Mark 3:1-35 CEB

[1] Jesus returned to the synagogue. A man with a withered hand was there. [2] Wanting to bring charges against Jesus, they were watching Jesus closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. [3] He said to the man with the withered hand, “Step up where people can see you.” [4] Then he said to them, “Is it legal on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they said nothing. [5] Looking around at them with anger, deeply grieved at their unyielding hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he did, and his hand was made healthy. [6] At that, the Pharisees got together with the supporters of Herod to plan how to destroy Jesus. [7] Jesus left with his disciples and went to the lake. A large crowd followed him because they had heard what he was doing. They were from Galilee, [8] Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the area surrounding Tyre and Sidon. [9] Jesus told his disciples to get a small boat ready for him so the crowd wouldn’t crush him. [10] He had healed so many people that everyone who was sick pushed forward so that they could touch him. [11] Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down at his feet and shouted, “You are God’s Son!” [12] But he strictly ordered them not to reveal who he was. [13] Jesus went up on a mountain and called those he wanted, and they came to him. [14] He appointed twelve and called them apostles. He appointed them to be with him, to be sent out to preach, [15] and to have authority to throw out demons. [16] He appointed twelve: Peter, a name he gave Simon; [17] James and John, Zebedee’s sons, whom he nicknamed Boanerges, which means “sons of Thunder”; [18] and Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, Alphaeus’ son; Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean; [19] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. [20] Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered again so that it was impossible for him and his followers even to eat. [21] When his family heard what was happening, they came to take control of him. They were saying, “He’s out of his mind!” [22] 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.” [23] When Jesus called them together he spoke to them in a parable: “How can Satan throw Satan out? [24] A kingdom involved in civil war will collapse. [25] And a house torn apart by divisions will collapse. [26] If Satan rebels against himself and is divided, then he can’t endure. He’s done for. [27] 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. [28] I assure you that human beings will be forgiven for everything, for all sins and insults of every kind. [29] But whoever insults the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. That person is guilty of a sin with consequences that last forever.” [30] He said this because the legal experts were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.” [31] His mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent word to him, calling for him. [32] A crowd was seated around him, and those sent to him said, “Look, your mother, brothers, and sisters are outside looking for you.” [33] He replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” [34] Looking around at those seated around him in a circle, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. [35] Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother.”