Mark 3:20 - 4:1 (NRSV)
Read Mark 3:20 - 4:1 on biblegateway.com
Verse 20and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. Verse 21When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind." Verse 22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons." Verse 23And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? Verse 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. Verse 25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. Verse 26And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. Verse 27But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.
Verse 28"Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; Verse 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"- Verse 30for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."
Verse 31Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him.
Verse 32A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you."
Verse 33And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?"
Verse 34And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!
Verse 35Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Devotion
Have you noticed many of our neighbors who recently immigrated have few grandparents in their relocation communities? When families make difficult decisions to escape poverty and/or violence by emigrating, many of their relatives and friends cannot bear the enormous travel demands and must remain in their homelands. Migration causes painful losses and complex issues for families and cultures.
Additionally, have you observed that, as younger generations build relationships across cultures in our increasingly diverse society, their perspectives often expand? Sometimes it becomes challenging for families to share conversations, values and/or service. Our relationships in community life change us—just as God intended.
Our families grow to include people with whom we share journeys and service. In our diverse "relatives," we see God's image and gain greater insights about our Creator. Within our new relationships and throughout our journeys we can trust that our gracious God walks with all of us.
Prayer
God, our loving Parent, we adore you for making yourself known through your Son and the diversity you created in all of us. We confess to you, who is always ready to forgive, that we are too quick to exclude and too slow to include our sisters and brothers who are different from us. Soften our hearts to welcome with love all of your children. Amen.