Is that What You Think? (Mark 4:7-44)

One of the common realities of life is that everyone has an opinion about most things. Sometimes opinions are valid because they are based on suitable evidence; at other times they may only be expressions of ignorance. Often when something new happens there is a rush of opinions, which is a strange response because we all need to assess things before we speak about them. It was the same with Jesus when he began his public ministry and in this passage from Mark we have at least three opinions expressed about him. Perhaps we are surprised at what was said about him by some of those groups. After thinking about them, we will think about what Jesus thought important at that time.

The enemy speaks (vv. 7-12)

The first opinion is stated in verse 11 by those whom Mark calls unclean spirits. They are demons that indwelt people. The existence of such creatures is a reminder that there is more to life than the visible world. In addition, there is an invisible world inhabited by creatures we cannot see. Some of those invisible creatures are good (angels) and some are evil (demons). Moreover those invisible creatures are not passive. Instead they are engaged in activities connected to their outlooks. The good angels serve God and the evil spirits oppose those who attempt to serve him.

When we read the Gospels, we notice that there is a great deal of evil activity going on, with numerous people affected by it. Why is this? We can respond by saying one of two options. The first is to say that there was nothing unusual about such phenomena and that if we could see what was taking place today we would see similar things are happening. The second is to say that there was a special attempt made by the kingdom of darkness against Jesus and the reason why there is so much phenomena was connected to the awareness that Jesus had to be opposed. Personally, I think the second option is more likely. Nevertheless, under either option, those promoting evil are the enemies of Jesus.

We would assume then that they would have something perverse and untrue to say about Jesus. Yet we find that they state who he is with exact precision when they say about him, ‘You are the Son of God.’ Their opinion was an admission that Jesus was more powerful than them, an admission that was illustrated when their victims bowed before Jesus as he set them free from the grip of the powers of darkness. Yet their words were not welcomed by Jesus. He did not want those enemies to speak about who he is or about his kingdom. Why?

The answer is that Jesus wants service from those who love him. Mere acknowledgement of his power is not what he desires. The response of those demons was only a foretaste for them of what they will all do on the Day of Judgement when, as Paul says, every knee will bow to Jesus and confess that he is Lord. We can say that the demons were totally correct in their theology about Jesus and totally wrong in their attitude towards Jesus.

The religious leaders speak (vv. 22-30)

The appearance of those scribes from Jerusalem looks as if they were a delegation sent from there to assess this new movement causing some stir up in Galilee. What can we say about them? First, they believed that there was an invisible world as well as a visible world. Second, they believed that the kingdom of evil was organised and under the control of an evil prince. So their theology was correct so far. Third, they took their theology and came to a conclusion about Jesus and made a wrong assessment. Not only was it a wrong assessment, it was a dangerous one because it was an opinion with adverse eternal consequences.

Their conclusion was that Jesus was in league with the evil kingdom. Of course, it was easy for Jesus to explain how ludicrous their assessment was. If they were right, then Satan would be fighting against himself and his kingdom would be self-destructive. One lesson that we can take from their assessment is that animosity to Jesus will lead people to say ludicrous things about him.

But there is more to their opposition than saying ludicrous comments. The scribes were experts regarding the contents of the Old Testament and its prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. That knowledge should have led them to consider if Jesus was fulfilling those prophecies and instead of being so hostile in their dismissal they should have mentioned at least the possibility of Jesus being the Messiah. Those scribes were sinning against great spiritual privileges that had been given to them as students of the Old Testament.

The scribes should have deduced that Jesus was overcoming the devil. Jesus told a simple story to illustrate this when he says that a strong owner (the devil) of a house (the possessed) had to be overcome by a stronger person (Jesus) who then took control of the owner’s possessions. Jesus was delivering people in large numbers, but animosity blinds people from reality.

