Today we see in this passage how different groups responded to Jesus.

1. the leaders (v6) – the Pharisees and Herodians were usually in opposition to each other but here they unite to attack Jesus who they see as a common enemy.
2. the crowd (v9-10) – there was no hiding place, the crowds thronged after Jesus amazed at His miracles – so that He was in danger of being crushed.
3. the demons (v11-12) – they have to recoil at His greatness, acknowledging who He was. Sadly many people today fail to do what even the demons do here.
4. the disciples (v13-19) – they stick close to Him and enter into his ministry of preaching, meeting needs and confronting evil.
5. His family (v20-21) – they thought He was mad, an embarrassment. They want to take Him home safely out of the public eye.

The opposition of the Jewish religious leaders gets more aggressive as they accuse Jesus does His miracles by the power of Satan (v22). Using a parable (v23-27) Jesus shows how foolish this is, as He is attacking Satan’s Kingdom. Jesus warns them as calling the work of the Holy Spirit evil is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and the unpardonable sin. Those who have committed this sin are those who have so resisted the Holy Spirit that they have become totally hardened to spiritual things.

Here is the second occasion when Jesus’ family came to Him (see 3 v20). Their attitude appears to be that He should drop everything for them (v31). Jesus shows that as important as family ties are, they are not as important as doing the will of God. Are there family ties holding you back in your service of Christ?

Jesus considers those who join Him in doing the Father’s will as His family (v35).