Instruction
Scripture: Mark 3:20-35
Mark records this event in the context of great ministerial
growth for Jesus. He has drawn large crowds because of his miracles and has
just appointed the Twelve Disciples. Mark records that despite the many people
who were following, some did not accept him, and others were seeking to
discredit him. Jesus uses this confrontation to show the true nature of his
ministry. It was not that he had a demon, but that he had come to confront and
bind the demonic and to save people from the power of evil which was (and is)
at work in the world.
Teaching
Jesus uses a brief parable to describe his ministry in this
reading. A parable is a story that is told in very earthly terms that contains
heavenly revelation. So as Jesus spoke of the strong man’s house, plundering,
and binding, in the context of casting out demons we infer his meaning.
The strong man’s house is this world. The strong man is
Satan – the prince of demons. Jesus himself is the one who comes to bind and
plunder Satan. But what are the goods that Jesus plunders? What is of value in
this world that he would desire? That would be you and me, the ones he rescues
from the powers of evil.
Life
The view of Jesus as the stronger man who binds and plunders
the strong man fits nicely with what we believe about the Lord’s Prayer when we
pray, “Thy will be done.” God’s will is done when he breaks and hinders the
evil plans of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature. Our life of faith
begins and ends with this: that Jesus has saved us from sin, death, and the
devil by his death and resurrection.
Living in this reality allows us to have a humble
confidence. We are among those who have been saved. That does not make us
better or cleverer than anyone else, but it does mean that we know the Savior
and we can introduce others to him. As people who have been saved our lives are
shaped by compassion for people who are still caught in the strong man’s grip,
and our desire is to bring them news of the stronger man who has defeated him
in order to save them.
Prayer
The theme of this
prayer is Thanksgiving.
Lord Jesus, we thank you for coming into the world to bind
the powers of sin and evil, and to rescue us from them. Thank you for bearing
with the doubt and unbelief of people you loved, never wavering from your
mission. Thank you for confronting those who would lead people away from you.
We give you thanks for the salvation you have won by your own death and
resurrection, which display that you are indeed the strongest of all and that
your salvation is more powerful than the contrivances of any demon by any name.
Thank you for saving us to make us your own. Amen.
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