DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHO ARE MY BROTHERS?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – WHO ARE MY BROTHERS?

"And He looked around in a circle at those who sat with Him, and said, 'Here are My mother, and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." (Mark 3:34-35)

Mark has been called the "Action Gospel" because it focuses on incidents in the life of Jesus rather than extended teachings. Most of the teachings flow out of something that had happened, whether a miracle or confrontation with the religious leaders, or as in this incident, just a happening.

Jesus was meeting with a group of people, but his family was not included in this group. They were standing outside, calling for Jesus to come to them. One would think that one's family would be your strongest supporters, especially His mother, Mary, who had experienced the miraculous things surrounding His birth. But even his brothers, whom the Gospel of Mark identifies as James, Joses, Judas, and Simon (Mark 6:3), plus his sisters, were not a part of Jesus' followers. The Apostle John stated that "Even His brothers did not believe in Him" (John 7:5). Indeed, they thought He was crazy – just a brick shy of a full load, an inch short of a foot, an elevator that did not go to the top floor. Mark records that His own people – his family – "went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, 'He is out of His mind' " (Mark 3:21). It was not until after the Resurrection of Jesus that his brothers became believers.

Jesus had left His birth family for the sake of the Gospel. When Jesus said that some of His followers would have to leave their houses and families (Mark 10:29), He was speaking from personal experience. Some people who stand on the outside looking in, even family members, think that we are nuts to follow Jesus. But if the Lord Jesus could take the brunt of this rejection, even by family members, surely we can too if that is what it takes to follow Him.

It is not insanity to follow Jesus. It is insanity – denial of reality – not to leave everything to follow Him. To do the will of God is to put us into relationship with Him. If we lose our natural family for the cause of Christ, we gain a spiritual family that has a heavenly Father.

Love, Dad