COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 32
“ Mark 3:20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. 21 And when His friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on Him: for they said, He is beside Himself. 22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth He out devils.” (Mark 3:20-22).
A VARIETY OF EXTREME RESPONSES
INTRODUCTION
The uniqueness of Jesus elicited a variety of responses from those who heard Him. They did not respond to Him as they did to the scribes and Pharisees because what He said demanded a more extensive reaction. When men are confronted with the truth, a kind of pressure is exerted upon their spirits. When it is to some measure understood, men cannot respond to the truth as they do to the newspaper, politics, and social issues. It is ever true that when men are indifferent to the truth of God, they have not perceived its reality or its implications. By “implications,” I mean conclusions to which the truth necessarily leads: i.e. if I am going to die and stand before the judgment seat of Christ, then it is reasonable to prepare for those appointed occasions. One of the roles of a preacher and a teacher is to so deliver the truth that its nature is perceived, even if its details and implications are not clearly seen. When the Word of God is delivered as something that is critical, and for which no allowance is made for varied meanings, it leads men to a more sober consideration of it. On the other hand, when other issues are allowed to upstage the Word itself – like domestic, social, or political issues – the unavoidable conclusion is that the Word of God is really not vital at all. In such a case, it is more like a novelty, to be pursued when nothing else is pressing. As we should know, Jesus was faithful to leave men with the solid impression that what He said was essential to life and godliness, and that it could not be ignored, twisted, or treated as though it was anything that could be placed to the side.
A PRESSING MULTITUDE AGAIN
“ 3:20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.”
THE MULTITUDE CAME TOGETHER AGAIN. The nature and impact of Christ’s ministry is unveiled in this single sentence. He was no ordinary man, and people did not respond to Him as though He was. Previously, Mark records that “all the multitude resorted unto Him, and He taught them” (Mk 2:13). Again, when Jesus withdrew from the city “to the sea,” it is written that “a great multitude followed Him” from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumaea, beyond Jordan, and Tyre and Sidon. They came because “they had heard what great things He did.” At that time, because “He had healed many,” the people “pressed upon Him for to touch Him,” and unclean spirits fell before Him (Mk 3:7-12).
Now, the multitudes come together “again.” They had not tired of Jesus. They could not easily grow accustomed to the Son of God. They knew that in His presence things were made available to them that could not be found elsewhere. No man spoke like Him (John 7:46), and no one displayed such authority as He obviously possessed. He “taught” with authority (Matt 7:29). He “commanded” with authority (Mk 1:27). With “authority and power” He commanded unclean spirits, and they left the persons who were possessed by them (Lk 4:36). From one point of view, it was His uniqueness that drew the people to Jesus. From another, God was working through His unequaled words and deeds to draw the people to Him.
Something to be seen. If we are correct in saying that Christ’s uniqueness is what is used to draw men to Him, then the manner in which we present Christ is most crucial. If He is seen as doing nothing more than capable or gifted men can do, or if He is placed within the context of everyday life alone, His real Person will become obscure. The works Jesus did could not possibly have been done by anyone else, unless He gave them power to do so (Matt 10:1; Mk 6:7; Lk 9:1). When men tend to speak of Jesus as a sort of superman, with only expanded human powers, they have greatly erred. This is involved in Paul’s statement pertaining the perspective of Jesus that is entertained by those who are a new creation: “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor 5:16-17). In an introductory way, the people who flocked to Jesus saw Him as separate from other men – “not as the scribes” (Mk 7:29), “never man spake as this Man” (John 7:46), “What manner of man is this” (Matt 8:27), and “We never saw it on this fashion” (Mk 2:12). As the “pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15), the church is responsible for an accurate presentation of Christ in both doctrine and life.
THEY COULD NOT EAT. The reference is to Jesus and His disciples. The people thronged Him “to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal.” NASB Another version reads, “so that He and His disciples were not even able to eat.” NIV This may have been inconvenient for the disciples, although there is no statement suggesting such a thing. However, Jesus provided us some insight concerning His own reaction to such things. “I have meat to eat that ye know not of . . . My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). He derived superior satisfaction from doing the will of His Father, and finishing the work that He had been given to do.
