OUT OF HIS MIND

Mark 3:20-21, “Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when His family heard it, they went out to seize Him, for they were saying, “He is out of His mind.”

He was out of His mind. At least that was the assessment of Jesus’ family. His brothers had not yet believed in Him (John 7:5). They couldn’t understand what He was doing. It made no sense to them. Traveling from place to place. Appointing disciples. Gathering huge crowds. Upsetting the religious leaders. No concern for Himself. No time to eat. No place to sleep. Constantly and relentlessly seeing to the needs of others.

They were worried about Him so they organized a family intervention. Long before the days of psychologists and DSM manuals, they had made their own diagnosis. He was crazy! There was something mentally wrong with Jesus. They went out to seize Him in order to take Him home. Perhaps a little rest and family advice might set His mind aright.

How are we to discern who is of a right mind? What is normal? Jesus’ behavior was not normal, as far as the world defines “normal.” If He lived in our day people would think Him crazy too. But what’s the truth concerning Jesus?

Of all the minds that have ever thought, no mind was more “sane” that His. As a child, His teaching amazed the teachers (Luke 2:47). He taught “as one who had authority”—“the crowds were astonished at His teaching” (Matthew 6:28-29). He confounded His opponents with His answers (Matthew 22:46). In Him “are hidden all the treasures or wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). His thoughts and ways are infinitely higher than the thoughts and ways of mere men (Cf. Isaiah 55:8-9).

In His humanity, unmarred by sin’s influence, He had the mind of a perfect man. His mind never entertained an errant or impure thought. It thought only that which was consistent and true, holy and pure. He was infinitely smarter and saner than any man who had ever lived or ever will.

He was perfectly consistent in His thinking and His living. He purposed to do all that He did—in perfect submission to the Father’s will (John 4:34). He was not out of His mind—He was acting in perfect conformity to it. His life and His thinking were not abnormal, but the true normal. He was not out of His mind—everyone else was and is. We are all crazy in sin.

His mother and brothers would one day reverse their assessment. In His ultimate “crazy” act He died on the cross to save us—and to save us from our sin insanity. Through His work every saved soul experiences a new birth (2 Corinthians 5:17) and enters into a “mind-renewal” process (Romans 12:2). They are made to be “crazy” too. The narrow way that leads to life is filled with people who are “out of their minds;” at least as far as the world is concerned. Their allegiance to Christ and self-sacrificing manner of life makes no sense to broad way travelers. His followers are frequently maligned and even persecuted for their peculiar way of thinking and living (1 Peter 2:9-10; Ephesians 4:17-18).

But it matters not what others think. What matters is God’s assessment. They thought Him crazy—But God said “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him” (Matthew 17:7). That’s what “sane” people do—they listen to Him and follow His example (Mark 3:34). Don’t be alarmed, believer, if others think you to be “out of your mind.” They thought the same thing about Jesus (1 John 3:1).

Pastor Jerry