Out of His Mind

Out of His Mind

Scripture Reading: Mark 3:7-21

When Jesus returned to the house where he was staying, the crowds began to gather again, and soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him home with them. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.           (Mark 3:20-21 NLT)

What caused the family of Jesus and his fellow neighbors from Nazareth and Capernaum to react to Jesus’ teaching the way they did? Why did they doubt his Messianic claims? Was it simply a case of misunderstanding, fear of repercussions, community pressures, inability to grasp the idea of divinity, jealous, or were their eyes blinded by the evil one?

     They watched him grow up and couldn’t help but notice that he was different from the other Jewish boys. Everyone knew of his miraculous conception and birth. They no doubt heard of Joseph and Mary’s flight to Egypt to avoid Herod’s madness. They saw him at work in his father’s carpenter shop. He may even have made an item of furniture for their homes.

     Was it too much for them to believe that he was the Messiah when they saw him baptized by John the Baptist, and the dove descending from heaven, and the voice of God saying, “This is my beloved son, and I am fully pleased with him?” (Mt. 3:17) They falsely concluded that Jesus must be out of his mind (Mt. 3:21).

     It wasn’t that Jesus was out of His mind, but rather that he was out of their minds. How could they possibly understand Jesus’ mission when they only understood things from a human level? The unregenerate human mind is not capable of knowing the things of a divine nature. The Apostle Paul makes this very clear in 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But people who aren’t Christians can’t understand these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means.” (NLT)

     Don’t be surprised when God’s unfolding plan in your life causes people to think you are crazy. It happened to my wife and me when we decided to take our first mission trip overseas. Our grandson (bless his little heart) said to his mom, “Aren’t grandpa and grandma getting too old to be doing this?” (Matt. Was eleven and we were in our seventies) A few of our friends at church doubted our sanity too. When God opens a door of opportunity, and his call comes to go forward, we need to be ready and willing to respond.

     Has anyone ever thought you were out of your mind for stepping out by faith to join God in a mission adventure? There will always be doubters even among fellow believers.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be willing to follow you regardless of what people think.