If it is true that the “inward man,” that is being “renewed day by day,” is superior to the “outward man,” which is perishing (2 Cor 4:16), then the satisfaction of that “inward man” far transcends any satisfaction that can be realized in the “outward man.” Job said it this way: “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). David said it this way: “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psa 19:10). Again he wrote, “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches” (Psa 63:6).
Many a professing believer has never experienced this satisfaction because they have remained aloof from the Lord, immersed in their own circumstances, and living within the narrow circumference of life in this world. It is not surprising that such souls are inconsistent in their spiritual life. When a person has arrived at the point where they can relinquish the interests of the body in deference to being involved in the will of the Lord, decided progress in the faith has been realized, and the fountain of joy will be opened.
THE VIEW OF THOSE CLOSE TO HIM IN THE FLESH
“ 21 And when His friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on Him: for they said, He is beside himself.”
HIS FRIENDS. The word “friends” literally means “those from the side of him (Jesus). ROBERTSON It could mean the circle of His disciples – but they were already with Him, and are never represented as engaging in the conduct described in this verse. It is generally understood that this is a reference to His family, or kinsmen according to the flesh. In my judgment, these are the people referred to in verse 31: “There came then His brethren and His mother, and, standing without, sent unto Him, calling Him.” In this verse, they are said to have “went out.” In verse thirty-one they arrive.
These relatives – particularly Christ’s brothers (James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon – Mk 6:3), and mother – “heard of it” – of the multitudes thronging Jesus. Although He was some distance from Nazareth, His home town, word had rapidly spread concerning His mighty works. Having heard of His spreading popularity, His relatives headed for Him.
TO LAY HOLD ON HIM. The idea is that they went out to “take custody of Him,” NASB or “restrain Him,” NSRV or “seize Him.” RSV Another version reads, “they went out to take Him by force.” AMPLIFIED From their vantage point, this was something like a rescue mission. They had every intention of removing Jesus from this situation – saving Him from insanity.
HE IS BESIDE HIMSELF. The Holy Spirit gives us the benefit of the reasoning of Jesus’ family “according to the flesh.” Hearing that He was thronged with people, and could not even take time to eat, they concluded He was “beside Himself,” losing His good sense in the face of crowds of eager people. Other versions read, “He is out of His mind,” NKJV “He has lost His senses,” NASB “He is off His head,” BBE “He is become mad,” DOUAY and “He is out of His mind (beside Himself, deranged).” AMPLIFIED
The expression “beside Himself” comes from a single word that means “to throw out of position, to displace, to throw one out of his mind, drive one out of his senses.” THAYER The idea is that such an individual has left the realm of normality, and has become an odd-ball. If something is not done to rescue the person, they will become altogether and hopelessly demented, insane, and of little or no value in the mainstream of life.
Do not fail to see the picture here, for it is as relevant today as it was then. Here is the Son of God, doing the will of the Father, tirelessly ministering what no one else could minister, and making God Himself known to the people. Yet, His own kinsmen, not unacquainted with the Scriptures or God, consider that He has gone off the deep end, being carried into a state of unreasonableness by the multitudes that thronged Him.
These were the people who spent time with Jesus, beholding His manner of life in the home, in the carpenter shop, and about the various normalities of life. Yet, they did not have the faintest understanding concerning His real purpose in life, why He entered the world, or how He was doing the will of God. Somehow, in their familiarity with Jesus, they had missed who He really was. In fact, a point is made of His brethren not believing on Him: “For neither did His brethren believe in Him” (John 7:5).
Although it is not fashionable to do so, let us pursue this line of reasoning. If it is true that Jesus’ brother’s did not perceive Him as He really was in the normalities of life, do you suppose that people will see you for who you really are in Christ in such a context? Do you imagine that letting your “light shine” (Matt 5:16) merely means going about the duties of life with a commendable attitude? Should there not be some focused involvement in the “eternal purpose” of God that separates you from the mundane? If this was the case with Jesus – with not even John the Baptist knowing who He was until He publicly became associated with a Divine ordinance (John 1:31,33) – do you imagine you can be associated with the Lord Jesus Christ without being involved with some public aspect of His great salvation? Those who consider public and obvious association with Christ to be secondary, have not seen the matter of spiritual life as clearly as it ought to be seen.
