Wednesday: Sandwich Story: Part 1
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 17th of July 2024
Read Mark 3:20-35. What connection do you see between the two stories intertwined in this passage?
This passage is the first “sandwich story” in Mark, where one story is begun and then is interrupted by another story, with the first story completed only afterward.
The outer story is about Jesus’ relatives setting out to take charge of Him because they think He is out of His mind (Mark 3:21). The inner story is about the scribes from Jerusalem charging Jesus with being in collusion with the devil. (Today’s study focuses on the inner story found in Mark 3:22-30.)
Image © The Classic Bible Art Collection – Formerly Standard Publishing at Goodsalt.com
In Mark 3:22, the scribes bring the charge that Jesus’ healing power comes from the devil. Jesus responds first with an overarching question: “How can Satan cast out Satan?” It does not make sense that Satan would work against himself. Jesus proceeds to speak about division within a kingdom, a house, and Satan himself, showing how absurd such division would be for their success. But then the Lord turns the tables and talks about binding a strong man in order to plunder his house. In this last example, Jesus is the thief entering Satan’s house, binding the prince of darkness to set his captives free.
Read Mark 3:28-30. What is the unpardonable sin, and what does that mean?
The unpardonable sin is the sin against the Holy Spirit, calling the work of the Spirit the work of the devil. Notice that in Mark 3:30 the reason Jesus makes His statement in Mark 3:28-29 is because the scribes are saying that He has an unclean spirit when in reality He has the Holy Spirit. If you call the work of the Holy Spirit the work of the devil, then you will not listen to the Holy Spirit because no one in his or her right mind wants to follow the devil’s guidance.
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Why does the fear that you might have committed the “unpardonable sin” reveal that you have not committed it? Why is the fear itself evidence that you haven’t? |
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I can imagine that if Jesus showed up today in our Seventh-day Adventist environment, performing miracles, claiming he was God, and challenging the establishment, we would quickly convene the Bible Research Committee and issue a multipage document in General Conference style, condemning him, his actions and doctrines. When you have a well-oiled machine, you generally want to maintain the status quo and keep it working.
I am probably a bit soft-hearted for the Jewish leaders and scholars in Jesus' time and recognise that we would probably react in much the same way as them. We do not stand on some moral ground just because we have had a couple of millennia to think about it and form opinions about them and us.
We should recognise that Jesus has a radical message for us today and maybe his condemnation applies to us just as much as it did to the Jews in his time. The big picture is that the Jews depended on their tradition and long history of scholarship to determine truth, and ultimately that was not going to save them. And our Seventh-day Adventist doctrinal purity and prophetic interpretation, no matter how erudite, is not going to save us either.
Jesus said:
Hey family! I would love an answer to the question beneath today’s lesson which reads “ Why does the fear that you might have committed the “unpar- donable sin” reveal that you have not committed it? Why is the fear itself evidence that you haven’t?”
If you are still open to experiencing fear and able to recognise that you may be sinning against the Holy Spirit, this means that the Holy Spirit is talking to you and you are listening, thinking and questioning. You still have a conscience. If you were closed off to the Holy Spirit, you would not be experiencing any kind of fear or doubt in any way. Nor would you question your behaviour as being potentially a concern.
Because God still answers your prayers according to His will. So there is no fear, fear comes, when you don't trust.
If you have committed that unpardonable sin, He won't be listening to you period. Remember King Saul, when God's Spirit had departed from him.
I believe the fact you even pray means you're safe.
It's the Holy Spirit in us who prompts us to pray.
I fear more about the possibility of someone close, like a family member, locking themself out of heaven. As an imperfect human being, I struggle with the fact that, consciously, a loved one can choose not to know God, which means not willing to understand what true love is.
The fear and concern about having committed the unpardonable sin suggest a continued openness to God and His grace, which is fundamentally incompatible with the nature of the sin itself.
Dear Sis Joycelyn, it simply means that you are still open to the promptings of the Holy Spirt and still reverence Him as God.
The day when you no longer fear of going against God, when you no longer care whether He is speaking to you or not, it is then, and only then, that you have committed the unpardonable sin.
Please note: it is not the sin that is unpardonable, but your attitude toward God that is intractable!!!
I often wonder, if Jesus showed up today and begin healing people the way he did when he was here in bibical times, what would be the response of our well structured health care system? Clearly, we will lose money, because instead of going to our hospitals, people will be going to Jesus for healing. I guess some people may say that the spiritual gift of healing is manifested in our medical staff. If that is the case, aren't we the ones dictating how the Spirit should manifest his gifts? To answer my own question, I would say that we should pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and leave it up to him to respond as he chooses.
It's because the Holy Spirit reminds us when we are wrong. It is the Gift of God that lets us know when we have done wrong! It is then when we obviously do not care when doing wrong or if we are not convicted then we have grieved the Holy Spirit!
