Friends

Mark 3:21 KJV

And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

Some friends these are. 

The commentaries suggest that these are Jesus' family and townspeople from Nazareth, those that had grown up with and around Him who, hearing that Jesus had begun this ministry, were convinced of the Jews that He was mentally deranged and thus tried to stop Him and detain Him. No doubt they would have believed this was "for His own good.”

Well-meaning but worldly-minded friends are often the first to attempt to prevent the zealous follower of Christ from God’s purpose for his life. 

• A parent who has dreams for his child's profession
• A sibling who is jealous of the devotion to Jesus
• A childhood friend who thinks it strange they will no longer do those things they once did

The Christian faith is so foreign to this world that those of the world believe it to be insane. Indeed, as the days progress many more saints will be no doubt "laid hold of" and accused of being beside themselves. 

I pray for those saints to hold fast their profession.