Disciples Global Network

A line is crossed when the activities of God’s Spirit in the words and deeds of Jesus are attributed to Satan  –  Mark 3:22-35 .  Christ’s statement about the “ unpardonable sin ” was in response to the scribes from Jerusalem who came to examine his conduct and teachings. In the preceding paragraph, his “ friends ” had concluded that he was “ beside himself .” In the present story, the representatives from the Temple accused him of being in league with “ Beelzebul ,” the Devil.

Jesus chose his Twelve Apostles from among a larger group of followers, including two surprising candidates - Mark 3:13-21 .  After preaching to the crowds near Capernaum, Jesus departed to a “ mountain ” and summoned his disciples, where he chose twelve men from among a larger group. The resultant company corresponded to the twelve tribes of Israel; effectively, he was reconstituting the covenant people of Yahweh, only now, around himself and not the Torah or Temple.

The crowds welcomed Jesus because of his miracles, only demons recognized him as the Son of God  -  Mark 3:7-12 .  Mark  describes several incidents that occurred while Jesus was teaching in Capernaum. Eager to see his healing powers, the crowd thronged him to the point it became necessary for him to speak from a boat just off the shoreline. But in the middle of his preaching, demons began to declare that he was the “ Son of God .”

The  Letter to the Hebrews  next demonstrates the superiority of the  sonly word  by comparing it to Moses, Israel’s Great Lawgiver. Implicit in its argument is the priority of the “ word spoken in the Son ” over even the Mosaic legislation, and at this point in the Letter, the comparison is most appropriate. Moses certainly did mediate God’s law to Israel and was the greatest of the prophets. Nevertheless, the “ Son ” surpasses even him in status and glory.

Jesus is the Son whom God appointed as our merciful and faithful High Priest after his suffering, death, and resurrection.  A key theme in the Letter to the Hebrews is the elevation of Jesus to the office of the High Priest because of his obedience “ unto death .” In his sufferings, he was “ perfected ,” and in his resurrection, God vindicated his sacrifice when he “ sat down ” at the “ right hand of the Majesty on High .” There, he now intercedes on behalf of his “ brethren .” The stress is not on his status as the Royal Son, as true as that is, but instead on his priestly position and ministry.