BEHOLD THE FAMILY OF GOD
Mark 3:20-21; 31-35
This is the time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior. On the night He was born, the Angel of the Lord announced His birth to some faithful shepherds. (Luke 2:9 and, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.)
The “good tidings of great joy” that these shepherds received was for “all people”. This means that this good news is for you and me as well. As a result of Jesus’ birth (and eventual sacrifice and Resurrection) we have the opportunity to be born into the family of God.
- We often sing a song that says:
I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God
I’ve been washed in the fountain …cleansed by His blood
Joint heirs with Jesus ….as we travel this sod
For I’m part of the family …The family of God.
There is no greater privilege than being part of God’s family. Paul said in - Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
What an amazing reality! God sent His only begotten Son into the world to save sinners. Because of His redemptive work we can be adopted into God’s family. We are more than servants; we are the sons and daughters of God. Then to top it off, we are told that we are joint heirs with Jesus!
In our selected text, Jesus teaches a great lesson about His true family. His earthly family came to where he was and sought Him out. Someone said to Jesus “your family is outside desiring to see you”.
Mark 3:34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."
- In this passage, Jesus was essentially saying… “behold my family”. I would like to further examine this concept and preach on the thought “Behold The Family Of God”.
It is my prayer that you are a part of this family that I speak of, and if you are not, I pray that this will be the day that you realize that you can be born into the family of God.
For some time Jesus had been traveling the region, preaching in the synagogues, healing the sick, casting out demons, forgiving sins and changing lives. Great multitudes followed Him as He journeyed throughout the area. Not all who were in these multitudes were friends of Jesus. Not all of them were intrigued by His teaching; in fact there were some who were infuriated by His works and His message.
- Opposition was nothing new to Jesus, but on this day it came from a surprising source. Let’s examine Verses 20-21 and see:
I. WHAT JESUS’ FAMILY SAID ABOUT HIM
Verse 21 says that “His own people …went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind." When Mark says “His own people”, He is referencing Jesus’ earthly family. (v31 “His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.”)
By this point in Mark’s gospel we should not be surprised that Jesus is facing opposition from the Scribes and Pharisees. But it is rather surprising that Jesus is confronted by the members of His own family. Word had reached them concerning all of the things that Jesus was doing among the people. They were concerned about Him and they came to take Him home.
- By their actions:
A. THEY PROFESSED THEIR DOUBT
v20 Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. 21 But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind."
When Mark says that they came to “lay hold of Him”, this literally means to take Him by force. Mark uses this same term numerous times to describe the action of arresting someone.
Mark 6:17 for Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison.
In Mark 12:12 we are told that the Scribes, the Chief Priests and the elders “sought to lay hold on Jesus” in order to arrest Him.
Mark 14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
Judas told the religious leaders “Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely…..And they laid their hands on him, and took him. – (Mark 14:44 & 46)
Each of these verses contain the same phrase in the Greek language which means to “seize someone” by force. Jesus’ family came on the scene with the intention of bringing Him under their own control. They were concerned about Him, and in their minds they were doing this for His own good. They did not see Jesus for who He was… they did not comprehend His true identity.
The Scriptures make it very clear that Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him. John 7:5 says “neither did his brethren believe in Him.” The fact that Jesus’ own family did not see Him for who He was, illustrates just how real His humanity was. James, Joses, Judah, Simon and the sisters had lived in the same house with Jesus for the better part of 30 years, but they did not realize that He was the Christ. Jesus’ earthly family professed their doubt by their intention to seize Him and take Him home.
- Not only did they profess their doubt, we also see that:
B. THEY PRESENTED THEIR DIAGNOSIS
v21 But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind."
When His family arrived, they accused Him of being “out of His mind”. The only way that they could explain the way Jesus was living and the things that He was doing was to assume that He had gone crazy. His family concluded that Jesus was out of His mind. Others in attendance thought that He was possessed by a demon. - John 10:20 many of (the Jews) said, "He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?"
