Have you ever blown it in your relationship with someone that you didn’t think it was possible to fix it? I mean, those mistakes that are catastrophic, earth-shattering, usually morally based choices that bring into question all the previous history of the relationship. Or the betrayal that shows just how mean or vindictive you can really be. I am amazed at the ability of human beings to be so hurtful toward each other.
Remember, Jesus’ family thinks He is nuts and are on their way to commit Him, taking Him out of the public eye to save them from embarrassment. They have heard that the crowds are so great, the crowds gathering to hear Him teach and see Him heal, that they don’t even have time to eat. The crowds are pressing in so much, that they can’t do normal things.
The religious leaders in Jerusalem have sent an envoy to try and stop Jesus by applying their official label on His activities. They do this by saying that it is really Satan at work and not God. They look at His activities and can’t explain it through their lens, so they only have one alternative: it must be the work of Satan.
Jesus sets them straight. He starts by giving us some really good news. There is forgiveness available for all. Even as Jesus is rebuking the religious scholars of His day for saying that the Holy Spirit’s work is really Satan’s work, Jesus tells us that there is forgiveness. This is the start of Jesus’ rebuke. Even these religious leaders can have forgiveness. I don’t know about you, but if I have just been called Satan’s tool, I am not sure my first response would be to offer forgiveness, but this is exactly what Jesus does. Even these religious leaders who misunderstand Jesus so much are offered forgiveness. Wow, that is grace in action.
The next phrase has put many believers in a state of questioning and sometimes even panic. According to Jesus there is a sin for which there is no forgiveness. Many folks wonder if they have committed that sin at sometime in their lives.
But look at the context. The religious leaders are in a state of denial about God’s power being present in Jesus. They are flipping things on their heads by saying that God’s work is Satan’s.
A good way to think about this sin is this. This sin involves an attitude of continual defiance and hostility to the LORD. This attitude rejects the saving power expressed in the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus and in the world. It is a continual choice to reject God’s work in their life, His calling to repentance and intimacy with God. It is the choice to stay in the dark and in ignorance about the true nature of the world, sin, God and humanity.
The good news is that if you are worried about having committed this sin, you haven’t! Those who have committed this sin don’t care. Since they deny sin’s existence and the saving role Jesus has, they don’t care if their life choices put them in the camp of God’s enemies. They like where they live and don’t want to leave. If they refuse to accept the one way of forgiveness, then forgiveness isn’t possible. There is only one way.
But forgiveness is even offered to them, if they will just accept it.
The Arnold Journey 