46As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.47Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you.”48Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”49Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.50Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”
Some think this is pretty harsh treatment of his family, but Jesus is making a strong point. Love of God is first. Obviously Jesus loved his family. His mother Mary is spoken of with great admiration in the Bible and was present at Pentecost. His brother James was not always a believer but became a church father and martyr. But Jesus is making it clear that we must love God more than even the closest family members.
Jesus is also helping us grasp the type of relationship God wants to have with us. He wants to be closer to us than our closest family. He is not a far off person who sits above counting our sins and good deeds. He is not a mystical Santa Claus or therapist. He is our truest and nearest Father. He is family (Italian accent? 🙂
Father, help me to know you and Jesus and the Holy Spirit as family. You are the beginner of my life and my truest and closest friend and Father. Thank-you and help me to be a true son and brother. Beginner’s Online Bible Study *obbs*
