I have always found it surprising that James and his other brothers did not believe in Jesus during his lifetime (John 7:5). This would be contrary to expectations because one could reasonably suspect that the story of the annunciation would have been communicated to them. Yesterday, I was reading through Mark and noticed that perhaps this doubt extended to Mary:
Mark 3:20-21 & 3:32: Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” …. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”
I find these passages surprising because this story is not included in Matthew and Luke. Although both gospels used 90% of Mark, Matthew and Luke omit the story, perhaps seeing a tension between their virgin birth narratives (not included in Mark) and a family worried about Jesus.
Some interpretive options:
1. Mary shared some doubts about Jesus.
Mary may have doubted the original communication from God. This would be consistent with many stories in the Bible including Sarah doubting that she would give birth to a son or the Israelites worshipping a golden calf after God freed them from Egypt. Of course, this scenario would be anathema to Catholics or others with a high view of Mary.
2. Mary had some doubts about Jesus’ actions in His ministry, but not Jesus Himself.
Mary may have been surprised at the unfolding of Jesus’ ministry. Like many of her contemporaries, Jesus’ messiahship did not conform to the standard expectations of the time. As a loving mother, she was also likely worried that He would get himself killed if He continued his pattern of behavior, which in fact he did! At the time, it may have appeared that Jesus was out of His mind.
Under the scenario, Mary had limited knowledge of the salvific plan. She also may have been in the wrong to doubt Jesus’ actions.
As Christians, I believe we are committed to this view that she had no meaningful doubts about Jesus Himself. In John 2, Mary asks Jesus to turn water into wine before the start of His ministry. She knows there is something miraculous about Him. Yet, for critics, John is further evidence of a tension between gospels.
3. The Mark passage is a general statement from his family, but Mary is supportive.
We really do not know if the entire family believed Jesus was out of His mind. The statement could have come exclusively from His brothers while His concerned mother also came to check on Him. One may emphasize that his brothers are actually step-brothers (Eastern Orthodox approach) or cousins (Catholic approach). This provides some distance between Mary and the brothers. Yet Mark 6 seems to imply that these were close relatives, and these brothers cared about Jesus enough to check on him with Mary. One must still be curious about the family dynamics.
4. The Mark passage does not express any doubts in Jesus from His family.
When the family says that “he is out of his mind,” they are trying to protect him from a crowd and get him out unscathed. Jesus is in danger from authorities, and the statement may protect Him from the outrageous claims that He is making. They personally do not believe Jesus is out of His mind, despite what they are saying.
This seems like a doubtful interpretation. If they were supportive of his ministry, the statement would undercut his ministry. Yet they may have wronged Him in this regard. We also know that the brothers plausibly subscribed to the statement because they did not believe in Him.
Alternatively, one may dispute the translation. The Greek language in Mark is notoriously vague and open to interpretation. One may argue that the “they” was other people. However, most scholars and translations would disagree.
Overall, the passage in Mark shows that he is willing to tell the unvarnished truth. If you are trying to spread the gospel, the story would risk embarrassment, for not even His family believed in Him. The brothers become a strong argument for the resurrection. Like Paul, James converted from an unbeliever to a martyr for the church after Jesus appeared to him (1 Corinthians 15:7). The same is also true for his brother Jude.
I am interested in all your interpretations of Mark 3. I know it's possibly speculative, but I think the reflection is fruitful!
Mark 3:20-21 & 3:32: Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” …. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”
I find these passages surprising because this story is not included in Matthew and Luke. Although both gospels used 90% of Mark, Matthew and Luke omit the story, perhaps seeing a tension between their virgin birth narratives (not included in Mark) and a family worried about Jesus.
Some interpretive options:
1. Mary shared some doubts about Jesus.
Mary may have doubted the original communication from God. This would be consistent with many stories in the Bible including Sarah doubting that she would give birth to a son or the Israelites worshipping a golden calf after God freed them from Egypt. Of course, this scenario would be anathema to Catholics or others with a high view of Mary.
2. Mary had some doubts about Jesus’ actions in His ministry, but not Jesus Himself.
Mary may have been surprised at the unfolding of Jesus’ ministry. Like many of her contemporaries, Jesus’ messiahship did not conform to the standard expectations of the time. As a loving mother, she was also likely worried that He would get himself killed if He continued his pattern of behavior, which in fact he did! At the time, it may have appeared that Jesus was out of His mind.
Under the scenario, Mary had limited knowledge of the salvific plan. She also may have been in the wrong to doubt Jesus’ actions.
As Christians, I believe we are committed to this view that she had no meaningful doubts about Jesus Himself. In John 2, Mary asks Jesus to turn water into wine before the start of His ministry. She knows there is something miraculous about Him. Yet, for critics, John is further evidence of a tension between gospels.
3. The Mark passage is a general statement from his family, but Mary is supportive.
We really do not know if the entire family believed Jesus was out of His mind. The statement could have come exclusively from His brothers while His concerned mother also came to check on Him. One may emphasize that his brothers are actually step-brothers (Eastern Orthodox approach) or cousins (Catholic approach). This provides some distance between Mary and the brothers. Yet Mark 6 seems to imply that these were close relatives, and these brothers cared about Jesus enough to check on him with Mary. One must still be curious about the family dynamics.
4. The Mark passage does not express any doubts in Jesus from His family.
When the family says that “he is out of his mind,” they are trying to protect him from a crowd and get him out unscathed. Jesus is in danger from authorities, and the statement may protect Him from the outrageous claims that He is making. They personally do not believe Jesus is out of His mind, despite what they are saying.
This seems like a doubtful interpretation. If they were supportive of his ministry, the statement would undercut his ministry. Yet they may have wronged Him in this regard. We also know that the brothers plausibly subscribed to the statement because they did not believe in Him.
Alternatively, one may dispute the translation. The Greek language in Mark is notoriously vague and open to interpretation. One may argue that the “they” was other people. However, most scholars and translations would disagree.
Overall, the passage in Mark shows that he is willing to tell the unvarnished truth. If you are trying to spread the gospel, the story would risk embarrassment, for not even His family believed in Him. The brothers become a strong argument for the resurrection. Like Paul, James converted from an unbeliever to a martyr for the church after Jesus appeared to him (1 Corinthians 15:7). The same is also true for his brother Jude.
I am interested in all your interpretations of Mark 3. I know it's possibly speculative, but I think the reflection is fruitful!
