Mark 3:7-33 Mark gives us 4 snapshots in the rest of this chapter:

Verses 7-12 are a picture of the crowds, " a great multitude from Galilee.. Judea.. Jerusalem.. Idumea.. beyond the Jordan.. the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon.. a great multitude heard all that He was doing and came to Him."  The people crowded around Jesus.. they "pressed about Him in order to touch Him."  The unclean spirits cried out at Him and Jesus told the disciples to get a boat ready so that He could get out of the middle of the crowd.  

Verses 13-19 give a picture of Jesus who "went up to the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted."  What a contrast.. the crowd who wanted something from Jesus.. and Jesus who wanted the twelve who would be His disciples.  Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus and Simon the Zealot.. and Judas Iscariot.  Chosen by Jesus.. "appointed ...to preach and to have authority to cast out the demons." 

Verses 20-30 give us another picture of Jesus back home again in the middle of the crowd.. but this time the focus is on the scribes who said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul".  This time Jesus calls these scribes "to Himself".  Jesus warned these religious scholars about the words that they were speaking.. for "whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.." (v29) They didn't give credit to the Holy Spirit for casting out the demons.. instead giving the credit to Satan! They couldn't have been more wrong or more blasphemous!   Jesus carefully tears apart their argument.. Satan cannot cast himself out.. He can't and wouldn't rise up against himself. This would cause a divided house and kingdom.  Only One who is stronger and bind the "strong man".. Only One with more authority and power would cast out the evil one.  To say other wise.. was evil and dangerous. 

Verses 31-35 is the final picture that Mark gives us in this chapter.  Jesus is still in the middle of the crowd when His mother and brothers come for Him.  They tried to summon Him.. but He did not submit to their calling. He had a greater calling.. Calling for those willing to follow Him.. "Behold ,My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother." 

We serve a Master who calls us.. not One whom we summon to ourselves. When He calls us.. it is for His purposes.. to serve Him. He calls us to the Truth.  He calls us to belong to Him.  He wants us for Himself. Yes, Jesus meets the needs of those who call to Him for help.. but He won't be used for our selfish desires. When Jesus calls us to Himself.. and we come willingly, humbly, and without our own agendas.. He calls us His own! We become His family for we want to do what He does.. "the will of God." 

Father, keep our eyes on Jesus.. let our ears hear His voice and follow Him, like a sheep follows the voice of the Shepherd.  Forgive us for making our own demands and pressing in where we don't belong.  May we come to Jesus as He calls us.. with the faith You give us.. and with hearts full of love and devotion to the One who died for us.  May Your Name be honored, may Your Kingdom come and may Your will be done.. on earth. in us.. as it is in heaven.  We pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.