Monday, June 02, 2014

What was it that caused Jesus to speak those dreadful words found in Mark 3:28-29? “I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” When you read the context Jesus points out He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.” His family had concluded Jesus was out of his mind, verse 21. The teachers of the law went further. They said in verse 22, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” The sin they were committing was attributing what the Holy Spirit was doing in and through Jesus as done by Satan. Jesus explained logically that that didn’t make sense. If His accusers insisted on their accusation there would be no way for them to be saved, because Jesus is the only way whereby we can be saved. What He has done by the power of the Holy Spirit in dying for our sins and being resurrected for our justification is the only way we can be forgiven. The crowds sensed that He was speaking the truth. There was a ring of authority and authenticity in His life and words. What He said exposed the religious leaders for what they really were – deceivers, followers of Satan. Satan was using them to try discrediting Jesus, but the way Jesus answered His accusers exposed Satan for who he was, and that his scheme was doomed. Whose side do you want to be on? I for one choose Jesus. I hope you do too. Why? Because Jesus promised: “I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.” If you choose Him, He forgives and saves!