June 9, 2018
Mark 3:20-30…“When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, ‘He has gone out of his mind.’” vs. 21
It’s disheartening sometimes to realize how many naysayers there are among us. As soon as someone attains some measure of notoriety, background investigations are launched and inevitably dirt begins to appear in the news. We hear all the old stories of past indiscretions and unsubstantiated accusations–and some of us love it. We get a thrill from seeing people diminished and brought down to our level. Mark tells us that this is exactly what happened when Jesus became popular in Galilee. He was teaching and healing and gathering crowds wherever he went. And stories circulated. Religious leaders said that he was possessed by Satan. Even his own family believed the stories and took steps to try to restrain him. People were saying that he had lost his mind! But Jesus was not intimidated. He kept on doing what he’d been called to do and challenged the religious leaders to get on board. We might like to think that times have changed and good deeds always will be appreciated, but that’s not how life works. Jealousy runs deep in the human soul and it’s amazing what accusations can be made against us. It could even be that our own families will be most resistant to what God is doing in our lives. If it happened to Jesus it could happen to us.
Thought for the Day: How does my family feel about my mission?
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