THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 3:20-22
“He is out of his mind.” (Mark 3:21)
Following Jesus should require a warning label: ‘May result in people thinking you are crazy!’
Jesus changes our priorities and behaviours.
With Jesus, people matter more than personal gain or comfort.
With Jesus, forgiveness matters more than anger or bitterness.
With Jesus, mercy trumps revenge.
With Jesus, being generous is valued over accumulating wealth and possessions.
With Jesus, loving and praying for enemies is encouraged.
Not just crazy, possessed by the prince of demons.
(Beelzebul, either ‘lord of the flies’ or ‘lord of the house’, one of Satan’s titles).
When the world is upside down, those choosing to live right-side up will be viewed as wrong.
Sometimes doing what Jesus prompts us to do will feel crazy to us too.
Choosing to love, forgive, share, care, forgive, bless, etc. is not ‘crazy’.
Jesus’ way is God’s way, the way we were created to live.
That it seems crazy only goes to show how far we have fallen from our created glory.
If only the whole world were as crazy as Jesus!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, doing what You prompt me to do does take me where I would rather not go. It will result in others looking at me funny. May I be possessed with Your Spirit, so that Your ways seem more normal to me.
Observations/Application
Again the people followed because – they wanted a miracle, a healing, an open heart for what He preached, spirit-driven . . . there were so many that there was no more room in the ‘inn’ to do anything. Crowd control? A mob scene? Was Jesus overwhelmed? His disciples probably were. His family certainly was. Their son, their brother attracting so many people and preaching and teaching and doing miracles – how is this possible? All the attention on Him. Why? What’s so special? He’s gifted.
And the religious leaders of the day explained all the happenings by devil worship. They had scales on their eyes.
Today many people still can’t understand Christ followers by what they do – in their giving financially/materially/emotionally/ – giving till it hurts. Forgiving those that hurt them – not the eye for eye lifestyle but embracing the love of Christ. Christ followers today should also be out of their minds doing their living for Jesus.
Remember the BE-attitudes?
Live for Jesus always.
Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me bring Your love,
Where there is injury, Your pardon Lord,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in You
Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness – only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy
Oh Master, grant that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood, as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul
Make me a channel of your peace,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all men that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life
Oh Master, grant that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood, as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul
Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me bring Your love,
Where there is injury, Your pardon Lord,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in You