The Unblinking Eyes (Mark 3:22-30)

They came from Jerusalem in their flowing white garments, expecting and excepting the honor and reverence they received as they took the chief seats in the synagogue. They came because they had heard about the demons who had proclaimed that Jesus was, “the Holy One of God” in the synagogue in Capernaum. Rumor had it that Jesus spoke with power and authority that the scribes did not possess and they were offended. They had heard how all who were sick and demon possessed had flocked to Him. In fact, they had heard that the whole town had assembled at His door and that Jesus had healed many and had driven out demons. They had viewed all this with the unblinking eye of a serpent and had come to pass judgment.

With malicious jealousy they proclaimed that Jesus could drive out demons because He Himself was possessed by the chief of demons. Note that there was no question about the existence of demons. In the book of Mark we are given a glimpse into the spiritual world where demons are fully acknowledged. The question wasn’t whether demons existed or not the question was by whose authority was Jesus casting them out.

Jesus’ first words in Mark are, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.”(Mark 1:15) When Satan entered the garden in the form of a snake and tempeted man to sin he was able to steal dominion and set up his kingdom. But even as the curse was spoken God also gave a promise that one day the head of the serpent would be crushed. Jesus response to the scribes was a parable about kingdoms in conflict. “If a kingdom is divided against itself it will not stand.” (Mark 3:24)

In connection with driving out demons Jesus also said that, “no one can enter a strong man’s house and rob his possessions unless he first binds the strong man.” (Mark 3:27) I can’t but wonder if the scribes who had from Jerusalem were among those who stood at the foot of the cross as Jesus took His place between two thieves. On the cross the word of God was fulfilled. Satan bruised the heal of Jesus but Jesus crushed Satan’s head and in doing so He bound the strong man and robbed him of his possessions.

In was also in response to the accusation that He, Jesus, had Beelzebul in Him that there was a reference to the unpardonable sin. “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of eternal sin”(Mark 3:29). Blasphemy is when you refuse to acknowledge what is good and worthy of respect and instead speak evil about what is good and in doing so you reverse moral values. Come with me to the cross and I will show you an example. Jesus hung between two thieves at first they both hurled insults at Him. Did they both commit the unpardonable sin? No. One of the thieves impaled on the cross repented and that day entered the kingdom of God. The other turned his face away. All this was seen by the unblinking eyes of the scribes.