Just after the last chapter ends with the easy yoke of Jesus' law of love, here in Chapter 12 we find Jesus and his disciples being accused of breaking one of the Jewish laws one of the ten commandments not fully resting on the Sabbath! And so Jesus defends their actions on the Sabbath using Old Testament illustrations. Jesus goes on to heal on the Sabbath noting that there is no law against doing good even on the Sabbath. In verse 14 we find the Pharisees beginning to find ways to destroy Jesus, and then that Jesus seems to know what they are thinking and intending to do to him as a fulfillment of the prophesies.
There is a particular pronouncement in verse 30 noting that all who are not for Jesus are against him, we will see a slightly different version elsewhere in the gospels noting that those in the middle who are not against him are being counted as for him, but not in this version.
Some interpretation seems to be needed for the next section on the notion of insulting the Holy Spirit being unforgivable. In the previous section on those who had claimed that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of demons or Beelzebul, implied that Jesus did not have a holy Spirit but an evil one. Now there are many instances where I have found people quite willing to accept insults about themselves, but insult their parents or spouse is not acceptable. He is saying you can insult him, but you better not insult the Holy Spirit!
This leads into a discussion of us and what do we say holy or evil things, good or bad words? Good people like good trees bear and share good fruit or good words. Have you put in a few good words lately? May people know you by the words you share from your heart.
In verse 38 there is a request for a "sign." When I preached on the Transfiguration story which comes in chapter 17 I noted that there was the sign to the three disciples that seemed to have been asked for here. And here Jesus does not offer a sign, but notes the sign of Jonah who was three days in the the belly of a big fish (here called a whale but that is not a best translation in my opinion.) So the ultimate sign will be raising from the day on the third day after Jesus' crucifixion.
The chapter ends with a note about Jesus' family trying to speak with him. In Mark's gospel we will see a little more about this, here it is condensed and does not seem to have the same context. Jesus affirms that we who do God's will become brothers and sisters of Jesus or in a sense children of God!
In chapter 13 what used to be referred to as the parable of the sower is referred to here as the parable of the soils which better describes the story. Between the telling of the story and its explanation there is a section that describes why Jesus teaches in parables. In essence they are told for those who get them to get them and those who don't to not. The deeper meaning is revealed only to some, and my hope is that we are all now included in that number as we hear sermons preached on their meanings and interpretation for our day. Each of these parables tells something about the kingdom of God and how it grows or how we enter into it as disciples. As you read a parable reflect on what that mean for you in your life how might you apply it to your own spiritual growth experiences?
This section ends with Jesus returning home to Nazareth and not being well received. There is some difficulty for Roman Catholics who believe that Jesus was the only son of Mary to read in this section of 4 brothers and some sisters in verses 55-6 and so they would be interpreted as extended family more like cousins. For Protestants these would be seen as half brothers and sisters, children of Mary and Joseph. The chapter ends with the note that Jesus was unable to perform miracles there because of their disbelief. I wonder what Jesus might be unable today because of all the disbelief in the world?
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