Jesus passed through the fields on the Sabbath. They were hungry and picked grain, the Pharisees saw and accused them of breaking the law, Jesus reminded them of when David ate the sacred bread, and that when the priests violate the Sabbath by working in the temple on the Sabbath, they are innocent. Jesus said He’s greater than the temple, the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus entered their synagogue and healed a paralyzed man on the Sabbath and said it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. The Pharisees went out and plotted against Jesus, how they might destroy Him. Jesus, aware of this withdrew, huge crowds followed, and He healed them. He warned them not to make Him known, to fulfill Scripture in Isaiah. Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. The crowds said, “Perhaps this is the Son of David!” The Pharisees heard and said Jesus drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons. Jesus knew their thoughts and said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction…If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, who is it that your sons drive them out by? You will be your judges. If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. Anyone who is not with Me is against me, anyone who does not gather with Me scatters. Because of this, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. A tree is known by its fruit – good or bad. How can you speak good things when you are evil? The mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. On the day of judgment people will have to give account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. Some scribes and Pharisees wanted Jesus to show a sign. Jesus said, no sign will be given but the sign of Jonah, as he was in the belly of a huge fish three days and nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and nights. The men of Ninevah repented at the preaching of Jonah, they will condemn this generation; yet, something greater than Jonah is here. Something greater than Solomon is here. When an unclean spirit returns to a man he came out of, it brings seven others with it, and they enter and settle down in the man again. That man’s last condition is far worse than the first, that’s how it will be with this generation. As Jesus was speaking to the crowds His mother and brothers waited outside to speak with Him. Someone told him his family wanted to speak with Him, and he replied, “Who is My mother and My brothers?” He stretched out His hand to His disciples saying, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that person is My brother and sister and mother.”
By faith in Jesus Christ we can be made part of God’s family. We are undeserving, and yet God is unstoppable in bringing His people to Himself.