Paradise Cafe Discussions - A Place For Bible Research And Christian Encouragement

Hi everyone:

Fugitive1 here again. I have another question it seems, from my personal bible reading. In reading over the book of Mark the other night, I came across this curious point in Mark 3rd chapter. I'm wondering about the way Jesus was treated on an occasion by his own family, relatives.The bible account says they thought Jesus was losing his mind, as in, going crazy. Hmmmmmmm. (Mark 3:20, 21)

Now to me, this is especially baffling, when we consider the fact the angel came to Mary to tell her the child born of her, would be from God, and a special representative of God and all. So, she certainly knew Jesus was special and was from God. So she certainly could not have gotten mixed-up about this, could she? I'm wondering now. (See Luke 1:26-38.)

Anyway, this is what Mark 3:20, 21 said of the situation:

"When Jesus returned to the house where he was staying, the crowds began to gather again, and soon he and his disciples couldn't even find time to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him home with them. "He's out of his mind," they said." (New Living Translation)

So, my question is: Why do you think Mary and relatives thought Jesus was "out of his mind," when we remember Mary knew full well Jesus was definitely from God, having talked with an angel beforehand about his coming miraculous birth, and afterwards having carried him in pregnancy, miraculouly before his human birth on earth? Why would she act this way, knowing what she knew? (See Luke 1:26-38.)

I mean, let's get real here. If anybody knew Jesus was from God, Mary did. So what was the problem here, do you think?

I'm quite baffled about this situation.

Anyway, evidently realizing the difficult situation he was placed in by his relatives, the bible account says Jesus didn't even come out to speak with them, or even deal with them at all. He totally ignored them. (Mark 3:31-35)

So that's my question. And of course, I invite any here who would wish to comment or share thoughts here, to please do so. All are welcome to comment. :D

Thanks!

Fugitive1/Detroit Intellect

It doesn't specifically say in Mark, does it, that his mother Mary was among those of "his family" - maybe it was sibling rivalry, jealousy?

Our Master's zeal, devotion and or even methods of doing his Fathers will, (expelling demons etc.) may have seemed a little odd to some.

:coffeeread:

Really humming along aren't we.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.:D

In the immortal words of isomam: To any and all others, a simple statement: Caveat emptor (buyer beware)

rez:P

HI fugi,

I really do not find it odd..
The carnal mind does not understand that which is of the spirit.
so MAybe it was relatives that may have heard but just did not beleive..
Cuase they new him may also have caused some doubts.

What if he was a "normal guy" they coulda been like this guy is "God"s special gift"
IN fact he may have come across as a rebel for the time he lived who knows?

Yes, it does, actually. :ok:

Jesus' MOTHER and brothers arrived at the house where he was teaching. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. (Mark 3:31 New Living Translation)

Fugitive1/Detroit Intellect

I'm sure some viewed Jesus as a rebel, especially the Pharisees. So I wouldn't have a problem with that viewpoint. :)

Fugitive1/Detroit Intellect

Good question, Fuge. I'll go along with TotalDismay here. For, while there are many things that we are aware of, that doesn't mean that we BELIEVE.

Unfortunately, as humans, we don't always trust our own minds. I'm sure that was the case with Mary, until there was no doubt as to who he was.

absolutely--I am the queen of second guessing myself--I do it all the time much to my dismay because usually the first opinion is right... :love:

We're privileged to have the accounts of his ministry decently portrayed of the scriptures to gauge for ourselves, but perhaps Mary didn't hear accurately about all he had done by that time. She would have to base a lot on reports, many of which wouldn't have been favourable.

Many of the Pharisees - and synagogue members in Nazareth - to whom she would have shown respect, would have given a poor report of him:

"after all, would our synagogue want to through the real Messiah from a cliff top?"

And if Mary really did want her son to attain to God's promised future for him, she may have heard the contrary reports and been worried that he wasn't going the right way about things - that worries any mother!

Even with our own faith: we have complete confidence in the great future ahead, real faith, but don't we nevertheless feel despondent at times? our behaviour seem as if we have no hope at-all? And with the adversary doing everything he could to disrupt Jesus' ministry - and all he really needed to do was disrupt the time of his death to invalidate a whole host of scriptures - isn't it likely that he made sure Mary heard the most convincing bad reports to make her have doubts?

Perhaps what the scripture shows most of all is how the adversary was trying to undermine our Lord by whatever devious means he could.

IMHO

Acts5v29

Hi Knight of Faith:

I wonder why that is...really? Why God's prophets are always disrespected and even disbelieved, especially by those close to them.

You mean, a man's own family, becomes the hardest to convince? Is that right?

But still, I believe in Mary's particular case, it is worse ... much worse.

Remember Luke 1:26-35 said:

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! " 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 "Don't be frightened, Mary," the angel told her, "for God has decided to bless you! 31 You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!" 34 Mary asked the angel, "But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin." 35 The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. (New Living Translation)

How does a person have such an experience, even dealing directly with an angel from God, and the person still doesn't get it.

oh well... :dontknow:

Fugitive1/Detroit

No, I don't. Do you?

Of course, I never thought being "disrespected" and "disbelieved" was the ONLY QUALIFICATION Jehovah was looking for in the making of a "prophet" of His Liking. I thought there were more qualifications involved than simply being obnoxious to the people. I thought there was more involved.

However, if you insist that being "disrespected" and "disbelieved" are the sole criteria and only that, for being a prophet of Jehovah, then perhaps I could suggest maybe 50 or more people in my own neighborhood that could possibly "fit-the-bill", really obnoxious & disliked people. People who are really "disrespected" and "disbelieved" on just about everything they say around here. So I guess on that basis, these revolting souls in my neighborhood, pending Jehovah's approval of course, could be thought of Jehovah's Prophets too. :ok:

What do you think? :D

Fugitive1/Detroit Intellect

And yet, we remember in the beginning of Jesus' ministry, it was Mary who asked Jesus to do something, evidently miraculous, at this wedding/reception they attended where family and friends were present. She asked Jesus to do something. (John 2:3)

This situation led to Jesus performing his first miracle in turning water to wine. She evidently suggested this because she felt Jesus could do something amazing here, to introduce himself as a "prophet" to the people. My opinion, of course. (John 2:1-12)

It even appears that after Jesus performed his first miracle in turning water into wine, that he and his disciples, AS WELL AS ALL OF HIS RELATIVES, MOTHER INCLUDED, travelled together as a group down to Capernaum. Now that's after the first miracle. So, they were traveling together as a group, that's Jesus' disciples, Mary and his relatives, traveling all together, after the first miracle. Wow! (See John 2:12)

So we see, Mary was right in the middle of things, at least at first, before things got difficult for Jesus. She eye-witnessed that first miracle, even went so far as to have a direct hand in it, by suggesting to those in charge 'to do what he [Jesus] said' in accomplishing the first miracle. (See John 2:5)

Now, what do you think of that? :dontknow:

Fugitive1/Detroit Intellect