Mark 3:31-35
Just then his mother and brothers showed up. Standing outside, they relayed a message that they wanted a word with him. He was surrounded by the crowd when he was given the message, “Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside looking for you.”Jesus responded, “Who do you think are my mother and brothers?” Looking around, taking in everyone seated around him, he said, “Right here, right in front of you—my mother and my brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
July 25th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
In the past when I have read this I have thought Jesus was being very hard on his family. Leaving them outside, ignoring their desire to see him. But this time I read it another way. Instead I read it as Jesus saying to the people around him \\\’look you are as important to me as my family, I love you as much as them.\\\’ At a time when family ties and honour were of great importance this statement must have had a huge impact on them. He was saying that we must extend our ties beyond the immediacy of our family to all people. What a challenge, do I treat other people like they are my family? Am I always welcomed by others as a sister?
July 27th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Recenty, at my homegroup, one of the questions asked was \’what is the best thing about being a Christian?\’ I couldn\’t think of anything at the time (I was in bit of a nark!!). However, for me, I think the best thing is probably what Jesus said later (Mark ch10) about whoever leaves family for his sake will find family \’a hundred times\’. (Although he does warn that with this new family will also come persecutions- no family situation is ever perfect!!!) And taking this into account, I would vouch for this being my experience of Christians and the church. I have lived several hundred miles from my biological family for most of my adult life but have time and time again found people who have been like grandparents/ aunts / sisters/ uncles/ brothers etc. etc. I agree, Ellen, that this is a huge challenge. We have to go on living with our family and it\’s very difficult to stop loving them- despite the manifold ways in which we succeed in hurting each other and generally drive one another crazy!
August 1st, 2007 at 2:16 pm
You can choose your friends, but you can\’t choose your family.
I find it really hard to treat EVERYONE as my family, in the Christian sense. Especially when they\’re horrible to you for no reason. But, most people try extra hard to make things work with their biological family in spite of difficulties, and often with success. It seems another case of persistence from us Christians is what\’s called for - with prayer etc to help.