Mark 3:20-35

1. The increasing rejection of Jesus 3:20-35

Mark again returned to the opposition theme (cf. Mark 2:1 to Mark 3:6). He directed his readers back and forth between Jesus’ acceptance on a superficial level by the multitudes, His disciples’ growing commitment to Him, and the increasing hostility of the religious leaders. This structural pattern highlights the contrasts between the three groups.

In this section Mark used a chiastic structure to show two different kinds of opposition that Jesus faced, which many of His disciples have faced as well. He used this "sandwich" structure elsewhere too (cf. Mark 5:21-43; Mark 6:7-31; Mark 11:12-26; Mark 14:1-11; Mark 14:27-52). It focuses attention on the central part of the section (chiasm), in this case the serious charge that Satan controlled Jesus.

A The opposition of family Mark 3:20-21

B The opposition of enemies Mark 3:22-30

A’ The opposition of family Mark 3:31-35