Mark 3:30-35 and Family concerns

[DanielJT]

I’m a devoted Catholic that has an occasional deep dive into rabbit-holes of concern.

My concern right now is Mark 3:30-35. I was listening to some podcasts by the guys that do the Bible Project. I enjoy them but am also aware they are not Catholic. Long story short, when Tim Mackie presented this part of the Gospel he spoke about how even Christ’s family had trouble understanding what He was about, thinking Him mad/crazy. He took a moment to underscore that even His mother was confused and wanted Him to stop preaching.

Initially, I ignored it as something that just needed to be filtered through my Catholic lens, but then I saw it a couple more times, even with a Catholic theologian on YouTube (I know, I know) where this idea was presented that Mary was not completely on board with what Jesus was doing and the Theologian put up no pushback or proper explanation.

Anyway, it started to bug me and I’ve been meditating on it to no satisfaction, which has brought me here.

Does it make sense that Mary would have concerns with Christ’s preaching? Or methods? I can’t square it in my head and would appreciate any insights.

Thanks in advance.

 

[otjm]

Mary was sinless. Sinlessness is not foresight nor complete knowledge or wisdom. She was like anyone else, aware that she was specially chosen by God. But she was not given a blow-by-blow of what her son’s life and death would be.

See Luke 2:19 and Luke 2: 25-35.

She received bits and pieces. not the whole picture.

Extracting one passage without understanding the whole of what the might refer to is going to make for confusion; there is a reason that the Church’s approach to Scripture in contextualist, not proof-texting.

 

[Vico]

…Does it make sense that Mary would have concerns with Christ’s preaching? Or methods? I can’t square it in my head and would appreciate any insights. …

A prayerful meditation is made by many using the Chaplet of Seven Sorrows – the magnitude of Mary’s sufferings and the strength of her love.

The First Sword of Sorrow: The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:22-35)
The Second Sword of Sorrow: The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
The Third Sword of Sorrow: The loss of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)
The Fourth Sword of Sorrow: Mary meets Jesus on the way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31)
The Fifth Sword of Sorrow: Mary stands at the foot of the cross (John 19:25-27)
The Sixth Sword of Sorrow: Mary receives the dead body of Jesus in her arms (John 19:38-40)
The Seventh Sword of Sorrow: The body of Jesus is placed in the tomb (John 19:41-42)

 

[DanielJT]

I suppose I should have quoted the scripture and made my specific concerns more clear. It is always tempting for me to write an essay but then never want to over indulge my own thoughts.

The verses that I am trying to square are the first two in particular within the context of the whole. Mark 3:30-31 says, “30 Because they said he hath an unclean spirit 31 and his mother and his brothers came; and standing without, sent unto Him, calling Him.”

Mary of course suffers along with Christ and because she is the Mother of the One to be crucified, but this verse feels more like Mary questioning what Christ is doing or teaching apart from the crucifixion. In Cana at the wedding Mary asks Jesus to help, but here she seems to be concerned with what He is teaching, even to the point of coming to check to see if He has an unclean spirit. Where would that concern come from?

I feel like I’m on the verge of being disrespectful here, but is it possible that Mary was not completely behind what Jesus was teaching? And if so, how does it go from “Behold the handmaiden of the Lord” to “calling him” out from teaching?

 

[DanielJT]

But what’s the deal with the “unclean spirit”? Are they checking on Jesus?

 

[DanielJT]

Mary was sinless, but does that mean she is capable of concerns that, because of what and how Jesus is teaching, He has been taken by unclean spirits?

 

[Fauken]

But what’s the deal with the “unclean spirit”? Are they checking on Jesus?

The Scribes, who did not care for Our Lord, were slandering Him.

Mary was sinless, but does that mean she is capable of concerns that, because of what and how Jesus is teaching, He has been taken by unclean spirits?

No. Mary would never believe God was possessed by demons, i.e., think blasphemy.

 

[lwest]

I’m not sure why Tim Mackie would get that from this passage. Christ was just pointing out that anyone who follows Him is His family. He wasn’t showing disrespect to His family.

 

[bob4]

Long story short, when Tim Mackie presented this part of the Gospel he spoke about how even Christ’s family had trouble understanding what He was about, thinking Him mad/crazy. He took a moment to underscore that even His mother was confused and wanted Him to stop preaching.

I cannot see how anyone reading this passage can conclude that Mary was “confused and wanted him to stop preaching.” It was in verses 21ff that his friends went out to seize him for they said “He is beside himself” and it was the scribes from Jerusalem who said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul.”

this idea was presented that Mary was not completely on board with what Jesus was doing

Are these the words used on YouTube or are they your words?

 

[otjm]

I have no reason to think or presume that if she was troubled by or concerned about what Jesus was doing, that he had been taken by unclean spirits.

