Are We Our Brothers’ Keepers?

John 19: 25-27

Standing close to Jesus’ cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so, he said to his mother, “He is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “She is your mother.” From that time the disciple took her to live in his own home.

Everyone mentioned in these verses knew and loved Jesus. In some ways like a family, because they all knew and were familiar each other, and now, they are at the foot of the cross, watching Jesus die a horrible death, and the injustice of it all.

On top of that, the ideals held by Jesus must also have died. … What must they have been thinking or feeling on that day? … Had all his teachings and good deeds been for nothing? … You know, sometimes when the person who seemed to be the “glue”, that holds a family together, passes away … that family dies too.

Jesus knew that, and what they were thinking, and so, one of his last acts, (in the midst of his agony), was to give them hope through the united strength of a family, and so, encouraged and blessed a union between them, a union where they would support and help one another.

This is in direct opposition to Genesis Chapter 4, when God asked Cain where was his brother Abel, (that was, just after Cain had murdered him), and Cain responded to God in an angry and disrespecting way by saying “I don’t know, "Am I my brother's keeper”?

In some ways Jesus is answering that very question, and basically, he is saying, “yes, we are our brothers’ keepers”.

To be our brother's or our sister's keeper means being willing to put aside whatever we might be dealing with at the present time, and receiving a direction from God on how best to help others; while being led by the word of God, and the spirit of God.

So, are we our brother's keeper, meaning, are we responsible for the welfare of others? … Well, these verses suggest we are, but within reason, (as some will take advantage of our Christian hospitality), however … Jesus encourages us to do just that, after all, he said so eloquently in Matthew 25:40, "verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it to me."