The Family of God

Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

“Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” This comment by Jesus is not intended to disparage Mary, as some might suggest, because there was perhaps nobody in human history (other than Jesus himself) who has been so obedient to the will of God as Mary. Neither is this comment intended to minimize the importance of a biological family. This comment is to let his listeners know that there was a new way that everybody was going to relate to each other because of their faith in him.

In his gospel, John writes: “Yet to all who did receive him (that’s Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13). By our faith in Jesus, we become children of God. That is why Jesus taught us to call God “Our Father”. However, just saying that we believe in Jesus doesn’t mean anything. Faith is expressed through obedience. In his first letter, John asserts this. He says, “We know that we have come to know (Jesus) if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.”

Jesus himself had said the same thing. Shortly before his Passion Jesus told his apostles. “If you love me, you WILL keep my commandments” (John 14:15). And what are the commandments he wants us to keep? For him it is primarily this one. “This is my commandment,” he said, “that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Each of us believes that he is special in the eyes of Jesus, but we need to realize that just as he looks at us with eyes of great and deep love, he looks at our brothers and sisters with similar eyes of love. And he wants us to be there for each other. 

Pastors have a greater responsibilty to do this. Soon after his resurrection, Jesus met Peter and they had a very touching conversation. He asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” And with increasing frustration Peter responded that he did. And each time he told Jesus that he loved him, Jesus instructed him to do something. “Feed my lambs,” he said the first time. “Take care of my sheep,” he said the second time. And finally he told Peter, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17). The point is clear. If Peter truly loved God, he would do what Jesus asked him to do: which was look after his other children.

We need to as well. Then we can truly consider that we are part of God’s great family.