Everlasting Family:

Matthew 12:48-50 "...But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he 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...”

Mark 3:33-35 "...And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother...”

Luke 8:21 "...But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it...”

Context:

- Jesus is in the middle of ministry, in a crowd.

- His mother and brothers try to reach Him, but can't.

- Jesus is informed of that they are trying to reach Him.

- Jesus asks "who are my mother and my brothers?"

Can you name any of the brothers of Jesus? Were they older or younger?

Matthew 13:55 "...Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?..."

- obviously younger because Jesus was born of a virgin.

Did Jesus have any sisters?

Matthew 13:56 "...And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?...”

Did Jesus love His mother and brothers?

- even while perishing on the cross He made provision for His mother.

John 19:26-27 "...When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home..."

Why would He make these comments about "Who is my mother"?

- Jesus is not rejecting His earthly family, but rather expressing priorities.

- He always directs focus to more than the common culture embraces.

1 John 2:15-17 "...Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever..."

- The culture of our time defines family much differently than cultural of Jerusalem. There's was a time when wives, children and slaves were absolutely expected to obey the father of the household.

- Jesus was presenting the coming Kingdom with the necessity to hear the word of God and absolutely do it.

- true discipleship is not from physical relationships but from obedience to the word and will of the Father.

- mere religion and family relationships doesn't place a person in right standing with God the Father.

Did any of His brothers learn anything from what Jesus was emphasizing here?

James 1:22 "...But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves..."

What is the difference between coming to Jesus and asking Jesus to come to you?

- on whose terms does discipleship and a position in the family of God depend?

What family is most important to you?

No Honor in Hometown:

Matthew 13:57 "...And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household...”

Mark 6:3-6 "...And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching..."

Why would the hometown crowd take offense at Jesus?

- the ministry of Jesus was moving beyond what they knew to be true.

Matthew 11:6 "...And blessed is the one who is not offended by me...”

When do we take offense at Jesus?

- when He moves beyond what we've accepted as the only truth.

Do we have any stubborn prejudices that need to be touched by divine grace?

When can the church be a place where the ministry of Jesus is rejected?

- when people think they are in the know.

- when people want what they want.

- when people want Jesus to come to them, but are unwilling to walk with Him.