True family
by Pastor Mark Lieschke
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Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother’ (Mark 3:34,35).
Read Mark 3:20–35
We can identify three different groups of people in today’s reading.
There was, first of all, Jesus’ family. We would like to think that members of families are always supportive, encouraging and committed to each other. But that’s not always the case. And it wasn’t with Jesus’ family either. They had said he was ‘out of his mind’. It seemed like they didn’t want him to carry out his mission. They thought he was in danger and were looking to rescue him. They didn’t understand yet who he really was.
Then there were the teachers of the law. They accused Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebul. They were experts in the Scriptures, from headquarters in Jerusalem, looking for ways to put Jesus down and discredit him. They’d hoped to maintain their own influence over the people rather than them following Jesus.
Two groups of people, whom we might think should have known better, hinder Jesus’ ministry. Those who could easily have been seen as being on the ‘inside’ are called out by Jesus and identified as being on the ‘outside’.
The third group of people is ‘inside’, sitting around Jesus, listening to him, so intent that it seems they didn’t even realise they missed lunch! But they were still fed – with much more than physical food.
These people were closer to Jesus than his own family and the teachers of the law. They were his family because they did the will of God.
What a privilege it is to sit at Jesus’ feet – to listen, learn and be encouraged, blessed, forgiven and strengthened by his presence, power and promises. We have been called to be his disciples, believe in him as our Lord and Saviour, walk in his ways, and follow him within his new community.
We are ‘on the inside’. There is always the temptation to claim our position because of our wisdom, experience, heritage or family connections. But each time we turn to our Saviour, acknowledging our sin and receiving his forgiveness, we can be sure of his word: you are my mother and sister and brother.
Lord Jesus, thank you for the privilege of being able to sit at your feet, learn from you, be encouraged by you, and be forgiven and strengthened by your presence, power and promises. Bless me with your grace today so I can live as your mother, sister, brother. Amen.
Mark Lieschke is a retired pastor living on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He served in parishes in South Australia, New Zealand and New South Wales before being elected as bishop of the LCANZ’s New South Wales District. Mark enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, walking on the beach and relaxing.
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