Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”……..And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 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.”
Comment: Is this all the one passage into which Mark has interspersed the reason why the family came? I suspect so, but it remains a question which I will have to ask when I meet Mark later on! Is Jesus snubbing His family, because they do not appreciate Him? Surely not! He uses it as an excellent chance to underline a very basic TRUTH of the Gospel! I have learnt the lesson well since we adopted two Ethiopian boys! They are our sons! Accept Jesus and we are children of God. Jesus is our Creator, our Saviour, the Judge of the whole Universe, our Great High Priest at the right hand of God etc BUT HE Is OUR BROTHER, we are part of His Family, Praise God!
Proverbs: 22: 17 & 18 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You call me by lots of names, but among them ‘brother’.
As I read it! 