Mark 3:28-30
Have
you ever blown it in your relationship with someone that you didn’t think it was
possible to fix it? I mean, those mistakes that are catastrophic, earth-shattering,
usually morally based choices that bring into question all the previous history
of the relationship. Or the betrayal that shows just how mean or vindictive you
can really be. I am amazed at the ability of human beings to be so hurtful
toward each other.
Remember,
Jesus’ family thinks He is nuts and are on their way to commit Him, taking Him out
of the public eye to save them from embarrassment. They have heard that the
crowds are so great, the crowds gathering to hear Him teach and see Him heal,
that they don’t even have time to eat. The crowds are pressing in so much, that
they can’t do normal things.
The
religious leaders in Jerusalem have sent an envoy to try and stop Jesus by
applying their official label on His activities. They do this by saying that it
is really Satan at work and not God. They look at His activities and can’t
explain it through their lens, so they only have one alternative: it must be
the work of Satan.
Jesus
sets them straight. He starts by giving us some really good news. There is forgiveness
available for all. Even as Jesus is rebuking the religious scholars of His day
for saying that the Holy Spirit’s work is really Satan’s work, Jesus tells us
that there is forgiveness. This is the start of Jesus’ rebuke. Even these
religious leaders can have forgiveness. I don’t know about you, but if I have
just been called Satan’s tool, I am not sure my first response would be to
offer forgiveness, but this is exactly what Jesus does. Even these religious
leaders who misunderstand Jesus so much are offered forgiveness. Wow, that is
grace in action.
The
next phrase has put many believers in a state of questioning and sometimes even
panic. According to Jesus there is a sin for which there is no forgiveness.
Many folks wonder if they have committed that sin at sometime in their lives.
But
look at the context. The religious leaders are in a state of denial about God’s
power being present in Jesus. They are flipping things on their heads by saying
that God’s work is Satan’s.
A
good way to think about this sin is this. This sin involves an attitude of
continual defiance and hostility to the LORD. This attitude rejects the saving
power expressed in the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus and in the
world. It is a continual choice to reject God’s work in their life, His calling
to repentance and intimacy with God. It is the choice to stay in the dark and
in ignorance about the true nature of the world, sin, God and humanity.
The
good news is that if you are worried about having committed this sin, you haven’t!
Those who have committed this sin don’t care. Since they deny sin’s existence
and the saving role Jesus has, they don’t care if their life choices put them
in the camp of God’s enemies. They like where they live and don’t want to
leave. If they refuse to accept the one way of forgiveness, then forgiveness
isn’t possible. There is only one way.
But
forgiveness is even offered to them, if they will just accept it.