Family of Jesus

Family of Jesus

Mark 3:31 – Then Jesus’ mother and his brothers came. Standing outside, they sent word to him, to summon him. 32 – A crowd was sitting around him and they said to him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you.”

verse 33 – He answered them and said, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 – And looking at those who were sitting around him in a circle, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 – For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

I was getting the feeling that Jesus was mildly annoyed about his preaching getting interrupted. Maybe not Jesus, but me. Jesus’ family was looking for him. It reminds me of when Mary and Joseph had lost track of Jesus. They were looking for him too and after 3 days they found him at the temple doing His Father’s business.

After all these years, Jesus’ family was still looking for Jesus and He was still doing what He was called to do – His Father’s business of saving people. If Jesus ever took a break it was to talk to His Father and then He was back at it again. If any of us were part of the crowd we would appreciate the attention of Jesus and his healing touch. He was not the kind of person to invoke family privilege and deny help to others just because his family was looking for him.

The crowd was his family. People who hurt were his family. Those who needed the hope of the gospel were his family. Anyone needing Jesus today – they are family. “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” “I will receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also.”

His heart is big enough. His place is big enough and Jesus is looking for laborers who are willing to see His Father’s work as the kind of work that is time critical. The deadline is looming and only He knows how much time is left for people to get in on being part of the family.

Jesus’ life and ministry were filled the urgency of time running out and it is still running out with so many more people in the crowd desperate for the gospel good news and to know that they can be part of God’s family. Let’s engage in the work today!

Matthew 9:36 – When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 – Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 – therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”