SECTION VI.

THE DECISIVE PUBLIC CONFLICT OF CHRIST WITH THE PHARISEES OF GALILEE.

(Mark. iii. 20-35.)

The Lord had resolved upon the selection of the Twelve, in order thereby to moderate the excessive concourse of the people to Himself. How necessary this measure had become, was now especially shown, when He returned from the mountain solitude to His dwelling in Capernaum.

The multitude immediately assembled anew, and in such numbers, that they were not able to move for the crowd, not even so much as to eat bread. Whilst, however, the enthusiasm in His favour was excited to the utmost, the enmity of His Galilean opposers manifested itself, on the other hand, with a blasphemous daring which occasioned a decisive spiritual collision.

The formidable character of this conflict is manifest from the fact, that about this time His friends went out to lay hold on Him, saying. He is beside himself.

The occasion which led to this issue was as follows.¹ Certain scribes had come down from Jerusalem. These now publicly pronounced, as their judgment concerning the Lord: 'He hath Beelzebub (He is possessed of him), and by the power of this prince of the devils casteth He out devils.' But He called them together, and spake to them in parables: 'How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Thus, also, if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided against himself, he cannot stand, but there is an end of him! '

He had thus shown that He could not destroy the kingdom of Satan by a satanic power. But that His power also was not merely human, but the power of God Himself, He now proceeded to prove.

'No man,' He said, 'can enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man. Then may he spoil his house.' In this parable Christ appeared as the stronger, who had forced His way into the spiritual kingdom of Satan, and, having laid him in chains by His superior spiritual might, now rescued from his grasp his instruments (the possessed).

Thereupon followed the warning, 'Verily 1 say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, even blasphemies themselves, of what sort soever they may be. But he that speaketh blasphemy against the Holy Ghost hath no forgiveness for ever, but hath incurred the penalty of eternal damnation.' This He said, because they had said, 'He hath an unclean spirit.'

This was the attitude in which He stood towards the Pharisees and the highly-respected scribes from Jerusalem, at the moment when His mother and His brethren came, and, standing without, sent unto Him to call Him. We have thus also, at the same time, the explanation, why they (with well-meant intention) might seek to lay hold on Him (see above, vol. ii. p. 274). From this intention of His friends the answer of the Lord becomes also quite intelligible. The multitude sat round about Him in a circle, when it was announced to Him, 'Behold, Tliy mother and Thy brethren without seek Thee.' The Lord returned them for answer, 'Who is My mother or My brethren?' And looking round on those who sat about Him, He said, 'Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and is to Me a sister and mother.'

So little thus could the Lord be intimidated by the terrible fact, that the respected leaders of the people — their theologians, jurists, and hierarchs — began publicly to declare that He stood in league with devils; nay, that He was possessed of the prince of the devils, and by his authority performed works of satanic jugglery. He could calmly give 'His opposers to understand that He was animated by the Holy Ghost, that is, by the Spirit of God in His highest form of manifestation; and that they were in danger of blaspheming this Spirit in the most heinous manner. And when even His friends, in this the hour of intensest discord in His life, were in danger, along with His powerful enemies, of being offended in Him, and of becoming unlike to the true spiritual image of His family, He could placidly point to the great spiritual family, which for His refreshment was provided Him by the Father in His chosen people.

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