Monday, August 22, 2011
Matthew 12:48-50 He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
CALLED TO BE ... A FAMILY
Jesus was teaching one day when His biological family came to visit. They wanted Him to come out of the crowded house where He was teaching and talk to them. So, they sent a messenger to call Him out. To the messenger, Jesus said something kind of offensive.
Who IS my mom? Who ARE my brothers. Who IS my family? I'll tell you who, it's these people right here. My disciples. My followers. Those who trust in me. This is my REAL family.
What Jesus says here is only offensive if we take it the wrong way. We know Jesus loved His mother. He died to take her sins away! Obviously, Jesus wasn't saying family relationships don’t matter.
Jesus was illustrating the level of closeness that exists between Him and His followers. His disciples, His followers, those who trust in Jesus, WE are His brothers and sisters and mother.
This isn't just a cute expression. You know, like a coach might say to a team: "We're not just a team, we're a family." Yeah, until the season is over and we all go our separate ways. Jesus isn't just getting His disciples psyched up for something. This family relationship that He's talking about is founded on the forgiveness of sins that He was going to win for them, and it isn't ever meant to end.
In Christ we are called to be engaged. Called to be a family, connected to Christ, and connected with fellow Christians. In Hebrews it says: " ... let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV).