 

[Julius_Caesar]

It was in verses 21ff that his friends went out to seize him for they said “He is beside himself”

NAB has family.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

Mark 3:30-31 says, “30 Because they said he hath an unclean spirit 31 and his mother and his brothers came; and standing without, sent unto Him, calling Him.”

The translation that I am reading has a period between the two verses. Therefore it seems clearer that the “they” in verse 30 is referring to the scribes. So, there doesn’t seem to be a connection between the two verses:

30 For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

31 His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him.

But there is a connection between verses 31 and 21. In which a word in verse 21 is translated as “relatives” which seems to include Mary.

21 When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

So, yes, Jesus’ mother is identified as one of these relatives. Did she necessarily think that Jesus was out of his mind? Or was it the other relatives that were with her? It doesn’t say.

I don’t doubt that Mary was concerned for Jesus as He started to be surrounded by people possessed with demons and people with diseases. Mark states that these people were pressing around Jesus to the point where He could not even eat. Can you imagine any good Jewish mother not being concerned about that?

His mother was confused and wanted Him to stop preaching.

But this ^ is taking it too far. As far as I can see there is nothing expressed by Mary specifically other than, possibly, concern for her son.

 

[CoffeeFanatic]

I’m assuming these people allegedly only use scripture to back up their assertions. I’ve read the bible a few times and I can tell you that the Theotokos wasn’t mentioned anywhere as being confused about/not understanding Christ and wanting him to stop preaching. If they’re teaching that then it is a bias they hold that can’t be found in the scriptures they claim to hold so dear.

 

[Kei]

Step away from the Protestant sprinkle (I really suggest staying away from protestant teachers as they are liable to teach error or make anti Catholic interpretations where possible) and just look at the verses. Some English Bibles have an unfortunate translation that makes it look like his family was saying he had this spirit. Here’s what the DR says:
{3:30} Because they said: He hath an unclean spirit.
{3:31} And his mother and his brethren came; and standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
{3:32} And the multitude sat about him; and they say to him: Behold thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
{3:33} And answering them, he said: Who is my mother and my brethren?
{3:34} And looking round about on them who sat about him, he saith: Behold my mother and my brethren.
{3:35} For whosoever shall do the will of God, he is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

So, it looks like a plausible interpretation is that His family came to get him from the accusers, and He made clear that all who do the will of God is His family.

 

[PennyinCanada]

Luke 1: 29 and 30
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.

You know what struck me about this passage? Mary thought what kind of greeting is this? So apparently seeing angels was no big deal.

As sinners we can only speculate on what her life was like. Perhaps like the garden of Eden before the fall when Adam and Eve could visit with God like a friend. That’s more likely than the comments you heard of being confused at Christ’s preaching.

 

[Julius_Caesar]

So apparently seeing angels was no big deal.

Why would Mary have to have the Angel tell her “Don’t be afraid” if this wasn’t her first brush with an Angel? Runs against Scripture.

 

[JGD]

Here’s the RSV (Protestant) translation of Mark 3:21-22, 31

21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for people were saying, “He is beside himself.” 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Be-el′zebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” …
31 And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. …

His family was no doubt concerned for His welfare.

 

[bob4]

NAB has family.

That’s interesting; my go to RSV has friends, NAB and Jerusalem have relatives and an older (1971 NAB that has family. In the Nestle-Aland Greek-English New Testament it also uses family but the line reads, “And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for people were saying,‘He is beside himself’.”

 

[Tis_Bearself]

So, it looks like a plausible interpretation is that His family came to get him from the accusers, and He made clear that all who do the will of God is His family.

^^ This.

I note that the DR and NABRE Catholic version of this do not say at all why Jesus’ “mother and brethren” came.
Could have been concern for his welfare, which would have been reasonable, as they likely heard enough negative remarks directed at him including right in their own town.
Could have been a social visit: Hey Jesus, your mom and family are here, quit preaching and come out and visit with them, they just got to town and want to have dinner with you.

If Mary had any concerns about what Jesus was doing, she would have “pondered them in her heart” and submitted herself to God’s will, probably including a fervent mother’s prayer to God that he please look after and protect her beloved son Jesus, whom she knew was God’s son also.

But you would have to make some great, big, huge, egoistic, and probably Protestant assumptions to even think based on this passage that Mary had any concern with anything beyond possibly Jesus’ physical safety.

Protestants for whatever reason love to make up wrong stuff about Our Blessed Mother.
Just ignore it.

 

[Julius_Caesar]

Apparently Mary and Jesus’ bros traveled with Him after this incident.

At the rejection at Nazareth, the townsfolk say, "

And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
Mark 6:2‭-‬3 RSV-CI

His sisters are said to be in the city, so His brothers and mother had probably stayed in Capernaum and then traveled with Him.