Mark 3:20-30 The Rejected King

The Rejected King

(Mark 3:20–30)

Introduction: The Undercover Boss

Imagine the owner of a company disguising himself as a regular worker to see how things really operate. This idea, often used in television shows, helps the boss understand the struggles of employees. But what happens when managers treat the disguised owner poorly, assuming he knows nothing? That’s similar to what happened to Jesus. The Creator of the world came to live among His people, yet they rejected Him, accused Him of wrongdoing, and even claimed He was working for the enemy.

Background & Context: A House Divided

Jesus had been traveling, teaching, and healing large crowds. When He returned home, the crowds followed, making it impossible even to eat. Even His family thought He had lost His mind and tried to stop Him. At the same time, religious leaders from Jerusalem accused Him of being in league with Satan.

Jesus responded with a powerful truth: “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” (Mark 3:24)

He explained that Satan wouldn’t destroy his own kingdom. Instead, Jesus was overpowering Satan and rescuing people from sin and darkness. This moment reveals two important realities:

  • Jesus is stronger than Satan.
  • Rejecting Jesus’ power is rejecting the Holy Spirit’s work.

The Old Testament foretold a coming Messiah who would defeat sin and evil. Jesus claimed to be that Messiah—the Son of Man, the Lord of the Sabbath, the one who forgives sins. Yet many rejected Him because He didn’t match their expectations.

Jesus Rejected by His Own (Mark 3:20–22)

Jesus faced rejection from both His family and religious leaders:

  • His family thought He was crazy. They saw the crowds and His bold claims and assumed He had lost His mind.
  • The religious leaders accused Him of working with Satan. They could not deny His power—but they refused to believe it came from God.

This rejection wasn’t new. Throughout Israel’s history, God had been consistently rejected by the very people He chose to save. They desired His blessings but not His lordship. In the days of the judges and kings, they repeatedly abandoned Him to follow idols. The tribe of Dan, for instance, set up an unauthorized shrine with a descendant of Moses as priest, refusing to worship at the tabernacle as God commanded (Judges 18). They wanted their own version of religion, not the God who had revealed Himself (Micah 5:12–13).

Later, Israel demanded a human king to rule over them—rejecting God’s kingship so they could be like the other nations (1 Samuel 8:6–8). Though God had promised to rule through His law and presence, they wanted a leader they could control, one who would give them national power and security without calling them to repentance.

Even the prophets sent by God were not welcomed. Men like Jonah resisted their mission, not wanting to extend God's mercy (Jonah 1:1–3), and the people often ignored or killed the messengers God sent. Stephen would later confront Israel with these words: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears… you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.” (Acts 7:51)

Jesus’ rejection was part of this pattern. He healed, forgave, and taught with divine authority. He called people to follow Him—a direct claim to divinity. He forgave sins, called Himself the Son of Man from Daniel 7, and claimed to be Lord of the Sabbath. Each of these actions revealed who He was. But instead of rejoicing that the long-awaited Messiah had come, they hardened their hearts and rejected Him—just as their ancestors had rejected the God who saved them.

The Battle of Two Kingdoms (Mark 3:23–27)

Jesus responded to their accusation with a parable. If Satan was fighting against himself, his kingdom would collapse. But Jesus wasn’t helping Satan—He was defeating him.

“No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man.” (Mark 3:27)

Satan is the “strong man” in the parable—holding people captive in sin and spiritual blindness. But Jesus, the stronger one, came to bind Satan and rescue those under his control.

This battle began in the Garden of Eden, where Satan tempted Adam and Eve to rebel against God (Genesis 3:1–5). Since then, he has worked to deceive and enslave people through sin. But Jesus came to break that power. Through His death and resurrection, He defeated sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:54–57). Now, anyone who repents and believes in the gospel is transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God (Hebrews 2:14–16).

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28–30)

Then Jesus gave a serious and sobering warning: “All sins will be forgiven… but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness.”

Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), anointed at His baptism by the Holy Spirit (John 1:32–34), and performed His miracles through the Spirit’s power. When the religious leaders called that power “unclean,” they were not merely mistaken—they were deliberately rejecting the clear work of God.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not a careless word or accidental sin. It’s a hardened, ongoing rejection of the Spirit’s testimony about Jesus. It is the willful refusal to believe in the One who is clearly revealed. And without faith in Christ, there is no forgiveness.

This warning remains relevant. Forgiveness is available to all who repent and believe. But those who continue to resist the Holy Spirit’s witness will ultimately seal their own rejection of God’s mercy.

Conclusion: The Power of Jesus

  • Jesus performed miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. These signs confirmed His identity as the promised Messiah.
  • Satan builds his kingdom through lies and sin. But Jesus has entered that kingdom, bound the strong man, and set the captives free.
  • Jesus offers true rescue. Through faith in Him, we are no longer slaves to sin but citizens of God’s kingdom.
  • Rejecting Jesus is rejecting God. The Holy Spirit points to Jesus as Savior and King. To reject Him is to reject the only source of salvation.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 3:1–5 – Satan deceived Eve by questioning God’s command and promising false rewards. This act introduced sin and spiritual death into the world.
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:54–57 – Paul celebrates Christ’s resurrection, showing that through Jesus’ victory, death has lost its sting for those who believe.
  3. Hebrews 2:14–16 – Jesus became human to break the power of the devil and free those who were enslaved by the fear of death.
  4. Luke 1:35 – The angel tells Mary that Jesus will be conceived by the Holy Spirit, revealing His divine nature and sinless beginning.
  5. John 1:32–34 – John the Baptist testifies that he saw the Holy Spirit descend and remain on Jesus, confirming Him as the Son of God.
  6. Judges 18 – The tribe of Dan set up an idol and chose a descendant of Moses, not a Levite from Aaron’s line, to be their priest, rejecting God’s established order for worship.
  7. 1 Samuel 8:6–8 – Israel demands a human king, rejecting God’s rule over them. Though warned, they insisted on being like other nations.
  8. Jonah 1:1–3 – Jonah disobeys God's command to preach to Nineveh, showing reluctance to extend God’s mercy to people he disliked.
  9. Acts 7:51 – Stephen accuses the Jewish leaders of always resisting the Holy Spirit and following the same pattern of rejection as their ancestors.

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