"For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”1
"Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”2 The good news is a message of the forgiveness of sin, this was the promise the prophets foresaw, and which John the baptism prepared the way, proclaiming Jesus as the Christ, the One who would forgive sins. David spoke of such, blessed is the one whose sins are not counted toward him. To Israel repentance required this receiving of Christ but also a change in mind, in turning from a works justification to a justification and righteousness by faith, according to grace. To follow Jesus would bring certain persecution, fathers and mothers would disown their children, and children would disown their fathers and mothers.
"And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him..."3
Surely not to beckon to his mother's call among the people would have been dishonoring, even a breaking of the commandment. Paul writes we are released from the Law, bound to Christ in a covenant much greater in glory, to serve in the new way of the Spirit. When his mother beckoned him, Jesus replied, "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!"4
"For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,"5
My mother took her life when I was younger, after many years of marriage to my father he abandoned her. There is not a greater breaking of covenant than adultery, it is a great betrayal. And like the father abandoning his children, it is authority betraying trust. Ezekiel writes of Israel being outcast, an infant despised at birth, thrown into a field to die. Our heavenly Father takes those things the world despises and deems weak, he makes their name great.
"And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them..."7
Those who receive His little children, who give them a drink of water, who do not cause them to stumble, these are called great in the Kingdom of God. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,"8 We do not see Jesus get angry much, here is an instance when he does, after taking this little child in his arms and after relating such reception of children to being first, even after, they rebuked little children coming to Him. "Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”15 "And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.16 Those who are great, receive His little children into the Kingdom of God, they do not cause them to stumble.
"Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”31
Paul writes when we believed in Christ we are given a Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father! We are adopted into His family. Unfortunately for some this might mean they are forsaken by an earthly family. Not that we dishonor earthly authority, but we seek the glory and honor of our heavenly Father above. The key word being above. My earthly father was taught incorrectly and used such as an excuse to forsake his family, such betrayel of trust and abuse of authority is not godly. We take up our cross to follow Jesus, and we say as He, "Here are My mother and My brothers!"
"Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”2 The good news is a message of the forgiveness of sin, this was the promise the prophets foresaw, and which John the baptism prepared the way, proclaiming Jesus as the Christ, the One who would forgive sins. David spoke of such, blessed is the one whose sins are not counted toward him. To Israel repentance required this receiving of Christ but also a change in mind, in turning from a works justification to a justification and righteousness by faith, according to grace. To follow Jesus would bring certain persecution, fathers and mothers would disown their children, and children would disown their fathers and mothers.
"And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him..."3
Surely not to beckon to his mother's call among the people would have been dishonoring, even a breaking of the commandment. Paul writes we are released from the Law, bound to Christ in a covenant much greater in glory, to serve in the new way of the Spirit. When his mother beckoned him, Jesus replied, "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!"4
"For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,"5
My mother took her life when I was younger, after many years of marriage to my father he abandoned her. There is not a greater breaking of covenant than adultery, it is a great betrayal. And like the father abandoning his children, it is authority betraying trust. Ezekiel writes of Israel being outcast, an infant despised at birth, thrown into a field to die. Our heavenly Father takes those things the world despises and deems weak, he makes their name great.
"And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them..."7
Those who receive His little children, who give them a drink of water, who do not cause them to stumble, these are called great in the Kingdom of God. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,"8 We do not see Jesus get angry much, here is an instance when he does, after taking this little child in his arms and after relating such reception of children to being first, even after, they rebuked little children coming to Him. "Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”15 "And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.16 Those who are great, receive His little children into the Kingdom of God, they do not cause them to stumble.
"Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”31
Paul writes when we believed in Christ we are given a Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father! We are adopted into His family. Unfortunately for some this might mean they are forsaken by an earthly family. Not that we dishonor earthly authority, but we seek the glory and honor of our heavenly Father above. The key word being above. My earthly father was taught incorrectly and used such as an excuse to forsake his family, such betrayel of trust and abuse of authority is not godly. We take up our cross to follow Jesus, and we say as He, "Here are My mother and My brothers!"