Jesus' Impact on His Family “Who Is My Mother, and Brother, and Sister

Jesus’ Impact on His Family “Who is my Mother, and Brother, and Sister”

Mark 3:31-35 Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers* are outside seeking You." 33 But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" 34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." NKJV Lesson Aim: To understand that true religion is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Well, here we go again; it just appears that controversy surrounded Jesus and His ministry. In our lesson today tongues were wagging, and rumors were flying about Jesus. Jesus’ ministry impacted not only individuals, homes, authorities, politicians, but also His own family. Now rumors have reached Mary and her other children back in Nazareth. Mark tells us in verse 31 of the text, “then His brothers and mother came to see Him”. Rumors that Jesus was mentally incompetent, and not physically taking care of Himself concerned Mary and her other children. Jesus’ behavior claiming to have the power to forgive sins, spending countless hours ministering, and yes claiming to be God lead His family to come and rescue Him.

This reminds me of someone today who totally surrenders his life to Christ. When that person changes his lifestyle, changes the way he talks, changes his behavior, changes the way he dresses, and begins to “worship the Lord”, often this person is labeled a “Jesus Freak”. Even family members begin to question whether something is wrong with them. Mark tells us that Jesus’ family came to get Him so that He wouldn’t embarrass them or Himself. Take note, Jesus was a member of a “blended family”. Mary was His maternal mother, Jehovah was His spiritual Father, and Joseph was His earthly father. I only mention this because we have so many “blended families” today. Jesus makes a shocking claim in our lesson today that can help all families get along. Jesus says there exists a greater family than the human family, the “family of God”, and everyone who does the will of God is a member of that family. Mark 3:31, Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers* are outside seeking You." *Mark tells us that Jesus’ family came looking for Him, but they wouldn’t even go inside where He was. They just sent for Him to come to them. Some commentators say His family didn’t go in because they were ashamed of Him. Others say they didn’t go in because the crowd was so large they couldn’t get through. Whatever the reason, the word got to Jesus that His mother and brothers were outside looking for Him.

Now Jesus was in the midst of carrying out His ministry preaching and teaching, and as usual He didn’t allow circumstances or people to keep Him from carrying out His “mission”. Verse 32 says, and a multitude was sitting around Him, calling Him; and they said to Him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are outside seeking you.” “And they said to Him”, they are the Scribes and the Pharisees once again right there looking for a reason to persecute Him. They said to Him, Jesus, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you. The Pharisees were sneaky. They knew under Jewish custom, you were not supposed to allow anything to take precedence over your family. If Mary was truly Jesus’ mother, and James, Judas, Joseph, and Simon were His brothers, surely, He would stop what He was doing and go and see what His mother wanted. (Matt 13:55-56) Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? NKJV Jesus seizes this opportunity to teach a much-needed lesson of what true kinship really is. Jesus was known for using *hyperbole or *rhetorical questions to answer a question or to get His point across. As we see here in (Mark 3:33) But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" Jesus’ rhetorical questions were by no means a denial or a rejection of His family members. Jesus loved His mother and his brothers as He demonstrated in His lifestyle and teachings. (John 19:26-27***)

Jesus uses this rhetorical question to point out three facts about kinship. 1) True kinship is based on a common relationship with God. 2) True kinship is based upon being a true disciple, a true follower of God. 3) True kinship is based upon doing the will of God.

➢ First, true kinship is not just a blood relationship, or having the same DNA as another person. A true family, a true kinship doesn’t exist just because some people have the same blood type and physical traits. History is littered with families in turmoil, divided and being torn apart. True kinship is based on a common relationship with God. True kinship is a spiritual relationship with God. John 1:12-13, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. NKJV 2 Cor 6:18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty." NKJV All who are in spiritual union with God become the sons and daughters of God and brothers of Jesus Christ. Believers make up the “true family” of God. True kinship is a matter of the spirit, heart, and mind of a person.

➢ Second, true kinship is based upon being a true disciple. Mark 3:34, And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers”! Matthew records in his gospel that Jesus was referring to His disciples when He said, “here are My mother and My brothers”. (Matt.12:49*) Jesus was trying to impress upon them that His “true family” was His disciples. They had accepted Him as their Lord and Savior and forsaken all to follow Him. True discipleship is found in Matt 16:24: Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.NKJV True discipleship is denying self, mother, brother, sister, home, material things, money, and picking up your cross and following Jesus. ➢ Third, true kinship is based upon doing the will of God. Mark 3:35, “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." NKJV Jesus had given Himself to do the will of God, and now He gives doctrine that anyone who follows the will of God will be His brother, sister, and mother. We become a part of God’s family by doing His will. Jesus tells us in John 6:40 of what His Father’s will is. “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." NKJV The will of our Father in heaven is for all men to believe

in His Son that all men may be a part of the family of God. All “true disciples” of Christ have the same objective and that is to do the will of God. To believe in His Son Jesus the Christ and to keep His commandments. Therefore, it is the spiritual commitment to do the will of God that binds us together. “Fun Time” 1) What relationship are believers’ to God? ______2) What is a “blended family”? ______3) What two books of the Bible did Jesus’ brothers write? ______4) How do we become family members of God? ______5) What does Jesus say the will of His Father is for us? ______