READING: MARK 3: 20-35

Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.’

So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: ‘How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.’

He said this because they were saying, ‘He has an impure spirit.’

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting round him, and they told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.’

‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked.

Then he looked at those seated in a circle round him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’

REFLECTION

Hi. I’m Liam and I’m part of the team here at STC Sheffield.

As you know, since the start of the New Year, we’ve been focusing on Mark’s Gospel. Today’s reading comes from Mark 3: 20-35. Do take the time to read the passage in full, but for now I’d like to focus on the last part of the passage, v33-35. Let me read these for us now:

 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he (Jesus) asked.

Then he looked around at those seated in the circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

As I read this passage, and in particular these words, I’m struck again by just how radical Jesus’ teaching was. Jesus’ words tell us more about who we are – a member of God’s family and what we are called to do – be a witness to those around us.

Picture the scene that Mark paints before us. Jesus’ own family have come looking for him, presumably trying to get hold of him (v21) to shake some sense into him.  It seems they were so taken aback by the reports of his behaviour – remember at this point Jesus has miraculously healed many people, challenged the ruling religious elite and called others to follow him– that his own family thought he was ‘out of his mind.’ Despite having raised Jesus, lived with Jesus and grown up alongside Jesus, it’s clear that his earthly family no longer understand him.

Indeed, it appears that Jesus is only too aware of this fact. He asks the question, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’. And then he looks around at the crowd of followers before him and explains that these people, those who not only listen to what he is saying, but also  understand it and go and put it into practise – these are the people Jesus identifies with. These are the people Jesus prioritizes. These are the people Jesus considers family, because they are living out the kingdom life: a life that is shaped and influenced by God.

Jesus’ words are so radical and can seem harsh to us. But it’s important to note that Jesus is not dismissive or rude here. He’s not completely disowning his family. He’ s not completely severing his relationship with them, but what he is doing, by his powerful words and actions, is teaching them something quite profound about who we really are. We’re children of God.  In this case, Jesus earthly family come second to the people who are really ready to receive him.

I often wonder how his family must have reacted in that instance. It must have had some impact on them. We later learn that some of Jesus brothers did eventually come to faith in him. Perhaps this incident played a part in that?

So, what we can we take from all this. What is Jesus teaching us here as we read this passage today?

When we choose to repent, and turn to Jesus, to accept him as Lord and Saviour, and to live our lives for him, we have the right to be called children of God. We are not just a follower. We’re not just a friend. We are family! Jesus is our brother.

But through his actions, Jesus also shows us that he is our king. He gives us the authority to be people who he uses to extend his kingdom. That simply through the way we talk, think and act, we show we identify with him, and in doing so, call others to do the same. Some people, perhaps like those in the passage may not fully understand or accept that authority but we are people who know that Jesus is king.

These two truths from today’s passage are two things that unite us as Christians. This is what identifies us with Jesus. This is what makes us a family – a family on a mission to see the kingdom grow in the places where we live, work and study. Let us go into our day confident in who we are and what we were created to do.

PRAYER

Jesus, thank you that you are my brother. Thank you that by dying on a cross you made it possible for me to be part of your family. Jesus, thank you that you are my king. Help me to serve you and today be someone who carries your light to the people you place around me. Your kingdom come, your will be done this day Lord.

Amen.

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