B-Side - Mark 3:20-35

Why did Jesus' family think he was crazy here? They never saw him perform miracles, so they struggled to believe.

Mark places the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit as the center of the story. Jesus has power over the demonic, and the scribes attack Jesus, attributing his power to evil. They're trying to undercut the claims that he's Messiah. He responds with a parable, as an indictment against them! Parables are given in such a way that believers will understand (even if not immediately), but nonbelievers like these scribes will miss the point.

"A house divided against itself will not stand" is referring not only to Satan and the demons, but also to the temple, which is about to fall. Jerusalem will eventually turn against the righteous of Jerusalem (Christians)... and the house will fall.

"Binding the strong man before you can plunder his house" refers to more than binding Satan. If Jerusalem's leaders continue as they have, the house of God will soon be plundered.

Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit is guilty of an eternal sin. The scribes are standing before pure light, and they attribute his work to pure evil. Isaiah 5:20: woe to those who call evil good and good evil.

We're all baptized into one family, under Christ.

Jesus adds "sisters" to "mother and brothers"... saying his close circle of family is open not only to men and his mother, but to women as well.