0216 JESUS AND FAMILY

JESUS AND FAMILY

We all know about Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus in Bethlehem. And many people know that the family then relocated to Nazareth. It seems that Joseph has passed away by the time Jesus is grown. But as we will see in the next chapter, some things happened in Nazareth that caused both Jesus as well as Mary and her younger children to relocate to Capernaum. That’s what is now considered home base. And we read these words from Luke.

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.” 

And then a few verses later, he writes:

 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.” 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.”

Mother Mary and her younger boys have been hearing about all that Jesus has been doing since He left Nazareth. They hear about healing and miracles. But they also hear about the hours He  keeps, and about the way He gets under the skin of the religious leaders. Mary and her boys have a family meeting, and they conclude that their older brother has gone crazy, and that they need to talk some sense into His head.

Now she and the brothers decide to bring Jesus to the house, in order to—well, to be honest—in order to lock Him up for a spell and keep Him from getting Himself killed.

So, the family comes by the house in Capernaum where Jesus is teaching. The only problem is, there’s crowds all around—inside the house, in the doors, around every window, on the roof—hundreds of folks packed everywhere. Now, Jesus had always been a good boy, and always seemed wise, but this sure doesn't look like wisdom to a momma. 

So let’s imagine that Mary puts a sticky note to the ‘aluminum foil on top of a plate a brownies: “your momma and brothers are here to talk with you.” About ten minutes later, the note on an empty plate finds its way into the house. Jesus glances at the note, but doesn't stop His conversation.

The plate finds its way back through the crowd to Mary. Clearly, Jesus ain’t coming. 

Mary speaks: “Jesus, this is your mother, the blessed virgin, mother of God, highly favored in the Lord’s sight. Remember me? never mind that you never call or stop by to visit. Never mind that I have not received a card for Mother’s Day in the last two years. I know that You are busy. Too busy for Your poor old mother. Go ahead and drive a sword into Your mother’s heart. I was told this would happen. Don’t worry about me. I simply want to talk to You. Don’t You think that’s the least that You could do?”

inside the house, Jesus keeps on preachin. Some of those around Him kinda whisper, “Jesus, you’re momma n brothers are here.”

Jesus looks around at all of us. “Here’s my real family, right here. Those who do what my Father says are my true family members.”

wellsir, that did it for Mary. She heads on back. 

and away they go. The twelve a us is standin there in awkward silence. What did we just see here? did we just see Jesus dishonor His own momma? Is this the same Man who talked about how important children are? what are we to make a this? seems every time they turn around, Jesus turns the world upside down again. 

The disciples look at Pete, waiting for him to ask one of his famous Great Clarifying Questions. He shrugs and moves toward Jesus.

“Lord, what just happened there? we all thought we were starting to understand Your ministry. We thought You were turning the hearts of daddies to their children, and the hearts of children to their daddies. When You told us about mommas n toddlers the other day, it sure seemed like You thought families were the most important thing on earth. What am I not seeing here?”

the Lord answered Pete: “Pete, think about what you have seen the last several months: it ain’t never been about the money, or a career, or my reputation, or pleasing religious folks, or fame, or about living longer or better, or trying to be happy.

“it’s ALWAYS been about a kingdom that ain’t of this world. It’s about being willing to lose it all and die, in order to do this one greatest callin for my life. Nobody can make it into heaven if they love anybody more’n they love God.

“did you notice? my family doesn't get it. Not yit. They’re concerned with security and balance. There’s eternity for security and balance. Time is just to prepare for eternity. They’ll get it one day. But until they do, I can’t let nothin derail my Father’s business.

“family’s the most important thing in the world. But my kingdom ain’t of this world. Remember?”