My Mother and Brothers

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: Luke 8:19-21

19 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.” 21 Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.” (Luke 8:19-21 NLT)

The crowds had continued to increase!  People were coming not only from the local area but from all across the province of Galilee and as far south as Judea to hear him teach! It’s entirely possible that he was teaching inside the same house that got its roof ripped open on another occasion.

When Jesus was told that his mother and brothers were outside and wanted to talk to him, his brief response seems almost rude and uncaring: “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”

Let’s take a moment with this. Jesus loved his mother and one of the last things he did as he hung dying on the cross was to entrust the care of his mother to his follower and friend John. And his brothers, after some initial skepticism, became believers, his brother James eventually becoming the lead elder of the Jerusalem church. What Jesus was really saying – to them and to us:

  • My Family is bigger than you can imagine! Everyone who believes God’s Message and begins to put it into practice is part of the Family of God! Faith gives us birth into Jesus’ family and our obedience and practice of the truth gives us fellowship with our new brothers and sisters. We’re part of something big!
  • Everyone who believes and obeys God’s Message down through the centuries to come is part of the family. Our big brother Jesus is alive and we’re his family in our generation. You and I are brothers and sisters of Jesus and brothers and sisters to each other. We’re not alone!
  • We have a unique quality of relatedness with our believing brothers and sisters in God’s family. We don’t have that with those who don’t believe God’s Message, even if they are natural-born brothers, sisters, mothers, aunts, cousins. There are things we know and experience that come only through faith!
  • Friends, I’m so glad we’re brothers and sisters in faith in Christ! We need each other. The world can be a lonely place. So let’s keep inviting more people into the family because there’s always room at the table for one more!

 Prayer:

Father, Thank you that we belong to you and to each other. It’s such a privilege to have family by faith and fellowship through living that faith together. May we always have room at the family table for new brothers and sisters. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!