Steven A. Bush - October 19, 2014
Is Jesus' Family Your Family?

Just after Jesus chooses His disciples, a large crowd gathers at the home where Jesus is staying. His family senses it's time for an intervention even as Jewish leaders show up to accuse Him of blasphemy. Jesus' family believes He has lost His mind and the Jewish leaders believe He's a servant of the devil. Mark 3:31-35 says: "And His mother and His brothers came, and standing outside they sent to Him and called Him. And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And He answered them, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.” (ESV) Obviously Jesus loved His earthly family and His mother certainly did not share her other children's perspective regarding Jesus' sanity. Jesus does, however, declare just who His family really is which begs some questions: Am I a part of Jesus' family? If I am indeed a part of His family, what are the familial implications? Do people inside His family know? And can those outside His family tell?