Mark
3:35 “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Things had started to heat up in
Capernaum as word about Jesus’ healings and preaching spread throughout the
region. He was gaining lots of friends as well as enemies. Jesus’ mother and
brothers came to see him as he was speaking to a crowd, but rather than go to
greet them, he used it as an opportunity to teach and assert his resolve to
follow God’s will even when it increased his vulnerability. Just a short while
earlier, his family members had attempted to stop Jesus from going out to the
crowd because they had heard some horrible rumors people were beginning to
spread about him. In response to his family’s pleadings, the Lord implies to
his listeners that doing God’s will, rather than being related by blood, is the
mark of true kinship.
“Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those
who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will
of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:33-35)
It’s just the way he was, to say something really piercing to
make a point and then act paradoxically with uncompromising grace. We might expect
Jesus, the perfectly sinless Christ, to go back home after his talk and explain
how he didn’t really mean it the way it sounded because he, of course, would
always honor his mother, right? We don’t, however, hear anything about Jesus
backtracking in this encounter. Nothing would deter him from going public with
his message…not the risk of getting hurt, not even pressures to comply with the
will of his earthly family. From the perspective of his mother and brothers,
this wasn’t just about his reputation anymore. This was about keeping their son
and brother safe. For Jesus, though, it was a defining moment for his mission. His
life was not about playing it safe. God’s will was his guide. God’s intentions
alone were his objective. He would tell the truth at all costs.
Thanks be to God that Jesus remained true to his mission so we
could know the truth of God’s redeeming love. Thanks be to God that we are now
the next of kin because of Jesus’ faithfulness. May the one who remains
steadfast in his purpose give you strength to do the same.
In Christ, Pastor Chris Steubing
