Contemplative Bible Reading

Mark 3:20-22 (New Living Translation)

20 One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. 21 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.

22 But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons…

The family of Jesus was concerned that “He’s out of his mind.”

The teachers of the religious law said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons…”

There was much happening at the time, but one thing that is listed before these statements is that Jesus and the disciples “couldn’t even find time to eat.” Again, much was happening, but this is what was mentioned specifically—time to eat.

Eating a meal has meant different things in different cultures at different times. From this (hi)story, it seems that eating a meal was pretty darn important in the time and place of Jesus’ ministry. The absence of “time to eat” brought all sorts of concerns from mental health to demon possession.

Simply, Jesus and the followers were serving, not being served. Does anyone accuse me of serving too much? Perhaps I don’t want to know the answer to that question.