Text: Mark 3:1-35
“And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, ‘He is out of his mind.’” —Mark 3:21 ESV
I was listening to someone from another part of the world describe what he thought was crazy about the stereotypical American way of life.
“I find it crazy when one’s greatest goal is to work seventy hours a week for thirty-five years to have a nice house and a pension. I find it crazy when you are more concerned about insuring your life on this earth while doing nothing to insure your life for all eternity. Even more so, I find it crazy that you would install gates, alarms, and locks all around you and your family while you open your doors wide to the father of lies, the great destroyer and accuser, Satan.”
I guess “craziness” does seem to be a relative concept.
In Mark 3, Jesus’ closest relatives thought he had gone crazy. He left the prosperous family business to become an itinerant preacher, attracting huge crowds in celebrity-like fashion. He was healing the sick, casting out demons, and butting heads with the religious establishment of his day. On top of that, he picked a motley crew of misfits to be his disciples. The soundness of his judgment was in question. But that didn’t hold him back from fleshing out God’s kingdom to the fullest.
Despite their lack of support early on, Jesus never did forsake his relationship with his earthly family. And though some of his brothers did later come to faith in him (1 Corinthians 9:4–5), he often had to contend with unbelieving family members.
Scripture encourages us that there is safety in the multitude of counsel. It is wise to listen to the people God has put into our lives. But there are also times when obedience to God will cause others to question your sanity—including those closest to you. If you follow Jesus long enough, sooner or later it will require you to get a little loco—something that just doesn’t make sense to anyone else around you. If not, you might not be following him closely but more so from a safe distance.
Abraham was called to get up and go to a distant place “not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8)—without the luxury of Google Maps or GPS. Didn’t sound very responsible. Imagine what Noah’s neighbors thought of his backyard construction project (what a waste of gopher wood!). Joshua’s military strategy to bring down Jericho’s fortified walls involves marching around in circles while shouting loud praises to God (hardly rational). The rich young ruler is challenged to sell all of his possessions and give to the poor. The disciples are told to wait patiently in an upper room for an unseen force to come upon them and empower them with supernatural vigor to evangelize their world with a message of salvation.
Yes, serving God will get loco at times.
It might sound crazy to others that Christ’s disciples would choose to love their enemies or to forgive those who have done them wrong. It might seem insane that they would give up worldly gain for eternal treasures, or appear foolish to invest in the advancement of a kingdom that transcends human institutions. But that’s what serving God requires of us, a life that doesn’t always make sense in the here and now—yet one that will surely be commended later (Hebrews 11:38-39).
I love how Paul describes his loco journey in 2 Corinthians 5:13—“If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God.” He considered that his zeal and diligence was for the glory of God and the good of the church. How about you beloved, have you found your crazy? What might God be calling you to do that seems irrational to others? Consider that as you seek to abide in Him this week.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, craziness is a relative concept. It’s encouraging to know that even Jesus was considered crazy by his closest of earthly kin. What might seem crazy to the world is perfectly normal to the DNA of a Christ-follower. Help us to find the path of obedience, even when it doesn’t make sense to ourselves or to those around us. Anything less than full obedience is crazy to a disciple. Keep reminding us of this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Reflection and/or Family Discussion:
- When have you been accused of being crazy for obedience to God?
- Why do you think Jesus’ family thought He was “out of his mind”?
- How did the teachers of the law try to explain Jesus’ behavior? (Mark 3:22)
- In light of this passage, what do we fight against?
- What might God be calling you to do that seems irrational to others?
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Text: Mark 3:1-35
“And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, ‘He is out of his mind.’” —Mark 3:21 ESV
I was listening to someone from another part of the world describe what he thought was crazy about the stereotypical American way of life.
I guess “craziness” does seem to be a relative concept.
In Mark 3, Jesus’ closest relatives thought he had gone crazy. He left the prosperous family business to become an itinerant preacher, attracting huge crowds in celebrity-like fashion. He was healing the sick, casting out demons, and butting heads with the religious establishment of his day. On top of that, he picked a motley crew of misfits to be his disciples. The soundness of his judgment was in question. But that didn’t hold him back from fleshing out God’s kingdom to the fullest.
Despite their lack of support early on, Jesus never did forsake his relationship with his earthly family. And though some of his brothers did later come to faith in him (1 Corinthians 9:4–5), he often had to contend with unbelieving family members.
Scripture encourages us that there is safety in the multitude of counsel. It is wise to listen to the people God has put into our lives. But there are also times when obedience to God will cause others to question your sanity—including those closest to you. If you follow Jesus long enough, sooner or later it will require you to get a little loco—something that just doesn’t make sense to anyone else around you. If not, you might not be following him closely but more so from a safe distance.
Abraham was called to get up and go to a distant place “not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8)—without the luxury of Google Maps or GPS. Didn’t sound very responsible. Imagine what Noah’s neighbors thought of his backyard construction project (what a waste of gopher wood!). Joshua’s military strategy to bring down Jericho’s fortified walls involves marching around in circles while shouting loud praises to God (hardly rational). The rich young ruler is challenged to sell all of his possessions and give to the poor. The disciples are told to wait patiently in an upper room for an unseen force to come upon them and empower them with supernatural vigor to evangelize their world with a message of salvation.
Yes, serving God will get loco at times.
It might sound crazy to others that Christ’s disciples would choose to love their enemies or to forgive those who have done them wrong. It might seem insane that they would give up worldly gain for eternal treasures, or appear foolish to invest in the advancement of a kingdom that transcends human institutions. But that’s what serving God requires of us, a life that doesn’t always make sense in the here and now—yet one that will surely be commended later (Hebrews 11:38-39).
I love how Paul describes his loco journey in 2 Corinthians 5:13—“If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God.” He considered that his zeal and diligence was for the glory of God and the good of the church. How about you beloved, have you found your crazy? What might God be calling you to do that seems irrational to others? Consider that as you seek to abide in Him this week.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, craziness is a relative concept. It’s encouraging to know that even Jesus was considered crazy by his closest of earthly kin. What might seem crazy to the world is perfectly normal to the DNA of a Christ-follower. Help us to find the path of obedience, even when it doesn’t make sense to ourselves or to those around us. Anything less than full obedience is crazy to a disciple. Keep reminding us of this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Reflection and/or Family Discussion:
Subscribe to “Abiding In Him” and get the latest devotional in your Inbox once a week.
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