Jesus Has a Family

⁴⁶ As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. ⁴⁷ Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.”

⁴⁸ Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹ Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. ⁵⁰ Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

Matthew 12:46-50, NLT

The crowds have gathered, and they keep coming. Jesus begins to speak, and for most of them this is what they came for. Miracles had occurred; people have been healed and delivered. This mass of people had seen all of this. But at this moment, they are quiet; they want to listen to what Jesus is teaching.

Someone passes a message to someone else. Soon Jesus is alerted to the presence of his family. Some commentaries suggest that they’ve come to take ‘custody’ of him; that they wanted to escort him to the privacy of their home. It seems like Mary and Jesus’ brothers want to do an ‘intervention.’ They have come to speak with him, but they don’t understand.

The Lord uses this as a way to announce the inauguration of a new order of things. Jesus is setting a new family that is ‘spiritual’ in substance. The old is acknowledged, but now the new is emphasized. Spiritually, Jesus reveals a higher order of family. He points to his group of disciples, and declares them to be “my brother and sister and mother!”

All of this hinges on an obedience to the will of the Father. And that really is the point. The disciples had left everything to be with their new teacher. Their boats and nets probably would have been sold to finance this move. They’re now ‘doing the will of God.’ It is their decisive obedience that makes them ‘real’ family.

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
    who walk in obedience to him.”

Psalm 128:1, NIV

“Often the only way to a deeper intimacy is through a decisive obedience.”

Combine this with earnest prayer, and time in the Word. Through grace you can open up a fresh breeze of the Holy Spirit. You can become closer to Jesus. Maybe closer than you have ever dreamed possible.

“”The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith. The two are at opposite sides of the same coin.” 

–A.W. Tozer

Author: Pastor Bryan Lowe

A repentant rascal with definite issues, but who is seeking to be authentic in his faith to Jesus Christ. An avid reader and a hopeful writer. Husband and father. A pastor and Bible teacher. A brain tumor survivor. Diagnosed with clinical depression, and now disabled. Enjoys life, such as it is, in Alask.a (Actually I have it pretty good.) View all posts by Pastor Bryan Lowe