Overcoming Hunch 29
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around listening, 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 around at those seated in the circle and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
In
a Nutshell
Jesus cared for His family. He helped them to see that His work was not firstly family business.
Questions
What about the eating problem?
Remember when the crowds first looked like getting out of control on the shores of Lake Galilee? Then Jesus arranged for a boat from which to do His teaching and then get away. Now as the crowds got larger and stayed longer, the religious leaders got busy trying to undermine Jesus. Jesus' family thought He was out of His depth and they wanted to exert some control. It seems that Jesus didn't stay all the time at the house of His mother and brothers. He went beyond His family circle. Sure, His cousins were among the 12 disciples, but it seems He visited other people's homes as well. God's Kingdom is not limited to one family, or a group of families, not even good church families. God's Kingdom is always much more than this; it spreads throughout our social life. You can't stop it.
"Excuse me. Master! There's a group of people outside who say they're your mother and brothers. They want you!" "My mother and brothers? Who are they?" Jesus kept teaching; the interruption became part of His teaching. He looked around: "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother". The Kingdom of God involves mothers, and brothers, but did you notice that Jesus also included His sisters? Women are just as important in God's eyes, not just because they might one day be mothers, but because He loves them as they are, now. That was wonderful news! God's kingdom, as it was announced by Jesus on this occasion, with his mother and brothers standing outside, means sisters as well as brothers, children as well as parents, women as well as men. All are invited! Sure, He chose a group of men to help run His travelling synagogue, but He was sent to teach that all who do the will of God are at home in His family circle! Many women became Jesus' disciples.
This is also the story of how Jesus' family and friends found release from their worries. They too needed to know that God cared for them, personally. He taught them all to care for themselves and He changed the way they cared for each other. Jesus made many friends. They were persuaded to help Him in His work. They pitched in. My hunch is that that is part of why His family circle, those who thought they were His closest friends, became rather confused. Jesus related to all people in a special caring way and this was strange. In time they realised they too needed God's help. Jesus loved His family and He loved it when they cared for Him and for each other. But it took a while for them to understand how He related to His own family network. In God's Kingdom an ever-widening circle includes more and more. That was a hard lesson for them to learn. It still is.