“When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him (Jesus), for they said, “He is out of his mind.” (Mark 3:21)
“Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 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 3:31-35)
“For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:35-37)
These are difficult words. The ultimate test of allegiance to Christ Jesus is to put Him above all our other “loves”, as the 1st of the 10 Commandments is “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3, Deuteronomy 5:7). For many, if not most, the next likely candidate vying for that spot would be spouse or family. Even between fellow believers, we have to be vigilant to uphold Jesus’ command in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
God graciously designed that those who come to Him in Christ will be also given an eternal, spiritual family called the “Body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27, Ephesians 4:12), the “Family of God” (Galatians 6:10, 1 Peter 4:7), or “church” (Acts & the Epistles). The local expression of “church” should be made up of like-minded individuals whose hearts were changed to love and serve God first. We are exhorted by God’s Word to meet together regularly (Hebrews 10:24-25) to worship God, encourage one another, and grow in the faith.
This also presents a dilemma: We are also commanded by Jesus to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19-20), and while there will be those who by Grace, come to faith in Christ, there will also be others who will reject or leave the faith (Mark 4:1-20). This leads to the “divisions” that Jesus addresses earlier in Mark 3 & Matthew 10. He points to the priority that all true followers must hold.
This does not mean that we are to neglect or abandon our family duties; we are to love them the way Christ loved us and gave up His life for us. We seek to raise our children in the teaching and admonition of the Lord. Our biological families are our first ministry and mission field. It is just that our love for them as directed by the scriptures may often be perceived as “hatred” by the values of this world. What greater love can you give them than by making life choices and showing them that God and His People are dearly precious to you? Sacrifice for them, yes, but also maintain a continual witness that He comes first!
To a demon-possessed Gentile that Jesus healed in Mark 5:19, “Jesus did not let him (get into the boat with them), but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” There is the Gospel proclamation of what God has done, and there is also an ongoing witness we must maintain. You may have a family event that conflicts with your gathering on the “Lord’s Day”. (Doesn’t that always seem to fall on a Sunday?) How do you love them and maintain your witness to them that Christ comes first?
Growing up in Japan, I was very into sports, but was never permitted to participate in tournaments, since it always fell on Sunday. (Japanese typically have a 6-day work week with Sundays off) Although at the time I resented my parents’ conviction, I now see the wisdom in it.
I heard about a woman whose husband suddenly passed away just before the 1st service of a church service. The woman took care of the necessary affairs, but rushed back to church to be there for the 2nd service. Imagine the pastor’s shock, saying, “You came back!” and “What are you doing here?”) Her response was simply, “I had to come back here, and hear from the Word of God”. I would love to have more of these here who “must have more” in God’s Word!
If tough times are coming for Christians, will we prepare for it by prioritizing our time together in worship, honing our “sword of the Spirit” so that we who are faithful in little will also be faithful in much? “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
One of the greatest compliments I heard of our church community came through a prayer, where it was said, “This feels just like home”. Isn’t that the sentiment that Jesus was getting at in Mark 3, and don’t we all have room to grow in that regard? Let’s prayerfully consider it, and let me know what God lays on your heart.