Jeremiah 15-17
2 Timothy 2
“When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved…He said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” John 19:26-27
What is family? Many of us would immediately think of our biological family or our found family. Yet, how many of us consider all fellow Christians as family?
During Jesus’s earthly ministry, He performed many miracles and taught in many places. One time, Jesus’s family was concerned for His welfare because people were telling others that He was possessed by demons and others were plotting to kill Him. Things were spinning out of control and His family was worried for His safety. In love, they went to where Jesus was teaching, wanting to bring Him home because they did not think He was in His right mind anymore.
When they arrived at where Jesus was teaching, someone went to Jesus and said, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for You.” It was so crowded that His family could not make their way in so they had to get someone to relay their message. Jesus, knowing His family did not understand what He was doing, responded, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” And then looking at those who were eager to experience what it was that He was offering in love to them, He added, “Here are My mother and My brothers! Whoever does God’s will is My brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:32-34).
Now, this is a bit of a troubling story for those of us who look at family as being a very exclusive enclave; it may appear that Jesus was choosing mission over family. But that was not what was happening. Jesus was not just gently rebuking His family, He was also giving an invitation to understand things in a brand-new way. The mission of God is not about fighting causes or starting revolutions; the mission is always about relationships—calling people into a relationship with God and a relationship with one another. It is a love relationship that can best be seen as family.
How do we actually love people as family? On the cross, we see the source. As Jesus was being crucified, He looked down and saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved. He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son” and to His disciple, “Here is your mother” (John 19:26-27). This is not a “take good care of each other” moment, but an example of exactly what He was describing when He said, “Whoever does God’s will is My brother and sister and mother.” May we hear His invitation to love beyond the very small boundaries that we have set for ourselves and love in a way that is new and transformational.
Lord Jesus, thank You for calling me into the family of God and challenging my understanding of what family is. Help me to love other Christians as family.
2 Timothy 2
“When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved…He said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” John 19:26-27
What is family? Many of us would immediately think of our biological family or our found family. Yet, how many of us consider all fellow Christians as family?
During Jesus’s earthly ministry, He performed many miracles and taught in many places. One time, Jesus’s family was concerned for His welfare because people were telling others that He was possessed by demons and others were plotting to kill Him. Things were spinning out of control and His family was worried for His safety. In love, they went to where Jesus was teaching, wanting to bring Him home because they did not think He was in His right mind anymore.
When they arrived at where Jesus was teaching, someone went to Jesus and said, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for You.” It was so crowded that His family could not make their way in so they had to get someone to relay their message. Jesus, knowing His family did not understand what He was doing, responded, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” And then looking at those who were eager to experience what it was that He was offering in love to them, He added, “Here are My mother and My brothers! Whoever does God’s will is My brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:32-34).
Now, this is a bit of a troubling story for those of us who look at family as being a very exclusive enclave; it may appear that Jesus was choosing mission over family. But that was not what was happening. Jesus was not just gently rebuking His family, He was also giving an invitation to understand things in a brand-new way. The mission of God is not about fighting causes or starting revolutions; the mission is always about relationships—calling people into a relationship with God and a relationship with one another. It is a love relationship that can best be seen as family.
How do we actually love people as family? On the cross, we see the source. As Jesus was being crucified, He looked down and saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved. He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son” and to His disciple, “Here is your mother” (John 19:26-27). This is not a “take good care of each other” moment, but an example of exactly what He was describing when He said, “Whoever does God’s will is My brother and sister and mother.” May we hear His invitation to love beyond the very small boundaries that we have set for ourselves and love in a way that is new and transformational.
Lord Jesus, thank You for calling me into the family of God and challenging my understanding of what family is. Help me to love other Christians as family.
← Older Post Newer Post →