Read Mark 3:31-35
Do You Think I’m Crazy?
As Jesus is ministering and speaking inside a house crowded with people, his family were coming out to take custody of him because they thought (vs 21) he had gone crazy. In verse 31, we read how that all played out.
* When Jesus’ family arrived outside the house, they sent word into him requesting he come out at once.
* As this message traveled from person to person, eventually it reached those sitting around Jesus. They then said to Him, “Hey, your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” If we were to paraphrase what they said, I think it would go something like this, “Hey Jesus, your mom and brothers think you’re crazy and they aren’t really happy with you, they want you to stop what you’re doing and they want to see you right now!”
* If they knew how Jesus responded, I think it would have made them even more upset. Jesus responded by asking the multitude this question, “Who are my mother and brothers?” Then looking around the room he said, “Behold, you all are my mother and brothers! For whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister, and mother.”
Can you imagine if people would have passed that message back out to his family. “Hey Mary, and brothers of Jesus, he said that WE WERE his mother and brothers!” I think his family would have flipped out even more. None of this would have made sense to them.
Why did Jesus’s family think he was out of his mind? I can only speculate.
* Perhaps, the things Jesus was doing was coming across as if he was God himself. Maybe this was difficult for them to grasp.
* Perhaps the things he was saying was so anti-cultural that even they found it hard to accept.
Regardless, when you give your life to Jesus there will be those who will think you are crazy. It may be your peers or your own family members. Some will attack you, lecture you, belittle you, or say anything to try to get you back where you were. Your peers may think you are “No fun anymore!” It’s at this point you have to make a decision: are you going to be willing to follow the Lord Jesus regardless of what others think? Is it going to be God’s will that you choose to follow, or the will of those who oppose you? Choose Christ!
