Imagine if an incoming president, having defeated the incumbent from the other party by calling for radical changes in policy, appointed to his cabinet and as his advisers, those who had been serving his defeated opponent. How well would the new administration function? In Mark 3:22–30 Jesus uses a similar illustration.
Do not misunderstand Jesus. The family of Jesus said he was out of his mind. The exchange between Jesus and the teachers of the law in the house is bracketed by his family misunderstanding him, Mark 3:20–21, 31–35. His actions had them wondering about his sanity, and when they arrived to take charge of him, Jesus made the point that his followers, doing his will, were his real family. That means that, if you trust in Jesus and follow him, your relationship with him is closer than the biological/familial ties between Jesus and his brothers, and even between Jesus and his blessed mother! Mary clearly was a believer in her Son, and his brothers became believers following his resurrection, so they too are part of his family in the richest sense — but at his point they failed to grasp the point of his Messianic work and, had they succeeded in “taking charge” of him, would have pulled him away from his calling.
The leaders from Jerusalem said that Jesus was possessed by Beelzebub. Mark has described Jesus as working miracles, many of them wonderful healings. But prominent among them are his driving out demons. The first miracle that Mark records is driving out a demon, 1:21–28. There seems to be a cluster of this phenomenon during Jesus’ earthly ministry, almost as though Satan is doing his own imitation of the incarnation. The demon possessed recognized Jesus, and tried to announce his name — but Jesus forbade it. Mark has already outlined conflict between Jesus and the teachers of the law. This group had come down from Jerusalem, perhaps with the intent of accusing Jesus. They make the charge that Jesus is in league with Satan. The name, Beelzebub, was a derogatory name for Satan. Satan is a very real enemy. There are actually two accusations: first, that Jesus is accomplishing his miracles, especially the casting out of demons, by the power of Satan, with whom he was thought to be league, and second, that he himself was possessed by a demon.
“This is exactly what Jesus came to do – destroy the influence of the strong man, Satan, on people’s lives and restore them to their family fellowship with God. Jesus had come into the ‘house’ of ‘the prince of this world’ (cf. 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). In his ministry, and supremely on the cross and through the resurrection, he would overcome him and liberate his people…. Mark’s Gospel impresses on us that the greatest of sins are often those of the most religious of men. He underlines for us the basic lesson that it is not religion, but Jesus, that saves.”
Sinclair Ferguson, Let’s Study Mark, pages 45–47
Do not blaspheme the Holy Spirit!
Those making the accusations against Jesus were the teachers of the law, those who should have been most aware of the messianic prophecies, who should have been in the forefront of welcoming him. Instead they are slandering him and plotting his death. As you appreciate the importance of the incarnation, you realize that Jesus did miracles, not simply because he was and is divine, but as the God-man he depended upon the empowering Holy Spirit to to sustain and enable him to do the work to which he had been called. The work that Jesus was doing was being done by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit who had come upon him at his baptism, and whom he in turn would pour out upon his church at Pentecost.
“Jesus ascribed all His power and grace, the gracious words, the saving acts, to the possession of the Spirit (Matt. 12:28; Lk. 4:18; Acts 10:36–38). And, through qualifying Him in this manner for achieving His Messianic task, the Spirit laid the foundation for the great Pentecostal bestowal of the Spirit afterwards, for this gift was dependent on the finished work.”
Geerhardus Vos, Biblical Theology, p. 345
This particular sin took the work that the Messiah was doing and ascribed it to Satan. Thus it is specifically described as blaspheming the Holy Spirit. This sin involves clear knowledge of Christ. Thus it involves a rejection of Christ and attributing the power of his work, no to the Spirit, but to the prince of demons. Christians are sometimes concerned that they have committed this sin which will not be forgiven. It is true that real concern that one might have committed this sin is usually an indication of the kind of repentance that indicates one has not rejected Christ. But don’t become complacent.
Jesus is victorious over Satan! A divided kingdom falls. Jesus refutes the argument. It does not make sense for Satan to oppose himself. A kingdom or a household divided against itself cannot stand. (Imagine a presidential cabinet with members holding opposite political philosophies!) Satan is a dangerous enemy, and not stupid enough to attack his own kingdom.
The strong man has been overcome. Jesus makes the point less theoretical and more personal. Satan’s rebellion had taken place, apparently, before the creation of the world. The idols of the pagans were triumphs of his. The conflict had been long standing — but now the crucial battle was taking place. The miracles of healing, which roll back the effects of the curse, and especially the driving out of demons, which strike immediately at Satan’s power, show visibly that the kingdom of Satan has met its match. For Jesus to cast out demons implies that he has subdued this strong man. This was beginning to happen already during Jesus’ earthly ministry, though it was not complete at the time he spoke these words. But his powerful signs were anticipations of the full power and authority that would be his upon the completion of his messianic work. Note how Isaiah 49 rejoices in the restoration brought about by the coming Messiah and sees in it the defeat of the enemies of God and God’s people.
“The clearest Old Testament example of the strong man is found in Isaiah 49:14–26. In this passage, Isaiah describes the return from exile. God has not forgotten Zion, and he will inhabit her once again. Verses 22–23 speak of he exiles returning with the help of the foreign nations, which will submit. Then verse 24 begins with the question, ‘Can plunder be taken from warriors, or captives be rescued form the fierce?’ The obvious answer to this is an emphatic no. Captives cannot be be released, because the mighty man would need to be vanquished. But the text responds to this situation, ‘Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued’ (Is 49:25 ESV)…. By the time we get to the New Testament, we discover that the true tyrant, the strong man, is not Babylon, but Satan and his demonic forces.”
G. K. Beale and Benjamin L. Gladd. The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament, pages 85–86
Live in the power of your Spirit-empowered Lord! The often overlooked Ascension Day involves the Messianic King, having obtained his victory, rising to sit at the right hand of the Father. That means that Satan, as threatening and damaging as he is, is a defeated enemy. Take hope! That means that he, the accuser, has no grounds to accuse you (Zechariah 3). It means that though he is powerful and holds people in the grip of habitual sin and addiction, he is not sovereign. Someone stronger has bound him and will ultimately defeat him. Though he may try to discourage you as individual believers, and even as a body, the church, you serve the King who has overcome Satan. Heed the warning about the sin that will not be forgiven. But don’t overlook the emphasis on the many sins, deep and serious, that are forgiven. Regardless of what sin you may have committed, the remedy is the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and heavenly intercession of Christ. The reference to forgiveness here is near the end of a section that began in Mark 2:1 with an emphasis on Christ’s authority to forgive. In between we have the preaching and teaching of Jesus about the kingdom. And as forgiven people we are summoned to live as the family of the Savior, doing his will, The ability to do so (never the basis of our salvation, but always a fruit of God’s grace) is a gift of the Spirit poured out by the ascended Lord.
When you look at yourself, don’t just ask, have I committed a sin that won’t be forgiven, or have I committed a sin that keeps me from the Lord’s Table. Rather, look clearly at your sin — and then at the cross, the empty tomb, and the mountain from which the Lord ascended to return. Live this week and this entire year in the power of the risen, ascended Lord.