46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside. They wanted to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to speak to you.” 48 Jesus replied to him, “Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?” 49 Jesus pointed to his disciples. He said, “Here is my mother! Here are my brothers! 50 Anyone who does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother or sister or mother.”

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”  Jesus didn’t say: let them in, but instead, he replied: “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

It’s weird and sounds like Jesus was denying the relationship with his family. How could Jesus say such outrageous words in front of His disciples and crowd?

Actually, Jesus was not denying his relationship with his family, but, He was trying to bring a new relationship to the earthly world. He was paving the way for a new community of His believers — Spiritual Family.

The challenge of this passage to me is:

1. How do I see my brothers and sisters and mothers of God’s family?
2. What’s my relationship with my Spiritual family members?
3. Do I care for my Spiritual family members?

Dear Lord, Thank you for choosing me as your son. So, I can be a member of God’s family and have so many brothers and sisters and mothers in the world. Help me to learn how to maintain the new relationships and love each one, just like you love me. Amen.

Written by Allen Leu