Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.” (Mark 3:20-21)
As we studied in a previous lesson, the crowds of people who were following Jesus were mainly following Him because of the miracles He had done. They were caught up in seeing a "show", but the majority still did not believe He was the Son of God. (see THE GOSPEL: "The Unforgivable Sin") Except for Mary, His family didn't believe He was who He said He was either. (see Christ Childhood: The Missing Years) While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” (Matthew 12:46-47; Mark 3:31-32; Luk 8:19-20)
But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-50; Mark 3:33-35) Jesus doesn't say father, because God is The Father of us all! Most of the people then, and we should also, believe and understand that. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For ... you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:14-15) But as for all of the other family relationships we have, including with our earthly fathers, these relationships go beyond blood.
If we are Christians, we are part of a body called the "church". And He [Christ Jesus] is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, ... now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, (Colossians 1:18-23) “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:21)
Within this body called the church, their are many members. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks [non-Jews], whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. (I Corinthians 12:12-14) Regardless of what "part" of the body we are, we are all members of the same body, the same "family", through the same one Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God; There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. (I Corinthians 12:4-6)
Therefore we have to get beyond what separates and divides us, and focus on what unites us. You have now become a new person and are always learning more about Christ. You are being made more like Christ. He is the One Who made you. There is no difference in men in this new life. Greeks and Jews are the same. The man who has gone through the religious act of becoming a Jew and the one who has not are the same. There is no difference between nations. Men who are servants and those who are free are the same. Christ is everything. He is in all of us.(Colossians 3:10-11 NLV)
There are so many diffferent directions we could have taken this study; division in families: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’" (Matthew 10:34-36); not putting anyone else before God: "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." (Matthew 10:37); and not putting anything else before God: "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 10:38-39)
But God also wants us to have unity! Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:44-47) We don't have to sell our possessions and goods, but we do have to grow in the sense that we are a part of a larger family, the body of Christ, and therefore we should do the will of My Father in heaven! Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. (Romans 12:10-13 NLT)
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