Our selected text contains another declaration that Jesus was demon possessed. - Mark 3:22 the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons."
Many people today have the same problem that those people had back then. They refuse to see Jesus as the sinless Son of God. Not only do they think that His message is crazy, they think that we are crazy for following Him. When they see the radical change that Jesus has brought into our lives, many will accuse us of being out of our minds! If you have ever been accused of being a fanatic, or being crazy for living for Jesus, rest in the fact that you are in good company. For the Apostle Paul was accused of this as well. As Paul defended his faith in Christ before Festus, Festus said to him "Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!" (Acts 26:24) Essentially he was saying, “Paul, you have gone crazy”
When we are accused of being “one of those old crazy Christians” we should respond the same way that Paul did to Festus. He said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. (Acts 26:25) May we “speak the words of truth and reason” and if the world thinks that we are crazy, so be it!
- Now that we have seen “What Jesus’ Family Said About Him”, let us move further and consider:
II. WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIS FAMILY
- When His family arrived where He was and sought an audience with Him, I am sure they were not expecting the response that they received. Notice:
A. HIS DECLARATION CONCERNING HIS EARTHLY FAMILY
v31 Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." 33 But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?"
Understand that Jesus was not rejecting or attempting to disown His earthly family. But He made it clear in His response that He would pursue the call of God above anyone or anything else. This reminds us of His statement to Mary when she had lost Him and eventually found Him in the Temple. (Luke 2:49 And He said, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?")
We know that Jesus possessed great love for His earthly family. There are several scriptures that reveal His love for them. Perhaps none any more beautiful than His final act before His death, at the end of His life, even as He was suffering and dying on the Cross, Jesus made arrangements to ensure that Mary was cared for after His death, burial, resurrection and ascension. (John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.)
- While His love for His earthly family was a beautiful thing; it is even more wonderful to know that He demonstrated His love for us at Calvary. Because of His finished work, we have the opportunity to be a part of the family of God. Let’s consider:
B. HIS DECLARATION CONCERNING HIS ETERNAL FAMILY
v34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."
In this passage, Jesus reveals the special relationship that we are able to be a part of by faith in Him. Not everyone who was gathered that day was a part of His family. The Pharisees that came against Him were certainly not part of His family. I am sure that there were others in the crowd who did not believe in Him. But there were some who trusted that Jesus was exactly who He said He was.
Matthew tells us that Jesus looked specifically at His Disciples as He made this statement. - Matthew 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! This was not a designation that was specific to the 12 Apostles; Jesus spoke of a relationship that is available to all who will put their faith in Him. He goes on to say in v35 “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."
In His declaration, Jesus references the fact that all who come to Him in repentance and faith are His true family. Furthermore, He states that these are they who will live a life of obedience to God’s Word. When Jesus speaks of those who “do the will of God”, He is speaking of those who live a life of obedience. If we are truly a part of God’s family, our lives will be marked by obedience to His Word.
Paul said in - Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Jesus pointed out those who were in His true family. If He were standing here today, He would find a crowd similar to what was gathered on that day. Some people here are part of His eternal family, while others are not. The good news is that there is an opportunity for those who are not, to join His family today.
I’m glad that this passage not the last time that we hear about Jesus’ earthly family. The scriptures tell us that at least some of His brothers eventually came to the realization that He is the Christ; and they responded accordingly. James & Jude became active leaders in the Church. Both of these men wrote Epistles that are found in the New Testament. They were born into the same earthly family as the Lord Jesus. But far greater is the fact that they were born into His eternal family.
This opportunity is available to you today. Jesus said to Nicodemus “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) Jesus has done all that is necessary to secure your salvation. I encourage you to call upon Him today. Repent (turn) from your sins, and turn to Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and acknowledge Him as Lord of your life. (Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.)
You have the opportunity to become part of Jesus’ eternal family. It is my prayer that if He were indeed standing before us today, He could look at this entire assembly and say “Behold, my mother, and my sisters and my brothers!”
