40 DAYS in the GOSPEL Sample

FAMILY MATTERS

"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.” (Mark 3:34)

It would have been hard to be Jesus’ brother, don’t you think? Even though He was popular with the crowds, there were moments when his family thought He was crazy, including his brothers. Imagine the conversations around the table:

"Did you hear about Jesus and Peter on the Sea of Galilee? Walking on the water in the middle of the night! What is he thinking? In a storm? Is he testing God? What was the point?'"

"Today at school someone accused me of not being loyal to our Jewish heritage because Jesus had a party at a tax collector’s house. I told him that Jesus was my brother, and I don’t agree with everything he does."

As the crowds grow, his family is concerned. They think he’s let the fame get to his head. Is he forgetting His roots? His identity? His loyalty to His dad, Joseph?

But Jesus hasn’t forgotten his family. He is just on a mission to set out more chairs at the family table. He’s enlarging His heavenly Father’s family.

In the church I (Shawn) serve, many have come from broken families. Many don’t have a relationship with their father; some don’t even know who their father is. The good news of the gospel is that there is a belonging that supersedes any earthly relationship. “Whoever does the will of God” belongs in the eternal family of Jesus! Even if you never had a brother, or sister, or never knew your earthly father, you can belong to a “forever family”—the same one that Jesus is in.

We use titles like brother and sister in God’s family because it’s true. In fact, the guys in my church are a more significant relationship than a blood-brother because it’s eternally true. They will be my brothers forever.

PRAY ABOUT IT: Do you feel alone? If you’re a follower of Jesus, you have a “forever family.” Pray that God will help you realize this today and do your part to build healthy friendships with other Christians.