Matthew 12:22-30, Mark 3:20-27, and Luke 11:14-23
RTNT 2021. Then He went home… (Mark 3:20) This is one of the few recorded occasions (that I recall) where Jesus “went home”. Presumably Mark is referring to Peter’s (and Andrew’s?) house in Capernaum, for which there are a number of indications that Jesus used this house as a base for His Galilean ministry. Still, we don’t often think of Jesus having a “home”.
God’s echo…! In the third (Mark) link below, in that first of three items the discussion centers on Jesus’ family coming to take Him away: He is out of His mind. (Mark 3:21) We had this very discussion in our Men’s Group ZOOM meeting last night. Sunday’s Transfiguration reading led to a discussion of how anyone (Peter, James, and John in this case) could fall away from Jesus after having seen Him in His glorified state. That “following Jesus forever” discussion led to today’s reading about His family wanting to take Him away, but Mary maintained faith in who Jesus was, even to the point of following Him to the cross. In that post below I defended her “intervention” two years ago. It’s always nice to see these “echo” occasions!
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. (Luke 11:21-22) When I read this verse I tend to think of Satan or one of his demons as the “strong man” and Jesus as the one stronger than he. However, an alternative interpretation could be that any one of us is that “strong man” and that Satan or one of his demons is the one stronger than he. We might look a bit more at this interpretation. This “strong man” – any one of us – is “fully armed” and guarding what is entrusted to him/us. But if we let our guard down even a slight bit, we can allow that one stronger than he to overcome us. The key is in the phrase, “fully armed”. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:10-17 what it means to be “fully armed”. We need to be vigilant: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (I Peter 5:8)
See also: April 1 / Matt. 12:22-30; April 2 / Luke 11:14-23; April 3 / Mark 3:20-27
Wow, Fred. You meditated on some things I noticed and a bunch I didn’t even see!
I was really struck by Matthew 12:28 and Luke 11:20, but not in Mark. “If by the Spirit of God I (Jesus) cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come.” The kingdom arrived with Jesus and was/is present here on earth wherever the Spirit is, where He is in our hearts. Jesus declares that it is the Spirit doing the miracles and signs. Although He (Jesus) knew the hearts of people, He was one of us. This is a powerful declaration about himself as well as the role of the Spirit. What would it look like if we really acted like the kingdom is here now with/in us? I think that we would see more love, within the Church, among Christians, but also more love to our “neighbors”. And in gratitude for His love, more love and time with God in His presence. A Lenten challenge!
Good point, Debbie. And if we really acted like the Kingdom of God is here, we would also live in accordance with God’s will rather than substituting our own.