Blasphemy against the Spirit
Mark • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 5 viewsNow that Jesus has appointed his 12 disciples, they return to the shores of Galilee. Upon his return, the multitude gathered in close proximity to Jesus. The Pharisees accuse Jesus of being a demonic spirit. Jesus uses a parable about binding the Strong Man to combat this accusation.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Recap
Recap
Christ has gone onto a high plain and appointed his Apostles to the ministry.
Gave them the power to preach, teach, and drive out demons.
He was crowded by the multitudes for healing.
He is beginning to grow in popularity.
That is bringing him some unwanted attention.
Those Who are With/Around Him
Those Who are With/Around Him
From last week, we see that:
The apostles are in Christ and called to be with Him.
This week, we have a deeper understanding of:
What it means to be “in” Christ.
To be “in” Christ, means: We are a part of His body.
We have been called into Him, and to establish relationship with him.
Mark 3:20— “the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.”
Mark 3:20— “the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.”
If anything, the crowd is growing more passionate than before.
they have packed in the home so tightly, Jesus and the disciples couldn’t even raise their elbows to eat!
Something about this public frenzy is raising concern to His most intimate followers:
Mark 3:21— “But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind!.’”
Mark 3:21— “But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind!.’”
It’s not clear who these people are:
Friends
Disciples
Followers
Family Members
We are led to believe it is the 4th option: Family Members.
later in the text, (31-35), Jesus’ mother and brothers seek to speak with him.
Whoever they are, they decide to forcefully bring Jesus home.
they believed him to be “out of His mind.”
intervention against the one who is causing all of the stir.
Reminiscent of Acts 26
Acts 26— “24 As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad.”
Acts 26— “24 As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad.”
25 But Paul replied, “I’m not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment.
25 But Paul replied, “I’m not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment.
26 For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak boldly to him. For I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice, since this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe.”
26 For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak boldly to him. For I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice, since this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe.”
What’s happening to Jesus here isn’t the first time in church history, and it most assuredly won’t be the last!
Ideas about the “Rapture” are rooted in a quintessentially American form of evangelical Christianity
Christian traditions have varying understandings of the end of the world, rooted in different interpretations of the Bible (in particular, the book of Revelation). The narratives around the “end times” and the “rapture” are largely an American phenomenon. While early Christianity was intensely focused on eschatology (i.e., the study of the end of the world), the “end times” theology as we know it today is fairly recent. It began in England, among Puritan preachers in the 18th century such as Increase and Cotton Mather, who preached the notion of a “rapture” in which believers would be brought to Jesus before a period of “tribulation” and turmoil on earth, resulting in Jesus’s Second Coming.
Vox Publications, December 2017
My friends, we aren’t the ones “out of their mind.” The world is. To think we are crazy because we believe the never changing word of God is a hill upon which I will gladly die!
Has anyone called you a “religious fanatic?”
kinda has a bad ring to it, doesn’t it?
it’s meant to.
You see, it’s OK to be a fan, but to be a fanatic, that’s abhorrent!
American culture is fascinated with fandom. Every Sunday in the fall, there’s a church of tens of thousands of people. To get into this church, you have to have a ticket, and you sit exactly where it says to. The wealthier people are much closer to the stage than you are, and some are even sitting in their posh box seats.
As the music grows louder and the countdown nears 0:00 you and the thousands of others begin to shout for joy as the event commences. “ahahaha,” can be heard through the speaker system. Chill bumps begin to move down your arms and legs as reality sits in: The moment you have been waiting for all week is finally here!
You have worshiped this event for years, and to be a part of it is almost too much as you lift your hands and scream for joy about the event that’s about to take place.
Suddenly, as the lights in the church dim and artificial smoke begins to billow in the south corner, people rip off their shirts in excitement as their favorite NFL team comes barreling through the tunnel onto the field.
“Can it get any better than this?”
That’s some people’s church. They worship their 3-13 team week end and week out, only to leave the alter empty at their local church.
You see, to be a fan is great, but to be a fanatic of Christ and the work of the church is ridiculous.
If you haven’t been accused of being a Jesus fanatic, what’s wrong?
If the definition of Jesus Fanatic is a person who has no idea where they are going or even why they are going there, but they are going with all their might, I must say they have it wrong.
If the definition is a zealous person of faith who sells out for the Gospel then I’m proud to be called a fanatic!
Why would those close to him object to His activities? Weren’t they as impressed with the healings and exorcisms as the multitudes?
Of course, but their lives were on the line.
