ESOCS Devotional 9 July 2024 – Becoming Members of Christ’s Family
MEMORY VERSE: “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35 NKJV)
TEXT: MARK 3:20-35
20 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.”
22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”
23 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 27 No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.
28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— 30 because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
31 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 [a]are outside seeking You.”
33 But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” 34 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.”
ure. 33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
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Mark 3:31–35 is this section’s final account of the reactions people have toward Jesus’ ministry. Here, Jesus redefines the concept of ”family.” His mother and brothers, some thinking He is out of His mind, have come to bring Him back to Nazareth (Mark 3:21). In contrast, a large group fills a home, probably Peter and Andrew’s, intently listening to Jesus teach. Jesus declares that it is this audience—those who do God’s will—who are His family, not the people who are related by blood. This account is also found in Matthew 12:46–50 and Luke 8:19–21.
Jesus shows us the tension, which occurs when a parent’s wish contradicts God’s will. Jesus will not follow Mary back to Nazareth, but He does believe in honoring one’s parents. Although He warns that it is sometimes necessary to leave family for the sake of the gospel (Mark 10:28–30), He also teaches that taking care of parents is an essential part of worshiping God (Mark 7:9–13). Jesus exemplifies this responsibility. While hanging from the cross, He makes sure Mary was cared for (John 19:26–27).
Eventually, Mary and at least two of Jesus’ brothers joined His spiritual family. James became the leader of the church in Jerusalem and wrote the book James. Judas wrote the book Jude. Although Jesus had to leave them for a time, geographically, relationally, and spiritually, they were welcomed into the body of believers.
The passage says Jesus’ family is comprised of those who do God’s will. The first and most important point of obedience is believing in Christ. Having faith that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and was raised again gets us into God’s family. Obeying God in other areas gives evidence that we are in God’s family (James 1:22; 2:18) and makes the family much more peaceful (Ephesians 4:1–6).
All are welcome in God’s family, and the angels respond with joy when they come (Luke 15:10).
Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
- Are you walking towards becoming a kingdom citizen?
- Heavenly Father, Thank You for this amazing relationship that I have in Christ Jesus and I pray that by Your grace I may present my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You in Jesus name, AMEN.
Further Reading: Joshua 3:1-end; Hosea 14:1-end; Acts 2:22-42
ESOCS Devotional 9 July 2024
