Baalzebub

Jesus now returned to Capernaum (offer a visit to Jerusalem for one of the feasts?), but he did not return to the family home there. This suggests that among his brothers and sisters there was lack of enthusiasm for his activities. By and by they showed this more openly (John 7:3-8).

The crowds which thronged Jesus whenever he was in Galilee immediately came round him again (Mark 3:20). They would not leave him alone. They were fascinated by his teaching and by his very personality; and, of course, they hoped for miracles. There was no let-up from the ceaseless pressure. It became impossible even to find time for a meal.

News of all this excitement came to his home. In the common version the phrase is: “his friends heard of it” More literally this would be: “those belonging to him”. The concluding verses of Mark 3 show that this means his own family. Unable to take the words and works of Jesus seriously (for “no prophet is honoured among his own kin, and in his own house”; Mark 6:4) they decided that he must have gone out of his mind: “He is beside himself” (s.w. 2 Corinthians 5:13; Acts 8:9.11). Clearly, a man who takes preaching so seriously that he is not interested in making time for a meal is not right in his head. So they set out with the intention of bringing him home, by force if necessary (RSV: “seize”).

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Author: Harry Whittaker

Keywords: Beelzebub, prince of devils, prince of demons, devil, Satan, lord of the flies, flies, Baalzebub, dung, Dung heap, Baalzebul

Bible reference(s): 2 Kings 1:2, 2 Kings 1:3, 2 Kings 1:6, 2 Kings 1:16, Matthew 12:22-37, Mark 3:19-30, Luke 11:14-23

Source: Studies in the Gospels.

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