eternal consequences for them. The Gospel will not suffer because of there criticism but they will. In saying that Jesus had an unclean spirit they had attributed to the devil the work of the Holy Spirit! This is the unpardonable sin and it can be committed today by men who call the work of Christ the work of the devil.

  It is plain that the doctrine of Christ has a direct tendency to break the devil's power; and it is as plain, that casting of him out of the bodies of people, confirmed that teaching so therefore Satan could not support such a design. Christ gave an awful warning against speaking such dangerous words. It is true the gospel promises, forgiveness for the greatest sins and sinners, because Christ has died for our sins but by this sin, attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to demons is unforgivable because it opposes the gifts and work of the Holy Spirit. Such is the human heart that unconverted men pretend believers are doing Satan's work, when sinners are brought to repentance and newness of life.