February 10, 2010
Central Truth
We are a family of believers with a shared purpose, Savior, and Father.
"For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:50)
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
43 When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”
46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers 1 12:46 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 48, 49 stood outside, asking to speak to him. 2 12:46 Some manuscripts insert verse 47: Someone told him, Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to you 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Being a new dad, I see this passage in a different light. I am really working hard to create a sense of unity, love, and connectedness in our new family. I have thought through how I would like for our family to celebrate birthdays, Christmas, Easter, anniversaries, or any other opportunity to establish traditions. I want our daughter to know that we love her and that we care about what she remembers of her time in our care. I think about how as parents our attitude in good times and bad will affect her impression of our relationship. I want our family to be the closest relationship she has on this earth. I want to do the hard things so that I will be a good daddy. It seems like a lot of work, but I am willing to do it.
In Matthew 12:48-50, we read: "But Jesus . . . said, 'Who is My mother and who are My brothers?' And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, 'Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.'" But wait. What about the work His family did to create unity, love, and connectedness? Is Jesus saying all that is meaningless? Is my heart wrong to long for my family to love one another?
I don't think so. Jesus is not dismissing His family. He's just making sure we understand that His Daddy comes first. Dr. Tom Constable's notes put it this way: "Spiritual relationship takes precedence over physical relationship." Putting the spiritual over the physical relationship does not weaken the value of the physical relationship, but instead shows the higher value we should put on our spiritual relationship.
In the end, I want my life to be about the Lord. I want to do His will. The thing I have to remember is that as I work to create a united, loving, and connected family life, it must have as its purpose a desire to do the Lord's will. It does.
1. What does "doing the Lord's will" look like in your life? Read Romans 12:1-2.
2. What value does doing the Lord's will have in your life?
3. Compare that to the value you put on the physical relationships in your life.
4. Do you need to reorder your values? if so, where and how?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. In verse 40, who is speaking? And who is He speaking about? Does this prophecy come true?
2. Do you believe that all of Jesus’ words are true?
3. How does it help you to trust Jesus more knowing that everything He says comes true?