Welcome to the eighth day of our Lenten Blobble Study of Mark’s gospel. Don’t forget you can use the “Categories” tool in the right sidebar to see all the posts together. Just click on “Blobble Study.”

I hope you are gaining much from the study. I’m enjoying reading the gospel through again and meeting Jesus in a fresh way.

Make sure as you read that you take time to try and visualize Jesus. So far Mark presents us with a man of action. Jesus appears on the scene and he is constantly on the move, constantly in battle with Satan and immediately facing a whole range of human enemies. There is an air of restlessness about Jesus in this gospel, as if he has something greater to do, and he is simply moving through this world on a greater mission than the story shows. See how he is frustrated and even angry with the Pharisees? See how he knows exactly what he is about. There is no dithering.

In today’s reading we see a disturbing aspect to Jesus in his relationship with his family.

Blasphemy of the Scribes.

2 He came home. Again [the] crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. 21When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 22The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”

Jesus and Beelzebul.23Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan?24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.26And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him.27But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.28Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them.l29But whoever blasphemes against the holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”30For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Jesus and His Family.

31 His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him.32A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers [and your sisters] are outside asking for you.”33But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and [my] brothers?”34And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.35[For] whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

Go here to read my reflection for today. Remember, no Blobble Study on the weekends.