GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 3:31
Sending a Message to Jesus
Jewish parents were taught early on about the importance of their roles. “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deut. 6:6-7) “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6) The Apostle Paul encouraged parents: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4)
Susanna Wesley (1669-1742) took the role of parenting seriously. Married to Samuel Wesley, an Anglican pastor, poet, and rector of Epworth in Lincolnshire, she gave birth to nineteen children, though several of them died in infancy. Her most famous children were John and Charles Wesley. Though self-educated, Susanna followed a strict schedule of academic learning, religious instruction, and discipline for her children, requiring them to memorize Scripture and pray daily. She gave each of her children one hour of private time each week in which she prayed with them, quizzed their Scripture memorization, and checked their growth in the spiritual graces.
St. Mark wrote that Jesus’ family heard about his rigorous schedule, new teaching, and danger, so his mother, brothers, and sisters made the 10-hour trip from Nazareth to where he was teaching, likely in Capernaum. “Then his mother and brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him.” (3:31) Confirming their fears, Jesus was surrounded by such a large crowd that they couldn’t lay hands on him, so they had to send in a messenger, informing him of their presence.
There are many ways to interpret this scene—the failure of close family and friends to understand Jesus’ message, concern for his physical well-being, fear for his safety, concern about their own reputation in Nazareth, or fear for his mental health (“He is out of his mind.” (verse 21)). Undoubtedly, like Susanna Wesley, Mary had spent much time directing Jesus’ training in the Scriptures and guiding his education—“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52) Whether Mary was present by her own volition or was encouraged by other family members as a way to convince Jesus to come with them, she was undoubtedly concerned for her beloved son’s safety.
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