Jesus´ Brothers, Sisters and Mother

“Whoever does the will of God, this one is my brother and sister and Mother.” Mark 3:35 (Reference Bible)

What a wonderful thought to be considered family to our Savior.  Who would not want to have their part with the Son of God?  It is so nice of a thought that many people grab a hold of it and would like to say that it was theirs.  But what does Jesus say about it?  Who are those who have their heritage, have assurance of an inheritance, and form the very family of God?

Jesus states it flatly here as those who do the will of God.  Many have stood before us on the pretense that these words mean that we should follow the sets of rules that were laid down for men to follow so long ago.  Some will try to tell us that we need to be good people.  There are so many takes as to the secret recipe and perhaps nearly each denominational organization would have you believe that they found the key.  However, Jesus´ words float down constantly from His higher vantage point and those words like Him are far higher than we can perceive.

God is greater.  God cannot be reduced to a fine set of rules.  God does not speak some special words then disappear from His creation to be obeyed in archaic coldness of correct teaching.  God is alive and constantly speaking His Living Words.  God communicates with His people.  One cannot say that He knows another person, yet not listen and hear the words of the very person he claims to be close to.  It is the same with God.  Those who have part with God hear His voice.  To them it is as familiar as the sweet voice of a dear and close person in their family.  They are fed and sustained by hearing that booming whisper and those words do not come to them as strange or distant.  They are accustomed to hearing them and are more than happy to follow what they hear.

Therefore, when someone would have you know the definition or the interpretation of a text like this which sets men with God or against Him, look past what teaching follows and seek the great heart of God behind it.  Learn to look for Him and hear His take on the subject.  Those who are truly His, the ones Jesus would call brothers sisters and mother, are those who hear the voice of their Father.  These are the ones who are so at home in their spiritual home and with their Divine family, that they move accordingly.  All that those blessed family members do is to please the Father in every given moment.  But it is not because they learned by heart the rules that had been set, but because they hear His voice and follows His will in each given situation.

Dear Jesus, there is nothing we would want more than to be called children of God and Your brothers and sisters.  We who would honestly desire to form part of Your family would not wish to buy our way in or be called family by any technical definition.  We would be family in the respect that we live each moment and each situation with the realization of our relation to our Father and to You.  We would that our ears hear Your familiar voices and are listening for and seeking to fulfill those wishes for us in all things.  All our focus will always be on that special relationship we share with this close and loving family to which we belong.

Amen