Mark 3:33-35
“Jesus responded, “Who do you think are my mother and brothers?” Looking around, taking in everyone seated around him, he said, “Right here, right in front of you—my mother and my brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.””
“Jesus replied, “Who are my brother?” Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.””
I’ve always thought this verse reflected badly on Jesus’ family, as if their desire to talk with him was amiss in some way. But we are not told what their motivation was. It is wrong of me to assign a malignant intention to them when I don’t have all the facts. This is typical of we humans, happy to ascend the judicial throne and put things in their proper cubby without fairly ferreting out the facts. Praise God for his forbearance in dealing with our childishness.
In The Message I love that Peterson has added sister in the last sentence. Not only men and mothers have a place in God’s family. Even the girl child, valued in the 1st Century only for her potential childbearing and servanthood, has a place with Jesus. How ironic Jesus’ many clear messages regarding the value of girls and women gave way to such misogynism in the institutional church.
Lord, you called me to yourself when I was a girl child. I’m amazed I was so loved. As the old hymn says, “How can it be that I should gain an interest in my Savior’s blood?” I adore you for the honorable, loveable and mysterious God that you are. Thank you for finding me.