Jocelyn, I just finished reading comments about resisting the Holy Spirit from 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. If you, or anyone else with the same question, are able download this link, it may help. I signed up to have the weekly notes emailed to me. You would have to do the same to keep receiving the weekly notes.
https://3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com/pdf/ssp-note/2024/Q3/2024-Week-3/Daniel-Perrin-2024-Q3-L3-Sandwich-Story-Part-1.pdf
It is quite obvious from the text that we should not attribute the work of God to Satan, but what about the other way round. Is there a risk of attributing Satan's work to God? A trivial example is "act of God" in contracts... But even it can happen even in the church.
Every 'act of God' is a blessing. His prime directive is to redeem the lost. The world can never discern that.
As to the unpardonable sin: If God pardons the attitude of calling the work of the Holy Spirit being from the devil, He would justify that sin attitude. But if the Holy Spirit succeeds in breaking through that attitude, bringing that sinner to repentance, then and only then the unpardonable becomes pardonable. Justification of sin attitude means cheap grace inviting sinning attitudes to go on sinning. God is making us willig to be willing to repent from any sin. This gives us hope.
Winfried Stolpmann
Can it be true that "fear" for a sin I'm not certain of is proof that I am not guilty? How do feelings have any merit in the place of Faith? I believe the question will only be raised by one who does not know/understand the law and gospel, nor the power of God. This "fear" would reveal ignorance wouldn't it? We may "know the Truth", which would make any guilt known(scripture: "reproves, corrects, and instructs in righteousness") which can lead us to repent and confess to receive pardon. It's also the role of the Holy Spirit(Jn 16:8). Also: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love"(1 Jn 4:18).
Any sin harbored while we feel the conviction of God's Spirit, remains unpardonable. Any sin. My "fear" does not redeem me from guilt, only repentance and faith(Mark 1:15) allow us to receive God's gracious offer to pardon our sin.
Many will say "Lord, Lord", who will be found "unpardonable" due to refusing to repent and believe. Neither prayer or fear have any ability to save, only repentance and faith allow us to take hold of the salvation offered to the sinner in Christ. It was those who prayed often and loud that crucified Jesus.
I find no support for the supposition stated in today's lesson that my "fear" proves I'm not guilty.
It's not that it proves you aren't guilty - you may very well be. But that sin can be forgiven. The unpardonable sin would not cause fear as you wouldn't feel the need to repent.
There is good fear and bad fear, but overall, being concerned about your salvation likely shows that God's Spirit is still being heard (I suppose there may be exceptions but that would be true in most cases.)
How many times can we count in scripture(Old and New) where the Lord says: "Fear not"? I'm sure you saw where I quoted 1 Jn 4:18? So where does this "fear" come from? Why would I experience it when I consider all the "exceeding great and precious promises" given us that "If we confess our sin...", and "I am He that blots out your transgressions...and will remember your sin no more", etc? If I earnestly seek to know "what the will of the Lord is", and repent when the Spirit brings conviction of "sin...", why would I fear something I don't even know of? I hope this makes sense of what I'm trying to say.
I see this idea as it is presented in the study guide, saying "peace, peace, when there is no peace", when based on an unknown "fear". Also, "the fear of the LORD is strong confidence", and "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind".
Yes, I see what you're saying - being afraid probably shows that something is amiss in your relationship with God. But it could just be that one has been taught wrongly about God. I am convinced that how we perceive God has a lot to do with our parents. It can be hard to break relating in faulty ways. Also, some people are more conscientious than others. If you aren't like that, it can be hard to imagine those that are (I am one of those).
Christina, I understand the source of our fears if we are not diligent students and believers of God's Word. It is just our fallen human condition. I hope that our study guides could reveal how to gain the victory over such fear instead of somehow supporting those fears as a "good thing". (I like to believe that those selected to write our lessons have personal experience in Truth and Faith. There are also editors involved, and the author's original intent is not always served in the final publication, which some have pointed out). Regardless of who's "fault", this places the burden of proof on each of us to personally know the Truth which sets us free of all fear. There is no safety in trusting men above the Lord(Ps 118:8,9). Not a criticism, just a fact of truth, which Paul pointed out to those who listened him. We each stand alone in judgment before Christ, and must study to show ourselves approved unto God.
Yes, many have been wrongly taught, but in the end, it remains my responsibility under the careful leading and conviction of the Holy Spirit to correct any error in my understanding, which God promises to do for us as we exercise faith in His "exceeding great and precious promises". See Ps 32:8. God is faithful to guide all who will follow where HE leads.
(for some reason I have received no notices of replies. Sorry for the delay in response!)
Very true - we need to grow and trust in God more. But I am thankful for a God who is compassionate towards our struggles. In those moments, I cling to I John 3:20.