Scripture: Mark 3:31-35
31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.
32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”
33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!
35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Observation: Jesus turns the idea of family around. The identity of family is not bloodlines but of kingdom goals.
Application: It is funny to me that we use the word family to talk about what it means to be church because that word 'family' has so many attachments from any one person. When we talk about the family of faith, as in the body of Christ, it begins to look a bit different than my family or your family. Whoever is doing God's will, God's work is my brother and sister and mother.
A few months ago I began removing the last names of people I baptize because of this understanding of family. I am not sure anyone noticed but I began teaching this to the baptized parents and godparents. I explain that we don't use your last name because you are joining a family that goes beyond bloodlines and in baptism we leave that particular identity of being a Fetters', a Webster, a Beranek, a Colgrove, a Geiger, a Marquardt, a Gerner, a Smith or a whoever. We have now been claimed by one who will share a new identity of brother and sister and mother.
Prayer: Lord thank you for your Son who gives us a new identity of what it means to be family.
31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.
32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”
33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!
35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Observation: Jesus turns the idea of family around. The identity of family is not bloodlines but of kingdom goals.
Application: It is funny to me that we use the word family to talk about what it means to be church because that word 'family' has so many attachments from any one person. When we talk about the family of faith, as in the body of Christ, it begins to look a bit different than my family or your family. Whoever is doing God's will, God's work is my brother and sister and mother.
A few months ago I began removing the last names of people I baptize because of this understanding of family. I am not sure anyone noticed but I began teaching this to the baptized parents and godparents. I explain that we don't use your last name because you are joining a family that goes beyond bloodlines and in baptism we leave that particular identity of being a Fetters', a Webster, a Beranek, a Colgrove, a Geiger, a Marquardt, a Gerner, a Smith or a whoever. We have now been claimed by one who will share a new identity of brother and sister and mother.
Prayer: Lord thank you for your Son who gives us a new identity of what it means to be family.
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