Mark 3:28-35: a reflection

28“Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme; 29but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.” 30—because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” 31His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him. 32A multitude was sitting around him, and they told him, “Behold, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside looking for you.” 33He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34Looking around at those who sat around him, he said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! 35For whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and mother.”

When Jesus is told that his mother and brothers are outside looking for him, he uses the moment to reveal a wider family, the family of all who do the will of God. Who are my mother and my brothers? Jesus asks; and looking around at those who sat around him, he says, behold my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and mother. Jesus is not denying his natural family, but revealing a spiritual family that transcends natural ties: all who do the will of God are bound to him, and to one another, as family. Those who do God's will are Christ's brothers, sisters, and mother. This shows that those who do the will of God are Christ's family. Those who do God's will are family to Christ. Christ's family is all who do the will of God. Doing God's will binds us to Christ as family. We are Christ's brothers and sisters when we do God's will.

Notice the family Jesus reveals. He is told his mother and brothers are outside; and he uses the moment to point to those around him and declare that whoever does the will of God is his brother, sister, and mother. He is not dishonoring his natural family; he is revealing that there is a family wider than natural ties, a spiritual family constituted not by blood but by doing the will of God. All who do God's will are bound to Christ as his family, and to one another as brothers and sisters. This is a beautiful and significant truth. To belong to Christ's family is not a matter of natural descent or human connection, but of doing the will of God, of belonging to him in obedience and faith. And it means that all who do God's will, across every natural boundary, are family to one another in Christ, bound together as brothers and sisters, with Christ himself counting us as his own family. This gives us both a bond with Christ, who calls us his brothers and sisters, and a bond with one another, as members of one spiritual family. We do well to live as members of this family, counting all who do God's will as our brothers and sisters, and rejoicing that Christ counts us as his own. Those who do God's will are family to Christ and to one another. We are bound to Christ and one another as a spiritual family. Christ counts those who do God's will as his own family. Live as a member of Christ's family, with all who do God's will.

That is worth resting in, for those who do the will of God are Christ's family, bound to him and to one another as brothers and sisters, so that Christ counts us as his own. We can feel outside, without belonging; but Jesus declared that whoever does the will of God is his brother, sister, and mother, revealing a family wider than natural ties. We belong to Christ's family. When you feel you do not belong, remember that in doing God's will you are family to Christ and to all who are his. Rest in the truth that those who do the will of God are Christ's family, bound to him and to one another as brothers and sisters, so that Christ counts us as his own, as when Jesus was told his mother and brothers were outside, he looked around at those with him and declared that whoever does the will of God is his brother, sister, and mother; for Jesus was not denying his natural family but revealing a spiritual family that transcends natural ties, constituted not by blood but by doing the will of God, so that all who do God's will are bound to Christ as his family and to one another as brothers and sisters, which is a beautiful truth, since to belong to Christ's family is not a matter of natural descent or human connection but of doing the will of God and belonging to him in obedience and faith, and it means that all who do God's will, across every natural boundary, are family to one another in Christ, with Christ himself counting us as his own, giving us both a bond with Christ, who calls us his brothers and sisters, and a bond with one another as members of one spiritual family, so that we do well to live as members of this family, counting all who do God's will as our brothers and sisters and rejoicing that Christ counts us as his own.

Lord Jesus, when you are told that your mother and brothers are outside looking for you, you use the moment to reveal a wider family, the family of all who do the will of God. Who are my mother and my brothers? you ask; and looking around at those who sat around you, you say, behold my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and mother. You are not denying your natural family, but revealing a spiritual family that transcends natural ties: all who do the will of God are bound to you, and to one another, as family. Show me the family you reveal. You are told your mother and brothers are outside; and you point to those around you and declare that whoever does the will of God is your brother, sister, and mother. You are not dishonoring your natural family; you are revealing a family wider than natural ties, constituted not by blood but by doing the will of God. All who do God's will are bound to you as your family, and to one another as brothers and sisters. This is a beautiful and significant truth. To belong to your family is not a matter of natural descent or human connection, but of doing the will of God, of belonging to you in obedience and faith. And it means that all who do God's will, across every natural boundary, are family to one another in you, with you counting us as your own. This gives me both a bond with you, who call me your brother or sister, and a bond with one another. Take that to my heart, for those who do the will of God are your family, bound to you and to one another. When I feel I do not belong, help me remember that in doing God's will I am family to you, Lord, and to all who are yours, and live as a member of your family, counting all who do God's will as my brothers and sisters and rejoicing that you count me as your own.