The Family of the Lord Jesus – Mark 3
What stands out to me was when the Lord's family thought he was out of his mind in verse 21. Why did his family think that? He explained that his real family were those who obeyed God's will. The Lord Jesus considered his earthly family of secondary priority to his spiritual family. How true this was in my life! Many times I had closer fellowship with Christians than I did with my natural family!
Crowds grew larger as they followed the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus appointed twelve apostles to help him. This reminds me of how God told Moses to choose tribal leaders to help govern Israel. I think it is a good idea when a Christian leader shares responsibility in ministry with other mature Christians. This was what Paul did when he appointed elders in churches. This was the case in the early church when they chose seven men to wait on tables. Everybody had a job to perform.
Mark 3:35, "For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."
The Lord Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath day and was hated by the religious leaders. When the Lord Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath day the religious leaders were so angry they discussed how they might destroy him. They understood that he did not fit into their religious world system. Yet he obviously expressed authority which they did not have. He healed people and cast out devils.
They accused Jesus of casting out devils by the power of the devil.
The Lord Jesus replied to this accusation with simple logic. How can Satan cast out Satan? Every house divided against itself cannot stand.
Here we see that the Lord Jesus taught that Satan does have a kingdom of devils and demons. The devil is the head of an evil house.
The Lord Jesus warned them not to accuse him of casting out devils by the power of the devil. His critics were close to an unforgivable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
When men reject the work of the Holy Spirit there is no hope left for salvation.
While the Lord Jesus taught this crowd then someone else informed him that his family looked for him. Notice the Lord's reply when they told him that his family looked for him. The Lord Jesus said that those who hear God's word and obey it were his family. Those who hear and obey God were his brothers, and sisters, and mother. The family of the Lord Jesus are those who hear and obey God's word. The Lord Jesus said if a man loved him then this love could appear as hatred toward family members sometimes.
Luke 14:26, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." Our love for the Lord Jesus will at certain times make it seem to the world as if we hate our families.
It is difficult and takes the power of the Holy Spirit to obey the Lord Jesus when it appears to others that by obeying him we hate our family.
The most loving thing we can ever do for family is love the Lord Jesus first. We must love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This love is sometimes a correction to family and friends. A life of consecration is a correction to those who do not follow the Lord Jesus. They will think we hate them. They will think we are judging them or that we hate them. I know this from experience, believe me.
In reality we do indeed love our family but we love the Lord Jesus first and we love the Lord Jesus more. By loving the Lord Jesus we do what is best for them. By allowing Jesus Christ to shine through us we show God's love.
Proverbs 27:5-6, "Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."
