Judges 9-10 & Mark 3

How far has Israel fallen? Well in Judges 9, Gideon's son Abimilech conspires to become king and kills his brothers. Abimilech becomes king of Shechem, a large city-state, but his brother, Jotham escapes death.
Jotham issues a parable to the lords of Shechem, basically stating that if they entered into the relationship with Abimilech in good faith, then so be it. But if they did not, if they sought to kill Gideon's sons and slaughter those who had saved Shechem from the Midians then Jotham wishes only death for them.

Sure enough, both the lords of Shechem and Abimilech conspire against each other. Abimilech destroys the city and all who reside in it, while Abimilech is then killed attempting to the do the same to the city of Thebez as a woman throws down a millstone crushing him. The curse and parable of Jotham is realized.

Judges 10 gives us a report of two judges, Tola and Jair who are raised to deliver Israel in their time of need.  Of course the cycle continues as Israel continues to do what is evil in the sight of God. This time the Philistines and the Ammonites are the ones to oppress Israel. Their is no peace for any of Israel for all the tribes are oppressed by their neighbors.

Israel calls upon God who is not interested in helping, but Israel makes a grand gesture, they put away their idols and turn back to God. God is unable to turn away and the stage is set for another saving act of God. The Ammonites recognize something is up and gather their armies at Mizpah. The next step is God's.

Mark 3

The teaching of authority and the identity of Jesus continues. This time it begins with a direct challenge on healing on the Sabbath. The fact that the religious leaders remain silent when questioned as to the appropriateness to heal or save on the Sabbath means they might have suspected that Jesus was right in his assessment. One way to look at it might be that if God is about saving Israel, then actions that fulfilled that work is appropriate on the day set aside for worship of God. What better way to worship God than to join in God's work of salvation and liberation.

As crowds follow Jesus, he appoints twelve to assist him in his work. However, it would seem that still only the unclean spirits are truly able to recognize Jesus as the Son of God.

So unclear are some around Jesus that even his family has grave concern about him, to the extent that some think he is out of his mind, in other words, nuts. The religious leaders either think he is nuts or a worker of Beelzebub, a Canaanite deity relegated to the role of ruler of demons. Jesus points out what good would it do Beelzebub for Jesus to be his co-worker since Jesus is destroying Beelzebub's demons. But Jesus points out, call me what you will, but do not demean my work or the work of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, to his family who thinks he is crazy, Jesus says, the masses are my family, those who recognize me for my works, are my family.