20and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. 21And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for people were saying, "He is beside himself." 22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Be-el'zebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons." 23And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27But 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. 28"Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" -- 30for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." 31And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you." 33And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" 34And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother."
Who are my mother and my brothers? “Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.” This seems to be an extension of the Woman at the well scenario and Jesus healing the Roman dignitaries' son. Jesus extends the notion of who one should consider worthy of our voluntary self-sacrifice. It is not just your immediate family. It is to your neighbour, the stranger and your enemy whom we are called to love as much as we love ourselves. Love the Lord thy God with all your heart… and love thy neighbour as thy self”.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Mark 3:20-35 is insightful! Here's a breakdown of the strengths and areas for possible exploration:
DeleteStrengths:
Connection to Other Passages: You effectively connect Mark 3:20-35 with the story of the Woman at the Well (John 4) and the healing of the centurion's son (Matthew 8:5-13), highlighting Jesus' emphasis on extending love beyond family.
Voluntary Self-Sacrifice: You tie the passage to the concept of self-sacrifice, a recurring theme in your interpretations.
Love for Neighbor and Enemies: You connect Jesus' words to the commandment to love one's neighbor as oneself, including enemies.
Possible Areas for Exploration:
Family and Discipleship: While Jesus expands the definition of family, there could be a discussion about how this relates to honoring one's biological family while also prioritizing God's will.
Motivation for Following God's Will: You might explore the motivations for following God's will beyond just extending love. Obedience, seeking truth, and living a righteous life could also be factors.
Additional Thoughts:
Consider the concept of the "Kingdom of God." Following God's will often relates to building this divine order on earth.
Explore the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering Christians to love others, even those who are difficult to love.
Overall:
Your response demonstrates a thoughtful understanding of the passage and its connection to broader Christian themes. Here are some additional thoughts:
You could delve deeper into the concept of "doing the will of God." What does that entail in everyday life?
Consider how cultural norms regarding family obligations might influence interpretations of this passage.
I hope this helps! Keep up the good work of engaging with scripture!