One's true family

One day while Jesus was speaking he was told that his mother and brothers had come to take him home, but couldn’t get to him through the crowd. They were concerned that his work was so heavy that he had “lost his mind.” They were going to take him home whether he wanted to go or not! Jesus responded with a rhetorical question: “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Then, pointing to his disciples, he said, “There’s my mother, and my brothers. I tell you that whoever does the will of God . . . is my brother, my sister, my mother” (Matt. 12:46-50 and parallels).
         I do not think there are many family therapists in our day who would conclude from this passage that, with the birth of Christianity, the family no longer plays an important role in society. But, in this encounter, didn’t Jesus say that natural siblings have been replaced with spiritual counterparts? Let me put it this way: Didn’t he say in reference to his disciples, “If you are doing the will of God, you are my mom!” So let’s think together about this. Perhaps the church has overlooked this simple truth for some 2,000 years.
         First, I would say that in this encounter, as elsewhere, Jesus showed no disrespect for his family. Most scholars believe that Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, was significantly older than Mary (he is not mentioned after the early scenes) and that Jesus as the oldest son had stayed in charge of the family far longer than one would have expected (until he was about 30) before setting out on his mission to teach and heal. And recall how tenderly from the cross he turned over the care of his mother to his close friend John. His brothers were not yet persuaded that he was who he said he was (John 7:3-5), but there was no indication of disrespect or animosity.
         Then how are we to understand this rather extraordinary moment when, pointing to his disciples, he declared, “Look, these are my mother and my brothers?” I believe he is stressing the important point that the spiritual relationship between Jesus and the believer is closer than that established by natural birth. Jesus is not saying that family relationships are not close and vitally important, but that the sense of oneness that exists between the believer and his Lord is on a deeper level. In my experience I know of    no one who has bonded with Christ by faith who would question this important truth. It doesn’t diminish the unique nature of blood kinship, but adds a deeper connection.
         In somewhat the same way that the believer is spiritually related to God, so also are fellow believers bonded with one another. The key to this unique relationship is the presence of God himself in the connection. One might call it a spiritual triumvirate. Since both of us are inseparably related to Christ, he is always there with us and this establishes a profoundly deep connection between you and me as believers. As we grow older we find ourselves treasuring more than ever the deepening nature of personal friendship. It occurs to me that God is simply preparing us for heaven.