Jesus said some things that are very difficult to understand, and if we do understand them, they are difficult to put into practice.
Let me give you an example from Matthew 12:46-50:
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.
47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.
50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Was Jesus denying his responsiblity to his earthly family? Absolutely not. At the cross, Jesus concern was for his mother's security - as he hung there in agony and pain.
He really went after the religious leaders for not following the Old Testament command to honor their parents.
Family was huge for Jesus.
I would suggest that Jesus was pointing out that spiritual relationshps are as binding as physical ones. I would suggest that Jesus was paving the way for a new community of believers - the church - our spiritual family.
Many people I come in contact with say that they are closer to their Christian brothers and sisters than their family brothers and sisters.
I know that I have friends that I am just as close to as my own brother.
I'm thankful for our church family!
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1 comment:
I think that Jesus was saying that spiritual relationships are more binding than earthly (physical) ones. Not that the physical ones are not important, but in the grand eternal scheme of things, the physical falls away and we are left with the spiritual. That's why (IMHO) He makes the distinction at this point in His ministry...He wants people to understand that their relationship with the Father and with the body is more important than any physical relationship. While we honor our parents and love our brothers and sisters, ultimately, if they are not within the body, Jesus will separate us from them in the end.
While God desires unity (oh, we had a great devotion last night in small group on unity, given by Chuck Gardner), He knows that some will choose to remain in sin and He must separate them from His children. We receive many warnings throughout the New Testament to keep Christian friendships, to surround ourselves with our brothers and sisters in Christ, to avoid being swayed by earthly desires, and to watch who we allow to influence us. These warnings serve to remind us that our brothers and sisters in Christ are most important in our earthly relationships as they provide support in our daily walk. It's great if your whole family are Christians and they are part of the body with you...it's painful if they are not and are still living outside the will of God. We still love them and we still pray for them and we still encourage them to find the path...but ultimately, unless the Spirit moves them to redemption, we will not spend eternity with them. We will, however, spend eternity with our brothers and sisters in Christ...with the saints of the Old Testament...with the martyrs from the Tribulation...and with those who come to receive Jesus after the Rapture. That's our new family and that's what Jesus was trying to get across to everyone. Old relationships fall away but eternal ones remain eternally.
God bless you today
Jon
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