Who is in God's Family?

made well, and the demonized are freed, they don’t believe him.
We think because we have contact with Jesus – we go to church, after all, we hang around with others who know Jesus, etc. This is not enough, it does not make you part of God’s family.
We learn this when we leave home – our parent’s faith, our girlfriend’s faith, our spouse’s faith is not enough. The faith we had has younger people…
I. BEING CLOSE TO JESUS DOESN’T MAKE US A PART OF GOD’S FAMILY
Having contact with or being related to someone who has contact with Jesus does not make us a member of his true family. The good news is that you don’t have to have special connections… Even those ‘close’ to Jesus can be blind to who he is. It takes a vital, personal relationship with Christ to be a member of God’s family. In a few minutes we’ll see the defining characteristic of such a relationship.
Trans.: We’ve seen one group of people who are not in God’s family. They think they are, but they aren’t. Being close to Jesus isn’t enough. Mark shows us another group, type of person who is not a member of the family. Read with me Mark 3:22


A. The religious scholars think he is demon-possessed
His family thought he was crazy, insane. Before completing the story about Jesus’ family, Mark interjects another story, to show another group of people who were not in the family, even though they thought they were.
The religious scholars and teachers think Jesus is not just nuts, but that he is down right evil.
These are the top guys – “down from Jerusalem.” As a group they are:
• Furious with his disregard for tradition
• Jealous of his popularity and
• Incensed at his lack of respect for them
They have committed to ending his ministry and his life.
They don’t deny his power, but doubted its source. Thought he was a magician. They make a double accusation:
• He is controlled by Satan (Beelzebub, Beelzebul) – he is an agent of evil
• He is empowered by Satan – his power was dark!

Jesus responds to these accusations. First he responds to the charge that it is by Satan’s power that he cast’s out evil spirits. Let’s read vv. 23-27.
Their theory is absurd! Satan casting out Satan would be suicide. Divided kingdoms cannot stand. History is full of examples of this. Homes divided break apart. Its obvious!
As The Message says, “If Satan were fighting Satan, there soon wouldn’t be any Satan left.”

The truth of the matter is that He must have greater power than Satan – i.e. from God!
You cannot rob a strong man’s house unless you first incapacitate the strong man.
Satan is the strongman, he hold human’s captive.
Jesus is robbing him blind!
The only possible explanation for him being able to overthrow evil is that he is greater in power than it is.
He is obviously from God!
They claim he is possessed by an unclean spirit, he affirms that he possesses the Spirit of God.
His response to their charge that he is demon-possessed is extremely strong. Let’s read vv. 28-30.
Here Jesus brings up the subject of an eternal sin – the unpardonable, unforgivable sin. A sharp warning!
He begins by saying sin is wonderfully forgivable by God.
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven... Ps. 32:1
One fearful exception – blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
Not a single act or goof up, but a habitual attitude and action. You can’t accidentally commit this sin.
They were