Insane Accusations (Part A)

Rare fine strongman that is one of our primary weapon and I believe prayer works more than what may think it dies because we are so many unseen victory.

We tend to focus on the ones that won't go away the hardships that remain, whatever they may be. Christ says you just keep enduring that's what I need you to do.

We say, but I'm sick of enduring. You don't really have a choice. That's what makes him Lord and we say what you know you're worth it. Okay this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick begins a brand-new message called insane accusations in Mark chapter 3 welcome to the house of the Lord, and if you're listening online. We are in the gospel according to Mark chapter 3, beginning in verse 20 Mark chapter 3, then the multitude came together again so that they could not so much as eat bread when his own people heard about this they went out to lay hold of him, for they said he is out of his mind. Scribes who came down from Jerusalem said he has Beelzebub by the ruler of the demons he cast out demons. So he called them to himself and said to them in parables. How can Satan cast out Satan's kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Satan has risen up against himself and is divided cannot stand, but has an end no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man, then he will plunder his house. Assuredly, I say to you all sins will be forgiven the sons of men. Whatever blasphemies they may utter but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is subject to eternal condemnation because they said he hasn't unclean spirit, and his brothers and his mother came, and standing outside sent to him calling him in a multitude was sitting around him. They said to him, look, your mother and your brothers are outside seeking you. But he answered them, saying, who is my mother and my brother looked around in a circle of those who sat about him and said, here are my mother and my brothers for whoever does the will of God is my brother and my sister and mother insane accusations. That's the title of this consideration and we have a lot to cover so I want to get right to it. Looking at verse 20. Again, then the multitude came together again so that they could not so much as eat bread well when Jesus ministered the crowd was always there.

It seems always demanding attention so many sick people so many lepers and demoniac's about him all the time. It appeared he did get some break time to time but so often there were the multitudes, he couldn't even eat in peace Mark tells us here in verse 20 add to the multitudes on this particular day, his friends, his family and his foes will make accusations about him that are actually insane accusations. When you look at the evidences the proofs the things surrounding his life's family and friends they meant well, but the called and crazy when you get to the reason for that one moment the foes of course the rabbinical authorities of his day they meant harm when they called him one of Satan's people. That's what they did say he was a partner with hell. Why, why were they ganging up on him. Where was the proof to make any of these accusations. How can you say such things to someone especially liked Christ healing people in preaching the good news of the kingdom.

How could you say such unfounded things. In fact, these proofs demanded a verdict in the verdict is this God's anointed son of God, Messiah, the people began to see it that way at this point in time that set off the religious leaders the dudes from Jerusalem. Look at verse 21 with me please. But when his own people heard, they went out to lay hold of him before they said he is out of his mind when the Greek his own people can broaden its meaning. It can include friends and it can can also mean family and it is friends and family will get to that in verse 31 affect our reference it before we get there, but when his own people heard what what did they hear that made them say he's out of his mind was that he missed a few meals in ministry. All that might've been the straw that they used to break the camels back. But I don't think that was it all.

Consider his declarations in defiance of the religious leaders describes the Pharisees and the lawyers and all the other Mark chapter 2 verse five when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic son, your sins are forgiven you. That's a pretty big word to come from a Jew in ancient Israel, because to forgive someone, since you have to yourself. Be sinless. You cannot make someone clean. If you yourself are not clean. What a radical statement. Not long after that, we read the rabbis that they plotted to kill him after that.

That's how intense this was because I miss it because you know we just reading the story, but to be there to feel it for 30 years.

He restrained himself for 30 years growing up. He held back large plots of his deity in his glory. Now he was letting some of it go. They were ready for is going to make them ready for will think him later. Most of the good ones of the billboards. With all of them but not so much the bad ones. They went out to lay hold of him, for they said he's out of his mind. The family wanted to stop him and good intentions, you know that you got upset the religious intelligence. The other going to come down on him, we better rescue him from himself will backup those charges with what with something though. Don't just come out to say he's crazy and you got nothing but the accusation that is insane. These they don't mean harm. Will we see this happen.

Today I want to get ahead of myself but he backed up his claims with wonders when he said, son, your sins are forgiven them person was healed and so were countless multitudes of others impacted by his healing in his touch. Mark alerts us 31st verse that they set out to get him here in verse 21 again. But when his own people heard, they went out to lay hold of him, but did not there yet. They're on their way, we get to verse 31. They will have arrived, and he indicates that but while they are on their way. Other things are taking place here with the multitudes around him again they meant well, but they are profoundly wrong and out of bounds with this. Not turning on them but we gotta call it like it is here he is busy doing what no one else could do what no one had ever done before and he did it tirelessly sacrificed meals to get the job done for this accused of insanity again and insane accusation his own family, his own friends could not tell the difference between ministry and madness. Why CAN be too hard on them again, where 2000 years later standing here looking back at the events but the facts speak for themselves. Matthew adds this about this very moment in time when Jesus cast out a demon which is what brought following charges against him. Matthew chapter 12 verse 22, which is the parallel account of this event.

