Mark 3:20-35 (NRSV)
Read Mark 3:20-35 on biblegateway.com
Verse 20and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. Verse 21When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind." Verse 22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons." Verse 23And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? Verse 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. Verse 25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. Verse 26And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. Verse 27But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.
Verse 28"Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; Verse 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"- Verse 30for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."
Verse 31Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. Verse 32A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." Verse 33And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" Verse 34And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Verse 35Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Devotion
With all the various competing wills taunting us to stray from God's will, each of us might be the kingdom or house divided that cannot stand. But the Holy Spirit works in us through the word bringing God's will to fruition. While we may not cast out demons, the good news through which the Spirit calls us, gives us God's own authority to confront the taunting that would lead us into despair and sin. Denying the Holy Spirit's work is unforgivable because this denial rejects the possibility that God wants to save all people from the effects of that first and persistent sin. The sin of believing and trusting the taunts, rather than God's word.
Prayer
Powerful Hope, shore up the foundations of our faith so we might show others your love that leads out of despair. Amen.