This is Good News!!!

One day, while Jesus was teaching in the house of a friend, His family came to talk to Him. As usual the crowd was such that late-comers simply couldn’t get in. His mother passed on a message asking Jesus to come out to talk to her. When someone told Jesus, “Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside,” He responded, “Who is my mother? And who are my brothers and sisters? All of you and anyone else who obeys the will of our Father God, is part of my family.”

This is Good News!!! Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way.

The wicked sense in the words of Jesus, an insult. The spiritually lost hear in His voice a dismissive tone. Those who themselves are filled with pride, hate and indifference think that Jesus is rejecting His mother and siblings.

In keeping with the character of Jesus, we could accurately picture the scene this way.

Jesus is teaching at someone’s house. The place is packed. Those who haven’t been able to get into the house lean through the open door and windows trying to catch what Jesus is saying. Jesus’ family arrives and, seeing no possibility of getting near to Him, they ask someone to pass on the message that they need to talk to Him.

“Teacher!” someone shouts from the doorway, “Your mother and brothers and sisters are here to talk to you. They want you to come outside.”

Everyone in the room hears the message. Jesus stops what He is saying and rises to His feet. All eyes are on Him as He makes His way out of the room. As He steps over the feet of those sitting on the floor Jesus' teaching takes a new direction, “Who is my mother? And who are my brothers and sisters? Jesus stops, turns to the crowd, and in a calm and welcoming tone of voice He says, "All of you and anyone else who obeys the will of our Father God, are part of My family.”

A common theme in Jesus’ teaching is that a spiritual relationship with Him is far more important than any blood relationship that we might have here on earth. Jesus is saying to us, as He said to those gathered around to learn from Him, “The Kingdom of God is within you. The Kingdom of God is pressing all about you. The Kingdom of Heaven is another dimension that is just beyond your ability to perceive.” (Some who are reading this will know what I mean when I talk about “thin places” where the palpable presence of God's Kingdom almost breaks through).

Jesus is saying to us, as He said to those gathered around to learn from Him, “When you place your faith in Me, you immediately become citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. When you love Me enough to obey Me, it’s proof that you are part of My family. I will personally welcome you by name when you enter into paradise.” Jesus is saying, “As someone who believes that I Am who I claim to be, you are my sister or brother. I Am your protector, your Saviour and Redeemer. We are family. We belong together and we will be together forever and ever. Though for now your soul resides on earth, you’re as good as home and you are safe.”

This is Good News!!!