Then one was brought to him who was demon possessed blind and mute slot and healed him, so that the blind and the mute man both spoke and saw and all the multitudes were amazed and said, could this be the son of David. In other words, it is the Messiah and when the Pharisees heard it. Matthew 12 verse 24 they said this fellow does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons are you kidding me that's insane.

This accusation, the man is blind is a mute is demon possessed.

And just like that is made whole and the people said we have not seen anything like this. This must be Messiah. Could there be any other explanation for this Pharisees heard that they would have none of it again. The Jerusalem dudes did not care for the comments of the multitudes, and they told two measures that would stop this verse 22. The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said he has Beelzebub and by the rule of demons he cast out demons. What we know what set it off.

We just read it from Matthew's Gospel Mark left it out for whatever reasons would we have it. These were the super duper smart spiritual ones that came down from Jerusalem to check them out.

So how could they be wrong about anything. They were the custodians of approval or disapproval. These boys were mean they were petty they were determined and they were deadly and here they are to silence the evidences and the support facts meant nothing to them. They majored in my new ship. They majored in the minors, gagged on gnats and swallowing camels whole.

Jesus said he missed the point routinely missing the point was supposed to look at this and Christians in St. Louis learn not to do. Some of these that all of the bad things it was not the product of their schools and so they would not accept him. There was more to it than that but he loved them even though they loathed him. He still loved them that love would run out. They had one lifetime to get it fixed.

That's a long time. He has Beelzebub. They said that's the Greek form of bowel Z ball you know about all of you know anything about the Old Testament they could not conceive of a greater sin to her. Let him this was like the nuclear verbal option that the exercise tear the Canaanite God considered the chief among evil spirits by the Jews. The Canaanites worship bowel.

But the Jews initially of the bowel meant the Lord and so you have it in proper context from time to time in the Old Testament but also in context of Canaanite worship. You have it is of course, this pagan deity.

Jesus identifies him with Satan. They knew what they were charging him with and that's why he's going to the minute say how can Satan cast out Satan, originally the name bowel is believed to mean the Lord of the high places the lofty one. The Jews rightly so.

Considered bowel and unworthy rival to Yahweh no way that they would ever accept him, they knew this was a demonic creation bowel was revised amongst the Jews from the Lord bowel to the Lord of the flies bowel Z above.

Some say that because the pagan temples were loaded with flies didn't keep the place clean the polls as opposed to the Jewish Temple where you couldn't find flies because those Levites were so on top of things bowel. The Lord Z Bob flies later other Jews, he increased the commentary on this for God and instead of Z Bob.

They said Z ball that is the Lord of dong. That's what they were playing they wanted you to know what they thought about bow. So here you have these men saying this to Jesus all of the vitriol that belong to this. All of the hatred behind it is healing people. He is the devil he's got a devil you could see their fangs sticking out when they sneered at him and so accusing him of being in cahoots with the God of filth continues there in verse 22 and by the ruler of the demons he cast out demons and Southwark. You may accusing him of being a shaman of voodoo worker which Dr. pick another title if you'd like, but that's the accusation they are putting on him they could not control him. So they would not accept him they could not stop him yet but they were planning on ways to do just that.

They refused to submit to him because that would mean they would have to recognize that he is Messiah and then that would mean they would have to conform and submit to his authority and they were not going to do that, they slandered him publicly refusing to accept that he was from God and saying that he was from hell will still do these kind of things serious thing to charge someone with blasphemy serious thing to trust somebody with insanity, especially if you got nothing. They had nothing.

Both of them family and friends and in these photos of his of his and so they expected the people to abandon him when they may discharge when they heard the people safe. Could this be the son of David, no way. This is from hell. This is not from heaven. How dare you associate this man.

That's what they were hoping the effect would be in the people go. All okay. Thank you. Will spiritual dudes from Jerusalem.

Verse 23 so he called them to himself and said to them in parables. How can Satan cast out Satan.

Matthew tells us when he says he called them, he means the guys that were charging him. The men from Jerusalem he said, so it's more when he says so he called them to himself and said in parables. Parables a word pictures they they don't fade, you know, words you can, lose the meaning but a picture you more apt to keep that it is truth in story format and is very effective. We tell our children stories we tell each other stories. Hopefully that drew a good story, but when he says, how can Satan cast out Satan, he is saying this doesn't make any sense. That's what he St. Satan is casting out for the best dong and that's his reply verse 24 a continued naïve.

