Matthew 12

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Matthew 12:46-50, While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

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.”

I’ll be honest, growing up I used to really struggle with this passage.  It seemed so harsh! 

But deeper reflection yields a different perspective.

Can you imagine what it must have been like for Jesus’ immediate family?  We know that Mary knew that Jesus was special but did she really understand the significance of his life at this point?  What must his siblings have thought?  We see in this text that his mother and brothers are wanting to talk to him, interrupting a teaching session.  Are they chatting about Sunday dinner or do they want him to stop making such a ruckus around town?  Again, we don’t have details but it’s clear they don’t really know him as the Son of God (yet). 

Jesus’ reaction is a bit off-putting.  As a mom, I might have gotten my feelings a bit hurt.  But he is making a point.  Jesus’ family has become much wider than Mary, Joseph, and the boys.  There are no bounds to who may be part of it. 

Let’s consider this:  Family in God’s Kingdom is serious.  Yes, family are those to whom we are biologically related but it also includes our brothers and sisters in the family of God.  The bonds between brothers and sisters in Christ are intended to be just as strong as the bonds between biological siblings. 

Think about the relationships you have made within the faith family.  Are they strong?  Why or why not?  What holds you back from creating strong, meaningful connections to your brothers and sisters in Christ? 

Let’s pray…Lord, Bind us together with cords that cannot be broken. Help us love one another the way you have taught us so that we can demonstrate to the world who you are.  Amen.