Mark 3:31  There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
32  And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
33  And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
34  And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
35  For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Jesus taught us that there is a family that is of greater significance than those who make up our natural family. God designed the family. We see a major strain in the first family. That strain was the result of a fundamental difference in belief regarding God. Cain chose a god of his own making. Abel chose to believe in the true God. We see that the aggressor in such a division will be the ungodly. The true believer in God wants to help others to know the truth. The lost person wants to remain in their sinful state and wants to silence those who disagree with their rebellion. The lost person will not have truth on their side. They use violence to try to dominate the situation.
Jesus teaches us the importance of the spiritual family. It is a beautiful thing when the natural family knows the true God and walks humbly with Him. That is God’s design. In my lifetime I have seen the downgrade of spiritual life in many families. Parents may have a more conservative view of God, but they have not chosen to build humbly on the truth. Their children are not interested in their parents’ particular brand of truth and they choose a different path. Most times, parents will cave in to try to keep the family together. That does not benefit anyone. Occasionally a child will break from the compromised path the family is on and will trust in the true God and be saved. This will automatically cause a division in the family. It is not the saved person who is in the wrong. It is the lost who do not want the truth who cause the problem. Jesus shows us this.
In our text, we are again reminded of the fact that Jesus’ mother Mary had other children. The Catholics want to dismiss this and claim this is just talking about the Jews who were His brethren. Yet interestingly they accept Mary as His mother, but they corrupt that by claiming that Mary is the “mother of God”. It is amazing to me that there are people who are foolish enough to accept Catholicism as their religion. I read recently that J.D. Vance, the U.S. vice president became a Catholic just a few years ago. The man was able to convince people to support him for his position but he does not have the discernment to choose to follow the true God. He has closed his mind and heart to the truth. Not much hope of him making any wise decisions in government.
In our text, Jesus’ mother and his brethren were outside the place where He was. They were calling for Him. We are not told what they wanted from Him.
In verse 32 the multitude that was crowding around Him told Him about this fact. It was not that Jesus did not know this. However, they were looking from a human perspective and they were trying to be helpful.
It is natural for a family to want to be together. As we noted already, issues can arise that cause animosity between family members. There are many earthly issues that can cause divisions in the family. Many times divisions are rooted in a spiritual issue. There is so much false religion today and most people choose false religion over truth. Some families assume the best way to deal with this is to just forget about religion. That is not the answer. There is a God and all people will meet the Lord Jesus Christ one day. Without knowing Him, that meeting will be at the great white throne and that will not be a good place.
What people need to know is there is nothing better than to know the true God and trust in Him. Jesus’ mother believed in God, but his brethren did not at this time.
The lost reject God’s love for them and they will do what they can to turn the faithful person away from the Lord. They cannot take away their salvation, but they can try to get them to compromise the truth. Many a time they have been able to do that.
Jesus pointed out that there is a special bond that develops between those who truly know the Lord. Those who know the love of God, desire to see others know that love as well. The local church is God’s design for our age to help people to know the true God and join in the many blessings that God provides. It is sad that so many choose to follow their own imaginations, rather than submit to the truth.
The apostle Paul addressed carnal Christians in I Corinthians. They had a strained relationship. However, because they were truly saved, they could not remain in that state. Paul was directed to address their sins directly. They needed to repent and get right with the true God and Saviour. We read in II Corinthians that they did do that. That was a wonderful thing.
Jesus pointed to the people around Him and told the multitude that His mother and brethren were those who loved the Lord and demonstrated that by serving Him faithfully. We know that Jesus’ mother loved the Lord. She pondered the things she heard and saw in Jesus, in her heart. What she witnessed was unique. She did not try to interfere.
Jesus’ brethren were another story. They rejected Him as their Messiah and Saviour. A few of them were eventually saved. Their hearts and minds were changed.
Jesus is not telling us to forget about our earthly family. He is telling us that our earthly family cannot keep us from serving the Lord. If they do not want to know the truth, that is to their shame. I would rather see a division in the family now, in the hope that eventually they will see the Light and be saved and want to serve the true God. For me as a born again Christian, it would be hatred to walk in a compromised manner before my family. I am accountable to God for the course I choose and the testimony I have before my natural family as well as others.
There is great reward in knowing the true God and serving Him. I would not trade that for anything in this world. My prayer is that others would want to join that heavenly family. To join that family, a person must repent toward God and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. There is no other hope for man.
Today is the day that you can meet in a true Bible-believing church. There you will find some true, born again Christians. You will know who they are by their attitude toward one another and to those who are not part of God’s family. There will be some strain on the part of the ungodly, but the truly saved people will want to be used by God to draw others into His family.
There is no coercion in a true family of God. There is honesty and a genuine love for others. You will be greeted by godly hymns and then by a message from God’s Word that is genuine and true to the Word of God. Your soul desires truth. I trust you will let God direct you to a true church today. You will be blessed if you submit to His will.
If you are not saved, you could become a part of God’s family if you would turn to Him and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation. You will find that to be the most beautiful family in the world. It is great to be a part of that blood-bought family.
Pastor Bartel