When the religious and Roman authorities decided to do something about this Jesus, many of their followers were going with him.
Unfortunately, at the root of this attitude must have been the sheer unbelief of who Jesus was.
Before moving onto the crux of today’s message about Blaspheming the Holy Spirit, let’s look at verses 31-35.
Mark 3:31-35 — “31 His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to him and called him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him and told him, “Look, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside asking for you.” 33 He replied to them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 Looking at those sitting in a circle around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
We mustn’t think Christ is denying the role of Mother’s and Fathers this side of heaven.
This is a teaching about the UNION we have with Christ.
and become a family underneath his leadership and headship.
Christ is declaring, “the relationship we have with God by doing his will is much closer than any blood relationship.”
We are bound with Christ by an unseen chord/bond that can NEVER be broken.
The Source of Christ’s Power
The Source of Christ’s Power
Jesus’ own people thought He was crazy/mad.
The religious leaders, on the other hand, give a different theory:
“the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He has Beelzebub,’” and “by the ruler ‘He casts out demons!’”
What a vicious charge!
To claim Christ was healing people by the authority of Satan.
May it never be!
A slight answer to the next question: What is the unpardonable sin?
They believe Christ is acting insane because he is casting out demons in the name of the Devil.
specifically by Beelzebul (Beelzebub) or we can assume they mean Baal.
Beelzebub: an ancient demigod who ruled over filth and the flies.
Beelzebub: an ancient demigod who ruled over filth and the flies.
The Lord of the Flies
Beelzebul—reference to Baal, the lord of the demonic realm.
In this case, title for Satan Himself
The charge of the pharisee’s is that Jesus was in the same league as the Devil.
Obviously, the charge of the Pharisee’s was that Jesus’ power to perform miracles, to heal the sic, and to cast out demons. But by demonic forces, not by the Power of the Holy Spirit—this is blasphemy.
The problem with this, is that Satan would never cast out one of his minions, nor would he want people healed.
made no sense
In my opinion, Satan has never and will never perform actual miracles.
Satan doesn’t possess that type of power.
Yes, he is stronger than we are, but he cannot work the way God works.
2 Thessalonians 2:9
2 Thessalonians 2:9
Satan’s “miracles” are counterfeits.
Mark clearly shows Jesus was the anointed one by the power of the Holy Spirit, not of Satan.
But these enemies of Jesus were blatantly denying this work and accrediting the miracles to Satan, and not the Holy Spirit.
“It is not the power of God…it is the power of the Devil. This man is the Devil!”
To refute this, Jesus forcefully responded:
So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast oout Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.” —Mark 3:23-26
Even this wasn’t like the long elaborate parable of next week’s sermon, they still packed a punch!
Logical absurdity
How can satan cast out one of his minions? Nor why?
If Satan was allowing Jesus to do this, wouldn’t Satan be assisting in his own demise?
Another parable:
“No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.” —Mark 3:27
Burglar vs. Jesus’ ministry
broken the domain of satan and now renders him impotent and incapable of protecting his domain.
Jesus’ power over evil is clear evidence that he wasn’t working with the enemy, but against.
The Unpardonable Sin
The Unpardonable Sin
So, here’s their warning for this accusation:
“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.” —Mark 3:28-29
This is a pretty popular question to be asked as a pastor.
some feel that they have committed the unpardonable.
What have others believed it to be?
murder
adultery
the problem with this is both have been handled biblically and we see God’s grace and forgiveness time and time again.
“All sins can be forgiven...” except...
“Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.”
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
What is blasphemy?
“Who speaks a word against” and “who blasphemes”
Speaking against God
a verbal sin
with mouth or pen
a desecration of the holy character of God
insulting him
mocking him
dishonoring him
opposite of praise
“anyone who speaks against the Son of Man, Jesus, it is forgiven him.”
“Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do”
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
“And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your leaders also did.
Forgiveness is possible then for those who have despised Jesus.
But blaspheming against the Holy Spirit
in the same context of the pharisee’s accusing Jesus working through the devil and not the Holy Spirit.
What a warning that is given by Jesus!
these pharisee’s were coming pretty close to the unpardonable sin.
All who are Christian is capable of committing the unforgivable sin.
However, the Lord of Heaven and Earth has saved and sealed us in the Spirit and will never let us commit that sin.
It’s impossible for the called, saved body to be capable of this sin.
If you are worrying about, I would say that’s clear evidence that you have not.
If you leave here today and the Holy Spirit is calling you into salvation and you don’t repent of sin and place your faith in Christ, then your walking dangerously close to the great chasm of being separated from God for eternity.