Slices
Prepare
Galatians 5:1 says, ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.’ What does that freedom mean to you? What has Jesus freed you from?
Bible passage
Jesus accused by his family and by teachers of the law
20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’
22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.’
23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: ‘How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.’
30 He said this because they were saying, ‘He has an impure spirit.’
31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting round him, and they told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.’
33 ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked.
34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle round him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers!
Explore
Jesus is such good news, isn’t he? Already, this far into his story, there have been several cases where he has freed someone from an impure spirit, and that is one of the tasks he has given to his inner circle to do. However, in today’s episode, the teachers of the Law suggest that he is the king of all evil and that’s what gives him the power to order these spirits around. Maybe the evil spirits are more astute than the religious leaders – they recognise that Jesus is the Son of God (v 11).
I am surprised by Jesus’ reaction to his family – it seems very harsh when they were trying to help. I used to think that family was the most important thing, but my husband’s brother and his family won’t have anything to do with us now that we have become followers of the Way. I’m really grateful for the closeness we have with other believers. Perhaps Jesus means that we should be more committed to other followers than to biological family who don’t believe. That will take some commitment, especially if we get arrested and tortured to try to make us name others from the fellowship.
Respond
How committed do you feel to the family of believers? What could you do to enhance that commitment, or to express it more?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Deuteronomy 21,22; Psalm 35
Pray for Scripture Union
Thank God for our Bible-reading guide editors Sally Nash (Daily Bread) and Sally Nelson (Encounter with God). Ask for God’s leading as they commission writers and work with them to ensure that the comments are true to Scripture and relevant to the world of the readers.