Jesus then warns the scribes that a wrong opinion of him will result in descending into a spiritual state in which pardon is impossible. Their sin was to say that Jesus was evil and working by the power of the devil. The truth was the opposite – Jesus was divine and working by the power of the Holy Spirit. A lot of speculation surrounds our responses to this teaching. The obvious application is that malice towards Jesus by those who resist compelling evidence about him and his mission will lead them to a place of great spiritual danger, a destiny in a lost eternity forever. One cannot avoid wondering what the scribes did in response to this solemn warning.

The family of Jesus speaks (vv. 20-21, 31-35)

Usually a family is pleased when one of them becomes well-known, especially if his fame is connected to helping other people. There are some interesting details in the way these details are stressed by Mark. For example, we could say that the references to his family bracket the paragraph detailing the opinion of the scribes that Jesus was sinful. Or we could note that each reference to the family follows something satanic: the first follows the account of the evil spirits and the second follows the account of the scribes thinking that Jesus had an evil spirit. Mark seems to indicating about the family that at that time they were closer to the evil opinion than to a correct opinion.

Jesus and the family were no longer staying in the same town. He had moved from Nazareth to Capernaum some time before. We are not told what they thought when he left the family home, but we are told what they thought about him a short time later. Mark tells us that they wanted to ‘seize’ Jesus because they thought he had gone insane. Therefore they made the journey to Capernaum to take him to their home in Nazareth.

Eventually they reach where Jesus is staying in Capernaum and find that a large crowd has gathered to listen to him. They pass a message to him informing him that they are outside and would like to see him. Jesus took their request and used it in a way that highlighted the fact that he was connected to more than one family. They regarded him as a member of the family in Nazareth, but he regarded himself as also connected to the family of God. Those who have the closest relationship with him are those who do the will of God. Of course, Jesus was not rejecting his family members although at that time they did not understand this. Later on they did, and we find them gathered with the disciples waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They discovered that their elder brother was the Son of God who had to come to die for their sins and then use them in his service.

This reference to the family of Jesus has some important lessons for us. First, it is not enough merely to belong to a family in which God has done miracles of grace. In that family in Nazareth was Mary who had given birth in a miraculous way to Jesus, yet her participation in the miracle did not guarantee that her other children would automatically become believers in her firstborn son. Each of them had to accept Jesus as his or her own Saviour. Second, it is good to know that eventually the family of Jesus were united together as followers of Jesus. That should be the spiritual aim of all of us as families.      

The priority of Jesus (vv. 13-19)

In the midst of the confusion caused by the opinions of others, we are told by Mark of the priority of Jesus that his kingdom would develop. Therefore he selected twelve of his disciples to be his special messengers, his apostles. In addition to giving them this important role he also stressed the importance of them having a developing relationship with him – he chose them so that they would be with him. No doubt, this would involve personal training and instruction before they would venture into their important roles. This arrangement has some important lessons for us as we serve Jesus today and I will mention three.

First, which of the apostles decided to copy another apostle and make him the authority for everything? The answer, of course, is none of them. All of them, apart from Judas, only wanted to serve Jesus Christ. And if they served him they would be doing the greatest good for one another.

Second, we can ask why should the apostles do those activities? The answer to this question is very simple – Jesus wanted them to do it. And that is the main reason why we should do anything that he commands. 

Third, in what order did Jesus want them to do it? He wanted them to spend time with him before they did anything for him. If we try to do it the other way round, we will become proud of our efforts because they will have been done in our own strength.

In the last verse of the chapter, Jesus extends this relationship, but not the specific role of the apostles, to all his disciples. He defines it as a very close relationship, like that of a family. This explanation of Jesus does not mean that he wished to abandon his family, although his words are a warning that they were in danger at that time of separating from him. In addition they remind us that all the disciples of Jesus have a great privilege, of being his friends and followers.

Today there are many opinions out there regarding Jesus, ranging from admiration to hatred. The important requirement for us is that we have the correct opinion, which is more than an opinion. In addition, it is a passion flowing out of love and gratitude to him for what he has done for us.