3:20–30 Although this passage is separated from the following passage (3:31–35) in the NIV, the two really must be read together, for we appear to have here the first example of a narrative technique used frequently in Mark: beginning one story and then inserting another before bringing the first to a conclusion. Here, Mark begins telling us about the family of Jesus in 3:21 (see note), interrupts this story by telling us about Jesus’ conflict with certain critics over his exorcisms in 3:22–30, and returns to the story of Jesus’ family in 3:31–35. (Other examples of this technique are 5:21–42; 6:7–32; 11:12–25.) When Mark “sandwiches” stories in this manner, it seems that he presents the two stories as related in some way; and this is probably the case here. Briefly put, there are three gr…