“For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”” Mark 3:35 ESV
Reflection: which do you try to follow closer – what your church is teaching, or what Jesus taught?
We have looked previously at the huge number of Christian denominations that exist, even in just the United States. And even with disagreements on a minor topic, new groups are formed. There are thousands of independent Bible churches, that each have their own stated doctrine; each with their own norms and practices, forming tight knit communities. And we all know that, if you are in a tight knit group, you have a set of expectations and rules that all conform to. Makes us in a way very comfortable to be around like minded people. Can be everything from how a service is being conducted, what music is allowed, how long the sermon is, whether you stand for scripture readings, etc. Even what clothing is “acceptable” for a service. Try to break the “rules”, and you are quickly looked down upon by the group. The group might receive you back, if you behave. But you might end up as an outcast if not getting in line.
Even the tightest knit groups, like a family unit, have these accepted norms and rules although they are often unspoken. But in a very similar way, there are strong expectations that everyone has to live by to be fully accepted. Even children can become an outcast if not following the family norms, traditions, and values. As Jesus became more and more popular, large crowds followed Him, trying to hear Him, trying to be healed. John the Baptist had “cleared the way” for Him, so Jesus following increased rapidly. And, as we also looked at, Jesus was not at all teaching what the Pharisees and religious leaders were teaching. No, Jesus reset what the Old Testament, and specifically the Torah, really meant. Speaking against the Pharisees and their religious practices. So He majorly broke all the norms, all the rules of their time. We read “Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying,
“He is out of his mind.”” Mark 3:20-21 ESV
His own family, His brothers, sisters and even His mother started thinking that He was going crazy. Stepping way out of line. Where is the sweet Jesus they grew up with? What is all this madness? They literally tried to stop Him. We read “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.” Mark 3:31-32 ESV. Wow. Can you image? The whole family standing outside, coming to collect you thinking you have basically gone mad? Like rescue you from yourself? In front of the huge crowd, people that had travelled for days to see and meet Jesus.
Jesus didn’t back down.
He knew clearly what His mission was, and had probably told His genetic family that He would be “controversial”, that His message would stir people up. But most likely, they never anticipated what happened. And then He says something to His own family that must have been very difficult to hear at the time. But there is such a deep truth in it. “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.”” Mark 3:31-35 ESV And this is exactly the point.
We need to follow Jesus,
who explained what God’s will for us is. Not the norms and traditions of a church, if that is not aligned with Jesus teaching. Which means, of course, we must really familiarize ourselves with what did Jesus really teach. Not just accept what a pastor or priest says the Bible says. But to know it ourselves. And, possibly challenge what the church is teaching. That might mean we will become a bit of an outsider, by possibly stepping out of line from the doctrine, the traditions and norms of the church. Perhaps the congregation, even family might try to bring us back in line again. But if that happens from following Jesus closer, trying to do the will of God, we are in good company. Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”” Mark 3:35 ESV
