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Mark 3 – Lord, Liar, Lunatic, Brother
C.S. Lewis famously categorized three possibilities as to what Jesus was: Lord, Liar, or Lunatic. This was because of the claims Jesus made for Himself which belied the choice that he was only a good, moral, human teacher. Amazingly, Mark 3 shows these same three choices in Jesus’ day.
In one scene we have demons falling down before Jesus confessing, “You are the Son of God” (3:11). This had been happening since He started His ministry of teaching and healing (1:23-24). Are these demons correct? Although it sounds strange, but as creatures from the spiritual realm, they would know Jesus’ spiritual identity and who He was before encased in flesh. Is Jesus the Lord?
When Jesus goes home, so many people gather it makes it impossible to even eat. Seeing this his own flesh and blood claim, “He is out of His mind!” (3:21). Have all the crowds made Jesus think He is something He is not? Has Jesus’ claims caused a false following? Is Jesus a lunatic?
After this, Pharisees who had come down from Jerusalem, blaspheme Jesus saying, “He has Beelzebub in Him,” and “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons” (3:22). This of course contradicts His own claims of being “the Son of Man” (2:10) and “Lord of the Sabbath” (2:28). Is Jesus a liar?
There is a touching scene Mark 3 closes with. Jesus is surrounded by those who are His followers. They neither think He is a liar or a lunatic. Admittedly, they are still trying to figure out exactly who He is (4:41). But as they are learning and willing to do the will of God (3:35), Jesus considers them family. Amazingly, our Lord is our brother.
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