JP52: Family Matters: How To Know If We're Part of God's Spiritual Family

Jesus’ blood relatives had had enough.  His continual rebukes of the cultural elites and standing religious customs were more than they could take.  They thought he had lost his mind, as Matthew records in his clarifying, eye-witness narrative.

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”  He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (NIV, Mt 12:46–50)

Family Aren’t Always Followers

While Jesus spoke to the pressing crowd, the sting of His cultural rebuke pierced the status quo and disrupted the comfortable.  The tension was such that Jesus' family, some distance away from the gathered crowd, interrupted His teaching.  To understand the mindset of Jesus' family during this initial phase of His ministry, notice Mark's record of this interaction,

“Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” (NIV, Mk 3:20–21).

We can estimate that Jesus' family was concerned about how His teachings would reflect on their household, that perhaps there was some embarrassment of Jesus taking on this role of authority within their community.  Regardless of their motivations, Jesus' family was not following Him at this time.

This reality does not mean that Jesus was disrespecting His family because Jesus clearly loved everyone. Nor does Jesus' teaching allow for us to disrespect our families or anyone for that matter because they have not yet believed in Jesus.

Followers Are Always Family

In contrast to His blood relatives who thought Jesus was out of His mind, the Lord teaches that those who do the will of the Father make up His spiritual family.  As with the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba, those who, by their actions, demonstrate allegiance to Jesus are His faithful followers and family.

We might ask at this point, if doing the will of God reveals our true lineage in Christ, then what does Jesus mean by "the will of my Father"? The crowd who followed Jesus had the same question and the apostle John recorded His answer below.

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (NIV, Jn 6:28–29)

The will of God is that we would believe, or be all in with Jesus. God desires that we allow Jesus to rule over our hearts, trusting Him alone as the mediator of our souls before the Father - unlike the religious leaders and Jesus' closest family members who clung to their heritage and traditions to make them right with God.

True followers of Jesus cultivate habits that nurture a vital union with Jesus.  These grace-inviting habits include daily prayer, scripture intake and application, actively loving one's actual neighbors, and direct participation in the mission of God to reveal King Jesus to the world.

In his book, "Surprise the World!, Michael Frost introduces a helpful weekly rhythm for following Jesus via the acronym B.E.L.L.S.  B.E.L.L.S stands for Bless, Eat, Listen, Learn, and Sent*.  

B: Who can I bless this week?

E: With whom can I eat this week?  

L: How will I listen to the Holy Spirit this week through prayer and scripture intake?

L: How will I learn from Christ this week?

S: How will I alert others to the reign of God this week?

However we may submit our time and availability to Jesus, let's remember that our family heritage or following traditions don't make us part of Jesus' spiritual family. Humble, grace-empowered obedience to Jesus in community with others reveals us as faithful followers and part of God's forever family.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for loving me.  I love you, Jesus.  Your grace toward me is sufficient to supply everything I need to live for you by faith.  I receive your grace and acknowledge my need for a vital union with you daily.  Grant that I would humbly submit myself to your will and ways so that others might see you through me and know they can be members of your spiritual family too.  Amen.

Thoughts for Application:

1. In what ways have you substituted family heritage or spiritual traditions for personal union with and following Jesus?

2. How would the Holy Spirit lead you to adjust your life rhythms to BLESS those around you and strengthen your union with Jesus?

Family or Followers?: How To Know If We're Part of God's Spiritual Family

Family Aren’t Always Followers

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” (NIV, Matthew 12:46-47)

Followers Are Always Family

Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (NIV, Matthew 12:49-50)

* Frost, Michael. Surprise the World! The Five Habits of Highly Missional People. Nav Press, 2016.

Photo by Ai Nhan on Unsplash

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