The condition described in our text is still with us. As soon as you, for Jesus sake, go beyond the ordinary, you will be charged with being radical, unreasonable, and not making good sense. When your manner of life puts you clearly outside the circle of religious and spiritual apathy, you too will be considered to be “beside yourself.” In this regard, Paul said of himself, “We are fools for Christ’s sake” (1 Cor 4:10). It is not that he was really foolish. Rather, that is how it appeared to those who were blind to “the things of the Spirit of God.” That is simply the way a committed life to Christ appears to those who are primarily of this world – religious or not. In view of this, and in my judgment, a compromising and uncommitted church cannot possibly exercise holy influence on the society around it.
THE VIEW OF THE RELIGIOUSLY ELITE
“ 22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth He out devils.”
THE SCRIBES. In this text, this is the third reaction to Jesus. The first involved the multitudes, who saw in Jesus something of value. The second was His family, who saw a Man who had lost His good sense. Now we are faced with the religiously elite, scholars in the text of Scripture, and teachers of the Law. How do they view the Lord Jesus?
Jesus said that unless our righteousness went beyond that of “the scribes,” we could “in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Mat 5:20). Their teaching is represented as being without “authority” (Matt 7:29). They were among those into whose hands Jesus was eventually betrayed (Matt 20:18). Jesus said they bound heavy burdens on the people and refused to move them “with one of their fingers” (Matt 23:2). They are also depicted as questioning Christ’s disciples, seeking to find some cause for condemning Jesus (Mk 9:14). The Master told His disciples, “Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: which devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation” (Mark 12:38-40). Now they come to make a statement about Jesus of Nazareth, who was gaining more popularity than themselves.
CAME DOWN FROM JERUSALEM. First, they came all the way from Jerusalem, about 70-75 miles from Galilee, where Jesus was ministering. Just as the multitudes thought nothing of distance in their quest to benefit from Jesus, so His opponents thought nothing of distance in their determination to oppose Him.
HE HATH BEELZEBUB. Other versions say, “He is possessed by Beelzebub,” which is, indeed, what they intended to say. He was, they charged under the control of “Beelzebub.” This term is mentioned seven times in Scripture, with six of them referring to the incident before us: three of them by the Scribes or Pharisees (Matt 12:24; Mk 3:22; Luke 11:15), and three by the Lord Jesus (Matt 12:27; Lk 11:18,19). Jesus referred to Beelzebub on yet another occasion. “It is enough for the disciple that he be as is Master, and the servant as his Lord. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?” (Matt 10:25). It was shortly after this word that Jesus was actually charged with being possessed by “Beelzebub.”
From the standpoint of language, “Beelzebub” is said to have been a Philistine deity. The word means “lord of flies.” FRIBERG This term Jesus applies to the devil himself, for it implies one who is the head of a house. The word had gone out concerning Jesus, “He hath a devil (demon)” (Luke 7:33). “Many” others said, “He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?” (John 10:20). Now, these scribes undertake to explain the whole matter.
BY THE PRINCE OF DEVILS. This is the proper explanation of “Beelzebub” – the “prince” or “head” of the evil horde of demons who were being attacked by Jesus. Another expression of this princeship of the devil is, “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2). The hierarchy of his domain is said to be “principalities,” “powers,” “the rulers of the darkness of this world,” and “spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph 6:12). Concerning the domain in which Satan exercises his power, Jesus spoke of him as “the prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).
They Could Not Deny What Was Done. It would have been better for the scribes, if the work of Jesus could have been altogether denied – if it had been nothing more than a deception. But such a view was not possible. Christ’s work was undeniably effective. The only recourse open to these enemies was to credit the work to the devil himself. They were in much the same position as those who were faced with the lame man who was healed by Peter: “for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it” (Acts 4:16). Thus the scribes attempt to demean the work of the Lord Jesus by crediting it to something other than the power of God.
Something to be Learned. There is something to be learned here. A work of God will not necessarily turn skeptics into believers – even when the greatness of the work cannot be denied. Unbelief would rather ignore the works of God altogether. However, when their presence is beyond all question, unbelief will concoct an explanation that reproaches Christ and gives honor to men. That is a consistent trait of unbelief, which is the direct result of the blindness caused by the devil. As it is written, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Cor 4:4). All of this, and much more, was lived out in Christ’s ministry.