Day 6 of the Questions for Mark study and here is the devotional question.

“What are the various voices of opposition to Jesus’ ministry and what are their charges?”

Mark 3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

There is only one who opposes Christ and he is the Anti-Christ. Granted he has many voices for all who serve him are in league with the father of lies. During my early days of conversion I was thought to be mad. My own son thought the men in white coats and a strait jacket were coming for me. So drastic was my conversion that comments like “What’s gotten into you?” and “Who do you think you are?” were cast in my direction.

Now let us look at Jesus answer to the accusation. In His temptation in the wilderness Jesus quotes the scriptures in response to those accusation. This is how He answers here.

Ezekiel 37:22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.

There are going to be many who at first sight do not get it, but here is Jesus prophetic and historical perspective. He knows the scripture better than any and speaks to the issues of division and God’s plan to end this division.

Only by studying and knowing the scriptures can we see God’s plan enacted. What mankind has done to divide God’s people at the hands of Satan can only be undone by God. It is for this reason as much as any that Christ has come, to unify the faith and draw the bride into unity, into oneness, to be whole again.

Day five of the Questions for Mark study and I will again use one devotional question to inspire this devotional.

“What is the significance of what Jesus appoints the twelve to do (vv. 14-15)?”

Mark 3:14-15 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

The last named in that list of twelve is Judas Iscariot. Jesus, knowing this to be the one who will betray Him, still bestow Judas with these divine powers. I have had many conversations with fellow Christians that have such a hatred for this traitor that they refuse to learn anything from his example.

“Why should I forgive this traitor after what he did to Jesus?”

Unforgiveness blocks hearing. It causes us to see only the negative about a person and yields no fruit of righteousness. It leads to assumptions about the character of a man (or woman) which are not based on truth but rather emotions. The enemy would love for us to lean on innuendo rather than truth. Feelings of unforgiveness is the cutting edge of false doctrine.

In a court of law this would be called “poisoning the jury pool.” If Mark where writing a mystery novel here, it would be giving the plot away and killing the suspense. For us, who seek the truth, it is a clear sign of unforgiveness. The real question for you and I is over the issue of negative knowledge and how those emotions might be blocking us from discovering relevant truths that Christ is showing.

Do you ever feel like God cannot use you because you aren’t good enough? Are negative feeling about your own nature keeping you from even trying?

Hebrews 11:33-34 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.