MY SPIN
One time when Jesus was visiting someone's house, a huge crowd gathered -- making it impossible for him and his apprentices to even eat.
Jesus' family heard what was going on and decided they should plan an intervention -- obviously he was not thinking clearly.
Some social pundits, all the way from Jerusalem -- experts in religious rules -- started a campaign to discredit him. They kept pitching the message, “Jesus is obviously working with Satan. How else could he acquire so much authority over demons?"
So, Jesus called a meeting with the experts and aimed a story at them. "Is it possible that Satan would be turning on his own troops? Is he trying to defeat himself? Is Satan involved in ousting Satan? If Satan is trying to defeat his own troops, that means the kingdom of darkness is at civil war. And if the opposition is divided, it will certainly fall. It's over for them.
Do you think Satan has gone soft or has become disabled? No, he's like a strong man protecting his house from burglars. The only way to get past him is to subdue him and tie him up.
Let me frame it another way, if you say that I'm able to do these things because I'm possessed by an evil spirit, then you're guilty of insulting the Holy Spirit. People can be forgiven of every kind of sin and insult -- except insulting the Holy Spirit -- attributing his work to the devil. The consequence of that kind of sin lasts forever.
Suddenly, a messenger made his way through the crowd that was seated around Jesus. "Hey Jesus, your mother, brothers, and sisters are outside looking for you."
Looking around at the crowd surrounding him, Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he looked at them and pointed to the crowd, “You are my mother and brothers. Whoever is carrying out God's agenda is my family.”
THE COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE
Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered again so that it was impossible for him and his followers even to eat. 21 When his family heard what was happening, they came to take control of him. They were saying, “He’s out of his mind!”
22 The legal experts came down from Jerusalem. Over and over they charged, “He’s possessed by Beelzebul. He throws out demons with the authority of the ruler of demons.”
23 When Jesus called them together he spoke to them in a parable: “How can Satan throw Satan out? 24 A kingdom involved in civil war will collapse. 25 And a house torn apart by divisions will collapse. 26 If Satan rebels against himself and is divided, then he can’t endure. He’s done for. 27 No one gets into the house of a strong person and steals anything without first tying up the strong person. Only then can the house be burglarized. 28 I assure you that human beings will be forgiven for everything, for all sins and insults of every kind. 29 But whoever insults the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. That person is guilty of a sin with consequences that last forever.” 30 He said this because the legal experts were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”
31 His mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent word to him, calling for him. 32 A crowd was seated around him, and those sent to him said, “Look, your mother, brothers, and sisters are outside looking for you.”
33 He replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 34 Looking around at those seated around him in a circle, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother.”
