I’m going to combine the words of Mark and of Matthew, as they each describe the same event, but with different details. Taken together, they give us a stronger picture of the event.
Matthew. “Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. The crowd was amazed and asked, ‘Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?’But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, ‘No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.’”
Mark. “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. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. ‘He’s out of his mind,’ they said. But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, ‘He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.’”
Same event, different eyes.
The gospel accounts provide limited details about Jesus’ immediate family. We know, of course, that he was born to Mary and that his stepfather was Joseph. A carpenter by trade, Joseph is mentioned only in the narratives of Jesus’ birth and early childhood, leaving many to believe that he died prior to the time of Jesus’ public ministry. The gospels record the names of four of Jesus' brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas—and mentions sisters without providing names.
Those who believe that Mary remained a virgin throughout her entire life suggest that these were Joseph’s children from a previous marriage. Scripture, however, makes absolutely no claim that Mary maintained her virginity following Jesus’ birth, and it is more likely that the brothers and sisters of Jesus were simply the natural children born to Mary and Joseph after Jesus’ birth. In ancient Jewish culture it would have been unthinkable for a man and woman to live together in a permanently unconsummated marriage. In fact, Matthew 1:25 says, “But he (Joseph) had no union with her (Mary) until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” (Emphasis mine.)
Although the relationship between Jesus and the rest of his family seemed to be characterized by tension and misunderstanding during his ministry, at least two of his brothers later became his followers. James, a leader of the Jerusalem church was martyred in the early 60’s. Tradition attributes the New Testament epistle of James to him. Similarly, the epistle of Jude is attributed to Jesus’ brother Judas.
Now, how about this demon-possession stuff? I don’t know exactly what I believe about demon-possession. It’s one of those items I’ve never settled. I do know, however, what I don’t believe in: I don’t buy the medieval concept of demonology, characterized by terrible monsters roaming about seeking to rip, shred, torture, and destroy the innocent. Movie demons are based on that model. I think the real thing is much more subtle than that.
The Old Testament has almost nothing to say about demons, although they were a common thought in the ancient world, with blame for just about everything laid at their feet. Ancient exorcists used a variety of incantations and spells; potions and herbs; and material aids, like rings, to try to manipulate the spiritual world. The New Testament demonstrates two key things about evil spirits:
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Jesus alone has absolute power over them, but this was a matter of divine authority, not magic.
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Magicians are mocked by describing their inability to deal with real spirits.
Here I am out of time, and I haven’t even gotten to the good part. That’s for tomorrow, in part two.