46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”REFLECTIONSWritten by Susan DocIn these final verses of chapter 12, as Jesus teaches the crowd, a man calls him to go outside, where his mother and brothers are waiting. It’s somewhat awkward because Jesus seems dismissive of his family. What are we to make of it? Earlier, in chapter 10, Jesus declared that he had come not to bring peace, but a sword; to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother and to make enemies of a man’s own household (Matt 10:34-36). Jesus explained that his followers must love him more than their own families, and to take up their cross and follow him (Matt 10:37-38). In our passage, Jesus provides a further explanation of what it means to be his true disciple: it is to live in faithful obedience to the will of his heavenly Father (Matt 12:50). With this, we understand Jesus’ response to the man, that Jesus’ true disciples are closer to him than his earthly family. They are part of a family forged by God for his glory. As members of God’s family, we can know God as our heavenly Father and Jesus as our brother. It means we can approach God in prayer with the assurance that he hears us. It means we need not worry about our needs because God tells us he will provide. It also means we share in Jesus’ inheritance, which brings us peace with God now and the future promise of his kingdom. How rich is God’s mercy and bountiful his generosity, that he not only forgives our sins but blesses us and adopts us as his sons and daughters? Let us respond in faith with renewed zeal for godly living, following the example of our brother Jesus, for the pleasure and praise of our Father in heaven!ABOUT THE AUTHORSusan is our Women’s minister and Children’s ministry supervisor. She is a member of our Bossley Park morning congregation.