never be forgiven

Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered again so that it was impossible for him and his followers even to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they came to take control of him. They were saying, “He’s out of his mind!” The legal experts came down from Jerusalem. Over and over they charged, “He’s possessed by Beelzebul. He throws out demons with the authority of the ruler of demons.” When Jesus called them together he spoke to them in a parable: “How can Satan throw Satan out? A kingdom involved in civil war will collapse. And a house torn apart by divisions will collapse. If Satan rebels against himself and is divided, then he can’t endure. He’s done for. No one gets into the house of a strong person and steals anything without first tying up the strong person. Only then can the house be burglarized. I assure you that human beings will be forgiven for everything, for all sins and insults of every kind. But whoever insults the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. That person is guilty of a sin with consequences that last forever.” He said this because the legal experts were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.” His mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent word to him, calling for him. A crowd was seated around him, and those sent to him said, “Look, your mother, brothers, and sisters are outside looking for you.” He replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Looking around at those seated around him in a circle, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother.” (Mark 3:20-35, CEB)

Jesus said, “I assure you that human beings will be forgiven for everything, for all sins and insults of every kind.” All sins will be forgiven. The only thing that is not forgivable is insulting the Holy Spirit. The reading says Jesus said this because the legal experts were saying he was possessed by an evil spirit. I take this to mean they were saying Jesus was doing what he was doing because he was evil and not because the Spirit led him to do what he did.

This could be a problem because we are separated on what the spirit is leading people to do. Whoever does God’s will is my family. And who determines what God’s will is? God and God alone. But we as humans think we know what God’s will is.

I know that I could be wrong in my interpretation. However, I will err on the side of love. Love unconditionally. I believe the Spirit leads us to love, and anything that doesn’t lead to love is not of the Spirit.

I chose love. And I hope you will too.

Loving People. Loving God.