“Damage control”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Mark 3:19b-35 (Forward, p. 45) CEV p. 1029
One of the wonders of Holy Scripture is that almost every passage comes packed with wondrous truths and marvellous insights. Today’s passage is certainly a prime example of this. There are at least three differing themes that could well be explored from these words. For that reason, as a rather clumsy and somewhat inept way of tying them together, I am entitling this meditation, ‘damage control.’
First off, this can apply to the efforts, the initiative, of Jesus’ family. In ancient Palestine, if a person was considered a bit ‘off kilter’, unbalanced or crazy, the safest remedy was to take the person home and keep him there. That this was a good stratagem was all the more so if the person was riling up the authorities or getting into some sort of trouble. In this case, the authorities were claiming that Jesus was working with the devil, and if the family had heard this rumour, no doubt they would be very concerned. What would the authorities do next, they probably wondered. Best then, to take Him and out of the limelight, away from their attention. But even with the fact that Jesus wasn’t eating properly because of the crowds and the pressures was enough reason for concern. So, they came to bail Him out and take Him home, a kind of ancient damage control.
Then, there is the case of mistaken attribution, mistaking the Spirit’s work and power for that of Satan. That, according to Jesus, was a very serious issue, for denying the Holy Spirit, sealing off the Holy Spirit, resisting the Holy Spirit, was a sure-fire way to destruction. If they said ‘no’ long enough, ‘walled off’ the Holy Spirit long enough, then there would be no room for Him to work and they would be lost. And so, Jesus’ words to them were a kind of warning, a kind of ‘damage control’, to prevent this from happening.
And then, thirdly, there is a ‘sort of’ damage control in terms of the kingdom and its visible expression the church. So often we think of it as a kind of family, which indeed it is. But then, sadly, this can fall short of describing fully what it is. As much as it is about our relationships with each other—by the way, this is very, very important—it is even more about our relationship with Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus takes this opportunity to redefine just who His family. They are the ones who relate to Him and obey Him. Without this, we are missing something absolutely vital and necessary, and indeed, are not really His family at all. To hear this then, and respond to this, is also a kind of ‘damage control.’ So, let us, during this Lenten season, take special pains to solidify and nourish this relationship with Jesus Christ, by spending time with Him, listening to Him, and trying to obey Him. Amen.
Forward notes: “Then he went home” (verse 19b).
“I am a homebody. Home is where I can rest alone or be with friends. It’s where I have my ‘devotional chair,’ a quiet nook where I reflect and pray. Mark tells us that Jesus departs to the sea with his disciples and is followed by a great crowd of people. It must have been exhausting to have throngs of people pressing on him, wanting to be healed, needing something from him.
“So, he goes up the mountain, calls some of his followers, and appoints them to proclaim his message. It must have been a relief for him to know that he would have faithful companions to carry on his ministry.
“Perhaps when he went home, Jesus wanted to talk to his mother, his siblings. Maybe he wanted to go to his room, flop down on his mat, and sleep. Maybe he wanted to pray. Whatever the case, he knew that home would be a place of rest and renewal, a place where God would give him all he needed.”
MOVING FORWARD: “What—and where—is ‘home’ for you? If you can, find time to return there soon.”