Mark

By Joyce Webb 2022

Chapter 3 Verses 13-35

Verse 13 Jesus went up into a mountain. He called to certain men to come up with him.

Verse 14 He chose 12 of them to follow him, to learn as he taught them. He sent them out to preach and teach what they had learned.

Verse 15 He gave the power to heal sickness and to cast (throw out) demons (evil spirits) out of people.
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(In the New Testament we read much about how Jesus cast demons out of people. It seems there were many people, including children, who had demons controlling them.

The reason this was happening —-to so many people—- was because of so many people worshipping idols. There was a lot of witchcraft, spirit worship, idol worship, in that part of the world.

This is true for much of the world.

The United States for most of its time in history— has been full of people who worshipped God//Jesus. So, we have not had much of demons (evil spirits) coming in to people.

Our nation has been changing. People are not worship God in heaven as before.

We are allowing many people into our country now, that worship other gods —not the God of the Bible.

This will change our country. Evil spirits will feel welcome here—because of the many people who now are doing things that make an opening to them.

False gods and idols, false religions and spirit worship—-are evil spirits who want people to think they are God.

When people worship them—it opens the door to an evil spirit to come into a person.

When people use fortune telling, Tarot cards, Ouija Boards, Yoga meditation, and other kinds of meditation, occult, —-when people
use drugs, watch porn movies and pictures, videos of violence and abuse to people—-they open themselves up to evil spirits to come into them.

Our spirit and our mind are connected. We have to guard our minds and spirits.

Be careful what you think about, what you look at, what you worship or get into—-guard your mind and spirit.
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Jesus chose 12 men and gave them power to heal and to cast out demons.

Verse 16-19 These verses tell the names of the men that he chose.

Verse 20 Jesus and the men went into a house. The crowd of people were so many that Jesus and the men with him could not get time to eat.

Verse 21 Some of Jesus’ friends heard about it —-they came to take Jesus away for a rest. They said that he was not being wise to let all those people crowd him and ask for healing—-so much that he could not even get time to eat.

Verse 25 Some of the Jewish leaders—-scribes—men who copied the scriptures onto to scrolls (rolls of paper)—-came from Jerusalem to see Jesus.

When they saw Jesus cast evil spirits out of people,—-they said that the reason he could do that—-was because he had the Prince of Devils—Beelzebub—in him.

Verse 23 Jesus said to them—-How can Satan cast out devils from people? Why would he do that?

Verse 24 That would be working against himself. That would be like a kingdom fighting against itself. If that happened, the kingdom would fall.

Verse 25 “A house divided against itself can not stand.”

Verse 26 If Satan works against himself, it would be the end of him.

Verse 27 No man can enter into a strong man’s house—unless he binds up (ties up) the strong man—-then he can take things from the house.

Jesus can not use Satan’s power to cast out the demon—because Jesus needs to bind-tie up Satan so he can free the man.
Jesus does this through a greater power—the Holy Spirit.

Satan was once the highest angel in heaven. He is very powerful and knows much about how science, biology, the universe works—-secret things that men do not yet know.

He can do powerful things. But he is not a powerful as God.
God created (made) Satan—as a angel.

Satan was given a will to choose—-just like man has a will to choose.

One day, Satan chose to go against God. So he was thrown out of heaven—-1/3 of the angels followed Satan—so they were thrown out, too.

Satan and his angels—now live and move —on earth and in the heavens —the part closest to earth.
He is called the Prince and Power of the Air—and the Prince of this World.

He still has the power of an angel.

God is still more powerful than Satan.

(It makes a person wonder—if someone is powerful enough to make you==create you—how could you think yourself smarter and more powerful than them?

Verse 28-29 Then Jesus said: All sins can be forgiven—except one—and that sin— is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit.

Blaspheme means to say bad words or curse words—or words that show hatred and no respect—angry, mean, insulting words.

It can mean behavior and well as words.

Jesus said—that men could blaspheme whoever they decide—-but if they blaspheme the Holy Spirit—they will never be forgiven. They will go to hell.

Verse 30 Jesus said these things to them because they said he had an unclean spirit.

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This is the only sin that can not be forgiven.

Men have blasphemed God the Father. They have blasphemed Jesus. They have been forgiven. Matthew 12: 31-32, Luke 12: 10

But if they blaspheme the Holy Spirit —they will never be forgiven.

In some ways, this is hard to understand—-God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one God.

Yet, they each have a separate part—- to be, do, act—in being God.

The Holy Spirit is the part of God that speaks to our spirit to pull us to believing in Jesus and to encourage us to ask for forgiveness.

The Holy Spirit shows us our sin. The Holy Spirit shows us that we need Jesus to forgive us.

If a person speaks against the Holy Spirit or talks angry, hateful words against the Holy Spirit—the Holy Spirit will do as they ask and He will leave them.

This is different —-than just to ignore the Holy Spirit and not listen to him.

This is to attack the Holy Spirit with hateful , mean, curse words against Him.

If the Holy Spirit leaves you alone forever—you will never be called or pulled to believe in Jesus or be made to feel guilt and sorrow for your sins.

You will be like a drowning man and no life preserver. (Round tube things that float that you hand on to)

You will go into eternity with your sin—-forever with your sin—that means hell.

There is something special about the Holy Spirit who can live in a person.

Evil Spirits came into a person and controlled them.

The Holy Spirit comes into those who believe in Jesus and those who ask the Holy Spirit to come into their life.

When an evil spirit comes into a person—the evil spirit controls the person by force. It does not give the person “choice” to obey or refuse. It takes “hold” of a person and makes them do things or think things or say things.

The Holy Spirit comes into a person because they asked him to come in—they “invited” him in.

The Holy Spirit tries to “guide” the person. The Holy Spirit speaks into your “mind, heart, spirit” to get you to follow His leading—–but the person can choose to give attention to it and follow it –or the person can ignore it.

The Holy Spirit does not —by force “take over”. He tries to warn, advise, and lead—-but we have to choose —each time—to follow.
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Verse 31 Jesus’ mother and brothers came to the house. They asked for Jesus to come out to them.

Someone told Jesus that his mother and brothers were out there and they wanted to see him.

Verse 33 Jesus said: “Who is my mother and my brothers?”

Verse 34-35 Jesus looked around at all of them—men that he chose to be his disciples—he said: Whoever will do the will of God—-that person is my brother, sister, and mother.

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Was Jesus saying that he did not have a mother or brother?

No, the people there knew Jesus; mother, Mary, and they knew his brothers and sisters. Jesus had 4 brothers and two or more sisters.
Matthew 13:55-56

What Jesus was saying: As he looked around at the men he had chosen to be his disciples—-was that because they believed in him and chose to follow him—-they were “family” to him—-they were “brothers” to him.

This is why in some churches—-people call other people in their church Brother (their name) ______ and Sister _______.