“…and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat.²¹When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” ²²And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” ²³And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. ²⁶And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. ²⁷But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. ²⁸“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; ²⁹but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— ³⁰for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” ³¹Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. ³²A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” ³³And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” ³⁴And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:20-35

Why is Jesus getting so much flack? I mean, we’re into just the third chapter in Mark and already he’s got the crowds wondering about him, his family afraid for him (and maybe of him!), and the religious leaders against him. And all he’s done so far is announce the coming kingdom of God, call some disciples, cast out a demon or two, and heal a bunch of sick people. Of course, one of those disciples was a tax collector, he cast out the demon and did much of his healing work on the Sabbath, and he wasn’t put off in the least when approached by a leper. Which means that his vision of the coming kingdom of God was rooted in a profound inclusivity that would let neither religious law nor social custom prevent him from reaching those in need with the abundant life he came to offer.

And here’s the thing, when you commit yourself to offering the same kind of unimaginably gracious hospitality and expectedly wide welcome that Jesus exhibits, you’re bound to encounter some flack. I don’t know if people will call you demon-possessed, as the Scribes into today’s reading do, but don’t be surprised if people close to you – including even your own family – think you’re a little nuts.” (Offering a Wide Welcome, davidlose.net, David Lose, June 1, 2015)

“Where are you?”  You hear so much in that question.  You can hear fear, as if a child is lost and the parent is trying to find them.  You can hear anger, as if a teenager is out beyond curfew.  You can hear curiosity, as if someone came to visit you and you no longer live where they last visited you. The question “Where are you?” implies some kind of movement.  It suggests that we are not where we last were, and that possibly we are somewhere new.  Ultimately we all are somewhere, or at least going SOME where.  But “Where are YOU?” does not have to simply imply our physical presence somewhere, it can mean more of an existential question, or a philosophical question.  “Where are You?” regarding faith, your political leaning, or just life in general. Where are You?  The question is thick with implication and intrigue for Jesus.  The mother and brothers of Jesus have asked the same question.  People are saying that Jesus is out of his mind, and the religious leaders are saying he is demon possessed.  For whatever reason, whether it is to save his life, or to save the family further embarrassment, they want to bring Jesus in, to control him.  Jesus is not what any of the religious leaders thought the Messiah would be like, and the family is not sure what to make of this kid they all grew up with who now claims to be the Son of G-d.  For everyone concerned, Jesus is just not “Right in His Mind”. 

It is our human nature to think we know what is normal, natural or even G-d ordained.  So many people want to judge others by their own standards, or they claim to know the mind of G-d – and that becomes the measure by which we judge the actions, and the words of others.  The religious leaders want to intervene, and the family of Jesus wants to have and “intervention” (where is Dr. Phil).  They all want to reign him in, and keep him quiet.

Where are You?  That is the question.  Where are you in your journey of faith?  Are you like the mother and brothers of Jesus, struggling with what it means to be different from the norm, the norm here being society and what people think of someone who puts their religious life first and foremost in their personal life?  When it comes to our relationship with G-d, we too stand in front of G-d naked, like Adam and Eve.  G-d sees us as we really are.  G-d knows us.  And that naked truth makes us uncomfortable.  Where are You?  God knows who you are, and where you stand.  The hidden question that stands behind the question “Where are YOU?” is the question “WHOSE Are You?”

Our baptisms answer that question.  Through our baptism we are chosen as G-d’s children.  We belong to G-d.  We are bound in a relationship that is to define our where’s, what’s, why’s, when’s and how’s.  G-d defines the “Whose we Are”, but does G-d define the “Where we are”?  You see, the struggle that we all deal with, each and every day, the struggle we wrestle with is how to live faithfully with Jesus as the center of our BEING and our DOING in our daily life.  If we value the relationship that G-d has entrusted us with Jesus, then we should face life with the courage, faith and the conviction to take on the responsibility of our faith, and to stand up – stand up to society and stand up for our faith.

Pastor Dave