Getting to Know Jesus in the Gospel of Mark
Study Seventeen: Mark 3:22-30
22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying,
“He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the
demons.” 23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can
Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom
cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not
be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,
he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong
man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then
indeed he may plunder his house.
28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the
children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes
against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal
sin”— 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3)
1. How would it be
preferable for Jesus’ opponents to believe that he was doing his work through
the power of demons?
2. How does Jesus’
parable clear up the question for anyone who was sincere in asking?
3. What was Jesus
saying about himself when he declared that someone needs to be able to “bind
the strong man” before plundering his house?
4. What has Mark’s
record of Jesus’ life told us about the connection between Jesus’ claim
regarding evil spirits, and his activities regarding evil spirits?
5. What is
the connection between accusing Jesus of having an unclean spirit, and blaspheming
the Holy Spirit?
6. In the
end, who are the ones who were really serving the prince of demons?
7. Where do you see
yourself in this picture? Why?
Unless otherwise noted,
Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good
News Publishers.)
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