When I was on the football team at the University of Alabama from 2004-2007, I was always astonished at the number of people that would flood Tuscaloosa for a game-day weekend, some of them coming as early as Wednesday if it was a high-profile game. I knew what the city was like during the Winter break when it seemed desolate except for the football team that remained behind to prepare for our bowl game. I knew what the city was like during the Summer when a significant number of people were gone for their Summer plans and the football players were still there taking classes and grinding through summer workouts and preparation for Fall camp. And I knew what the city was like when school was in session and there wasn’t a home football game. But a game-day weekend left me wondering, “where did all these people come from?”
Many in this state will go well out of their way to go see Alabama or Auburn play football, but who or what may you go out of your way to see and why?
Read Mark 3:7-19.
Why does Jesus attract huge crowds of followers?
Why doesn’t He want the unclean spirits to reveal His identity?
For what specific purposes does Jesus call twelve of His followers?
Every Jew knew that there were twelve tribes in Israel—or, at least, that there had been. What would Jesus, then, be saying about Himself and His ministry by choosing twelve to have authority with Him in His work?
Read Mark 3:20-35.
As news about Jesus spreads, more people follow Him home. What does His family think about Him?
What do the scribes think about Him?
What kind of reactions have you gotten from people when they find out you’re a follower of Jesus? If you aren’t a follower of Jesus, what is your impression of who He is?
How does Jesus answer their accusations?
Jesus compares Himself to a strong man plundering a house. How does this help us to answer the question about being in league with Satan?
When Jesus’ family was looking for Him, how He responded would have been shocking. Loyalty to the family was ultimately loyalty to Israel as the people of God. As Mark has already shown us, Jesus would often challenge symbols that lay at the heart of the Jewish sense of identity. What does Jesus teach here about family?
What allegiances do we often hold dear?
How do they sometimes supersede our allegiance to Jesus and His “family”?
How can we ensure our allegiances (whether social, cultural, political, economic, or ethic) are in proper relationship to Jesus?
Trent Dean
dean008@gmail.com
Ps. If you have a question(s) in regard to Mark 3:29 leave them as a comment so my answer or thoughts can be seen by all.