Mark 3:31-35 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Mark 3:31-35. With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage. Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage? After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Mark 3:31-35 (NIV)
31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.
32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”
33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! `
35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
On verses 31-35: Jesus was known for making shocking statements, but what did Jesus mean exactly when he said that “whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” (v34-35)? Jesus means that those who believe in Jesus and follow Him are Jesus’ true family.
The same goes with us today. When you believe in Jesus and decide to follow Him, not only are you forgiven of your sins, but you become a child of God adopted into God’s family, and other believers in Christ become your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Also, keep in mind that by this point Jesus had experienced quite a bit of rejection from his natural family. A few verses before this his family was accusing Jesus of being out of his mind and they had come to “take charge of him” (v21), that is, remove him from the place where he was ministering. His family’s lack of support of Jesus was not helping Jesus’ cause. So Jesus makes this strong statement in verse 34-35, in a way to distance himself from his family’s actions.
Thankfully this is not where the story ends with Jesus’ own natural family:
– James, Jesus’ brother, did not believe Jesus was the Son of God at first, but after Jesus’ resurrection, James became the leader of the church in Jerusalem and died a martyr’s death, dying for the belief that his own brother was the Son of God.
– Mary, Jesus’ mother, may have had a tough time at first letting go of Jesus, but she eventually submits to Jesus’ authority (John 2:5).
– After Jesus resurrected, you could find Jesus’ mother and brothers worshiping Jesus and praying to him alongside Jesus’ disciples (Acts 1:14).
What can we learn from this? Sometimes the people whom you might think should be closest to you, your natural family, can be your biggest critics, to the point where you feel more understood by those outside your home than inside it. If that’s your situation, know that you’re not alone. Jesus felt that as well. If you would persevere and continue to grow in your faith and your maturity, I believe one day your family members may begin to have a different view of you and your faith. I’ve seen that happen on numerous occasions: staunch family resistance eventually becomes active family support. All things are possible with God.
Jesus, thank You that by Your blood I am a child of God and a member of Your family. Thank You for my spiritual family, for every person I can call my brother and sister in Christ. Together we are the largest, most culturally, racially, ethnically, economically, socially, historically diverse family that has ever existed or will exist, and it’s all because of You. For those in my life who don’t understand my faith in You, please give me wisdom to know how to relate to them, and let Your light somehow shine through me to them. Thank You that in Your time You make all things beautiful. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
