1. Mark 3:20–35 (ESV)
  2. Structure and outline

Connection between Mark 3:20-30 and Mark 3:21-25

Mark 3:20–35 (ESV)

20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat.

In Mark 3:20-35, there are two groups of people who want to interfere in Jesus' work of ministry:

  • His family want to control him. They like Jesus, but they think he is mad and therefore they come to Capernaum to try and take him back home.

  • The Pharisees want to stop him. They do not like Jesus; they think he is bad and therefore they want to stop him. They try this by spreading a lie which can have him killed.

In response to both groups, Jesus makes it clear that he cannot be controlled or stopped. It is sinful to think that you can interfere in Jesus’ work of ministry, whether or not you are his family member (someone who likes Jesus) or his enemy. Doing so is actually equivalent to rejecting him as God’s King—a refusal to repent and believe in him. In fact, when one of his disciples later tries to stop Jesus from doing his work on earth (see Mark 8:31–33), Jesus even identifies that desire with the work of Satan.