Word@Word 036 - Mark 3:28-30
Published: Wed, 01/09/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 3:28-30 "I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit." (NIV)
This is a puzzle verse to some Christians, who wonder if they have committed the unforgivable sin. The context helps us. Jesus has been accused of using Satan's power to exorcise demons. Of course that was not true. His rebuttal is strong, using simple analogies to show that the idea is ludicrous. Most would have left it there, excusing it as just a joke. But it was not just a laughable mistake - it was a deliberate denial of everything that Jesus was.
Now, blasphemy (in its many shades and shapes) is not good, not at all. It takes the sacred things of God and spoils them ... failing to give God the glory for what He has done. But, as people realise their error and repent, even that can be forgiven.
But to say that the power in Jesus is from Satan, was a blasphemy too far. Having clearly seen and heard the Son of God - such a conclusion was to deny the holy fellowship of the Son with the Spirit of God. It does what Jesus refused to Satan in the wilderness - it claims that Satan has all power: persist in believing that - and there is a big problem.
The rise of paganism, witchcraft and occultism preaches the same fake gospel. It is not just laughable - it is perilous in the extreme.
Prayer: Dear Father, help me to be bold to proclaim Christ especially where strange spiritualities seduce the minds and hearts of my friends. May I be full of grace to win them and full of truth so that the error may be seen before it is too late. In Jesus Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
This is a puzzle verse to some Christians, who wonder if they have committed the unforgivable sin. The context helps us. Jesus has been accused of using Satan's power to exorcise demons. Of course that was not true. His rebuttal is strong, using simple analogies to show that the idea is ludicrous. Most would have left it there, excusing it as just a joke. But it was not just a laughable mistake - it was a deliberate denial of everything that Jesus was.
Now, blasphemy (in its many shades and shapes) is not good, not at all. It takes the sacred things of God and spoils them ... failing to give God the glory for what He has done. But, as people realise their error and repent, even that can be forgiven.
But to say that the power in Jesus is from Satan, was a blasphemy too far. Having clearly seen and heard the Son of God - such a conclusion was to deny the holy fellowship of the Son with the Spirit of God. It does what Jesus refused to Satan in the wilderness - it claims that Satan has all power: persist in believing that - and there is a big problem.
The rise of paganism, witchcraft and occultism preaches the same fake gospel. It is not just laughable - it is perilous in the extreme.
Prayer: Dear Father, help me to be bold to proclaim Christ especially where strange spiritualities seduce the minds and hearts of my friends. May I be full of grace to win them and full of truth so that the error may be seen before it is too late. In Jesus Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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