Not only does he say that doesn't make any sense. He says here's why it does not make any sense. He says of the kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand fighting itself into collapse. Implosion verse 25 and if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand you what house stands when husband and wife are enemies what house can stand brother and sister at each other's throat. I know the little ones can do that but I mean doing a serious level and another level level of total destruction and strife rules. Peace and love and truth, run and hide in a cave somewhere can be found. So it makes perfect sense when he says, how can a house divided like this stand. How can I possibly be from hell, casting out hell I would be shooting myself in the foot. Verse 26 and if Satan has risen up against himself and his divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.

He knew more about Satan than anybody anymore about Satan and Satan, and to have somebody throw up in his face something like this. The insult he had to endure. He had to put up with this and so when Christ says to us endure hardship, he left us an example. Paul followed that example, Paul was the only apostles weren't the only ones Christians have been following this example. Ever since sin is a divisive force in the universe. Satan is a force in the universe just like gravity is a force in the universe.

Satan knows how to make full use of sin and he's using it right here and he's using it on the accusers verse 27 he says no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man, then he will plunder his house. When Jesus cast out the demon just a few moments ago he was throwing out the strong man. He is the stronger man coming into the house plundering the good and emancipating a life and for this he is charged with being demonic. He says unless he first binds the strong man which they just saw you would think they would go you know you got you making some good points. Maybe we had it wrong. No, they are buckling down they are doubling up their opposition, and for this reason he will say when you behave like this. There is no way you can be forgiven for this are you supposed to be let into heaven behaving like this is your characters formed in this life you will go into heaven doing the same thing, God will have none of that. That's where his great charge against them is going to come from in a moment unless he first binds the strong man went powerless against Satan is too strong for us.

We have to have God work through us to do little God do it directly. What happened to the disciples in Matthew 19, they tried to cast out the demon. They could not. Jesus comes down he sees the Pharisees doggedly apposite.

What are you talking about is right in their faith is not going let those boys get hold of his boys and the apostles. They were bothered by this because Jesus then comes down cast out the demon in the later they come to the Lord and he said, why could we not cast him out.

How many times have we said that prayer binds the strong man that is one of our primary weapons and I believe prayer works more than what we may think it does because we are so many unseen victories and we tend to focus on the ones that won't go away the hardships that remain, whatever they may be.

Christ says you just keep enduring that's what I need you to do.

We sing but I'm sick of enduring. You don't really have a choice. That's what makes him Lord and we say well you know you're worth it. Okay, grumble, grumble, grumble, so and then he will plunder his house, such as the emancipation of the soul from the demon verse 28. Surely, I say to you all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter so we have to pause there. Ultimately, again, the only sin. God never forgives is the sin of refusing to accept his terms of forgiveness. If you say look, get out my face. What does Jesus do often not going to be forgiven. That is blasphemous. God is living in God is loving and God is forgiving and God is willing to forgive and he's willing to forgive repeatedly the same person.

How many times should I forgive my brother sent Peter 70 times. Jesus said what he said that's what it amounted to 170 times it run that out real quick that what then I can damn him. Psalm 8615.

The psalmist you can see the psalmist writing this and then reciting this with his hands up in the air, praising the Lord. He says what you will.

Lord our God, full of compassion and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in mercy and truth that abundant when you attach it to us. It means a lot when you attach it to God. It means infinity it's a infinity abundance of mercy and truth. That doesn't mean it's handed out just to anyone at any time for any reason the Bible takes its time to it painstakingly takes its time to lay it out for us how this compassion disgraced as long-suffering this abundance of mercy and truth how it is made available to us or not.

Verse 29. Jesus still speaking, he says, but he will blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is subject to eternal condemnation. I know we read that we set up an estimate on this as if I've done is I'm doomed. Well, if you have no judgment to worry about majority doom. You might as will just go out your local you want just eat as much over as you can. Amended to some foods you should like in the Bible would tell you what it has other things to mention alright so this now you over lovers. That's for you back to what we're talking about the light not this a little bit now to go at it heavy. This is a headshot.

Make no mistake when he says what he will blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness that is not a body blow that is a blow to the head. There's nothing diluted about blasphemy is a serious thing. The wages of blasphemy is death, and death. Eternal with no way out. That's the idea blasphemy. What is it is a personal attack on God is not just an attack on the things of God. The people of God and is an attack on him personally.

Whether intended or not, sacrilegious boss that I was a blasphemy, but I didn't know better.

God showed mercy to his irreverence is defiance. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com once you're there you will find additional teachings from Pastor Rick. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio you could search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast app that's all we have time for today, but we hope you'll join us next time. As Pastor Rick continues to teach through the book of Mark Rocky on cross reference radio