Marking the Gospel. Jody Seymour

one will wonder what this “unpardonable” sin might be. We hear the word “blaspheme” and we think of some kind of curse. A curse is usually thrown out to demean or disregard someone. It expresses a contempt or lack of reverence for God or something that is considered sacred.

      In the context of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is referring to those who have just accused him of working for the powers of evil. These accusers feel threatened by Jesus and the way he is healing and freeing people. They do not want to accept that God may be working through someone outside of their system.

      The accusers are also so much caught up in a sense of their own righteousness and superiority that they have lost the ability to distinguish good from evil. They have become incapable of recognizing the work of God when it is right before them, and do not appreciate that Jesus views each person as a sacred child of God, worthy of his attention. They are more concerned about judging, shunning, excluding and oppressing others.

      Jesus’ “Abba” has no room for such a way of treating people. Jesus comes to open the doors to people not to shut them, to free them, not to bind them. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day who accuse him of conspiring with the dark side are getting real close to the unpardonable sin stuff because they are shutting down God’s expansive grace and blocking off the family connection that is essential for the right understanding of life.

      Jesus offers those who will listen to him a chance to re-establish this right relationship to God, but if a person has lost sight of moral vision, of right and wrong, of the dignity and respect that is due to every person, they may be unable to see a need to ask for forgiveness. They may say, “I do not need the Spirit of God. I am the captain of my own fate. What I have gained in life, I have made myself. It is all about me.” This person may put himself or herself outside the family. God does not do this.

      Family connection is important to Jesus. For him, “family” goes way beyond the concept of biological family. He says, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” The real family of Jesus are those who express their reverence for God by their regard for others, and their actions towards them.