Who is Family?

Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and they could not meet with Him because of the crowd. He was told, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You." But He replied to them, My mother and My brothers are those who hear and do the word of God." Luke 8:19-21

Here Jesus was challenging another custom of the family honour system. Today, we have just experienced Christmas and it is a time when it is expected that family gathers together. Yet because of this expectation a lot of strife emerges. People who don't like each other gather in one room and after a few glasses of alcohol they start telling one another why they don't like each other and fights erupt.

Jesus' brothers did not believe He was the Son of God and we assume His mother did, however this scripture challenges that line of thinking.

This would have been embarrassing for Jesus' family, a rock of offense even. I wonder how they took these words and the fact that the eldest son shunned His mother, who He was obliged to care for. I know if my son treats me with disdain I struggle. I remember a time when I did need him, urgently, and he was too busy for me in a meeting. I had to call a brother to help me. I struggled with the hurt and was challenged with offense, in fact we fell out for a period of time, a few weeks. My son had caused my problem and then avoided helping me because he was in a crisis of his own. We forgave and moved on.

Forgiveness and allowing God to show you a bigger picture is imperative. Mary would have to go to the Lord for clarity and not her sons, otherwise offense would rip her apart.  Jesus' brothers would have to do the same. Humility is required when offense demands we rise up and retaliate. Retaliation cements the rift. It is harder to heal a rift that is set in concrete, but with God all things are possible.