Mark 3:20-21
20 Then (Jesus) he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”
“What was I thinking!” Have you ever said that to yourself? It is so easy to get so preoccupied with the distractions of life that we miss important things right in front of us. Perhaps it was overlooking something important on your calendar, or just letting the pot boil over on the stove.
In Jesus’ case, He was involved with His ministry so much, that He couldn’t even eat. Those closest to Him thought that He had gone too far! They thought that Jesus had lost His perspective! They even wondered if He was out of His mind.
This was far from the case. Jesus wasn’t out of His mind. In fact, given the situation, Jesus was the only one who had a true understanding of the needs of all. He was the only one who was actually in a right mind, because Jesus knew the profound need for salvation that pressed heavily upon all people. He had come to carry that heavy burden. Not having time to eat was just the beginning.
Jesus carried all our sins, death, and suffering to the cross. There Jesus removed our guilt. It is only through faith in Jesus that we can be in our right mind. Forgiven and restored we are able to perceive what is actually important, life giving, and loving.
Are you in your right mind? One good sign is when you make time in your life for the Word of God and prayer. The Devil, the world and our own sinful distractions will never leave room for Jesus and His Word. But, by the Grace of God, the Holy Spirit can open our hearts and our schedules to meditation on God’s Word, prayer, and thanksgiving. God will put us in our right mind, and through faith in Jesus, lead us to have time for everything that is actually vital.
Let us pray,
I thank you Lord for your perfect devotion to your calling and sacrifices for me. Help me, as I receive my daily bread, to remember your acceptance of hunger for my sake. Oh Holy Spirit, order my life according to your wisdom and the things that are truly valuable. Help all your people to repent of our distracted sinful ways and find peace in your word, prayer, and fellowship. In your name I pray. AMEN
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.