We come to one of the most worried-about and discussed topics throughout church history: “The Unforgivable Sin” in Mark 3:22-30. We rightly expect God to be forgiving; thankfully because of the cross. But these words of Jesus clearly show a line or limit to that forgiveness, and we even hear a warning about eternal consequences. Can this be?! We should be careful not to dismiss these words as hyperbole or claim ignorance about what they mean. So let’s be vulnerable and take a fresh look at this scene. It’s unusual for Jesus to defend himself, but why does this moment call for a dramatic exception?
