The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-02-02
Jesus Misunderstood by His

l. Jesus Misunderstood by His
Friends (3:19-2D.
l. The occasion wv. 10, 2O).
A series of important events in the
ministry of Jesus had followed each
other in rapid succession. The twelve
had been chosen, and He with His
disciples had just returned from a
trip of preaching and healing in Cali
lee. Such great interest was aroused
that though Jesus was weary and
hungry He did not have time to eat.
q What His friends purposed to dc
". Ply. They went out to lay hold
on Him. They saw Him giving Him.
self with absolute abandon to His
work so they attempted to rescue Him
forcibly by taking Him from His
work.
g. What they said ". Ply. HE is
beside himself" His passionate de-
votion to saving the lost seemed to
them kind of insanity.
II. Jesus Opposed by the scribes
Wv. 22-30.
L L
charged Him with casting out demons
by Beelzebub. According to Matthew
12:22-24, the Pharisees Joined the
scribes in this charge. The occasion
which provoked the charge was the
hea.Stdg of a man possessed with
demon. Unable to explain His I'M
wearying service for needy men by
attributing His zeal to religious frenzy,
they accused Him of being in league
with the devil.
2. Christ's reply wv. 1920. He
exposed their folly by question and
by parallels.
% "How can Satan cast out
Satan?" If after Satan gets control
of a man he should voluntarily re-
linquish that hold he would thus be-
come his own enemy. In view of the
nature of the devil, this is unthink
able.
(2) "If kingdom be divided
against itself that kingdom cannot
stand ". 24). Civil war is national
suicide. A living example of this folly
is seen in China today.
(3) If a house be divided against
itself, that house cannot stand ". 25).
House here means family. The fam
lily that wars against itself will
surely perish.
az No man can enter into a strong
mans house and spoil his goods ex-
cept he first bind the strong man
". 2O. Satan here is the strong
man, the house is the world, the goods
of the house are the human beings
whose welfare and happiness Satan
is seeking to destroy.
8. Christ's charge (vv 2S-30).
Since He was doing the works of
God (for before their very eyes He
had driven the demon from the mani,
He was undoing the works of the
devil. He went about doing good.
Wherever He went men were blessed.
The eyes of the blind were opened
deaf ears were unstopped, the lame
were made TO walk and the dead were
raised. Having with unanswerable
logic met their accusations He
charged home upon them most awful
guilt, that of blasphemy against the
Holy Ghost. Blasphemy against the
Holy Ghost is attributing the works
of the Spirit to the devil. For this
great sin there is no pardon.
III. Jesus Misunderstood by His
Family wv. 31-35).
His brothers and mother came with
the object of getting Him home be-
cause they thought He had lost His
reason. Of course His brothers did not
believe on Him as the Messiah, but
their filial interest moved them to
try to get Him home. No doubt this
was most painful to Jesus. Their mo-
tive may have been right, but they
were used of the devil to hinder Him
~. Jesus Misunderstood by His Eel.
low Townsmen (6:1-6).
The citizens of Nazareth were I'M
able to question the reality of Christ's
work and the power of His words, but
because He was one of them they
were offended at Him. This is a
marvellous example Of the blighting
effects of prejudice. Because of this
attitude of soul on the part of the
people His wonder working was very
limited among them. And He marveled
because of their unbelief.