Family

Scripture: Matt 12:46-50 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.” 48 Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” (Matthew 12:46–50 NLT)

In the first century world of Jesus and the Jews, family was of the utmost importance. The “nuclear family” of today, Dad, Mom, and two kids, simply wasn’t part of the culture. Family was grandparents, adult children, grandkids, cousins, aunts, and uncles; three generations living in close proximity whether in the rural countryside or the towns and cities. The highest level of relationships and responsibilities existed in the extended family.

Jesus said Kingdom of God family relationships are as important as family of origin relationships. His hearers there in Galilee found his words hard to understand. And even though our pattern of family has changed significantly, much about our modern pattern of “church” makes these words of Jesus seem pretty extreme. Are we really supposed to have this level of relationship with the people we sit among in church on Sunday? And what if we have to choose between natural and spiritual family?

Jean and I often saw this played out in the early 70’s in the Jesus People movement we were so privileged to be part of! Young people “found Jesus” and were radically transformed into passionate fully-committed disciples of Jesus in moments. They changed from selfish, drug-addled teenagers and young adults into purposeful, self-sacrificing “Jesus People.” Parents, even Christian parents, sometimes opposed the “sold out for Jesus” nature of their faith with its new patterns of behavior, new circles of relationship, changed values and priorities. I remember one frustrated father saying, “I’d rather have my son back partying and doing drugs than involved in this radical, unpredictable ‘Jesus thing’ he’s involved in!”

Prayer:

Father, For me a whole new understanding of “family” began when I realized that you are my loving Father and I am your beloved child. Help me to deeply love my brothers and sisters and cousins and all the others in this new Kingdom of God family. Help me to hold my relationships with natural family and spiritual family close. For family’s sake!