Lunatic, Liar or Lord

(Journal) Mark 2:5-7

Big Idea:  Jesus Christ leaves His hearers with only one of three options...  

He intentionally leaves no other options available for us today.

1.  Lunatic:  The assumption of Jesus’ family.

(Journal) Mark 3:20-21

Hebrews 4:15, For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Luke 4:16-29, And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and He stood up to read...

When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove Him out of the town and brought Him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went away.

• Jesus’ brothers’ unbelief was only temporary...  They would come to embrace Him in faith after His resurrection.

1st Corinthians 15:7, Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Acts 1:14, All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

2.  Liar:  The accusations of Jesus’ foes.

Matthew 12:22-23, Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to Him, and He healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”

(Journal) Mark 3:22-30

Matthew 27:20-23, Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let Him be crucified!” And he said, “Why? What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let Him be crucified!”

John 8:42-44, Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of My own accord, but He sent Me.  Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My word.  You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires.

• Jesus’ power being associated with Satan rather than the Holy Spirit was the highest form of blasphemy and placed them in eternal jeopardy.

Hebrews 2:3-4, How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.

3.  Lord:  The acknowledgement of Jesus’ followers.

(Journal) Mark 3:31-35

1st Corinthians 12:3, Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

John 1:12-13, But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

• Jesus’ spiritual family is made up of those who have a saving relationship with Him, which is evident by love and obedience.

John 8:31, So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 14:15, If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

1st John 2:4-6, Whoever says “I know Him” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His Word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

1st John 3:24, Whoever keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Next Step  (Prayerfully answer the following questions:)

Who do you say that Jesus is?

How will you display your love for Jesus?

What changes will you make in your thinking and/or actions?