Jesus beautifully highlights the importance of applying mercy to the rules, regulations and ceremonies followed. The law was meant to help, not hamper; to reach out in mercy, not merely ceremony.
Overview
Bible Passages: Matthew 12:46-50;Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21; John 15:14; 46
Introduction
Critical enemy – anointed family
Condescending family – appointed family
Celebrating devotee – adopted family
Comparisons
Insiders or outsiders
Discussion
Objectives
To:
- Ensure we are part of God’s adopted royal family
- Understand how some thought they were insiders but were considered outsiders of the family
- Overcome dangers of being outsiders
Bible Passage
Matthew 12:46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.”48 But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
Introduction
In the wake of repeated retaliation and rejection from the Pharisees, even after Jesus’ undisputedly displays his Lordship, Jesus’ family appears. Perhaps nudged by the Pharisees, but clearly not in full understanding as yet.
We see three players in this passage and prior (context):
- The religious leaders: Condemning enemy – anointed family
- Jesus’ mother and brothers: Condescending family – appointed family
- Jesus’ disciples: Celebrating devotee – adopted family
Condemning Enemy – Anointed Family
Anointed by God the Pharisees’, and leaders’ worship was wasted, their words blasphemous in Christ’s eyes.
Instead of keeping the law, they were tripping others with it.
Instead of drawing to God and bringing others with them, they plagued anyone who came anywhere close.
They went to the extent of conspiring to murder him
By condemning Jesus, Jesus prophecies that their own sons will condemn them.
Condemning Enemy – Anointed Family
Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
Condemning Enemy – Anointed Family
Matthew 12:13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
Condemning Enemy – Anointed Family
Matthew 12:22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
Reflection
Before we condemn the Pharisees, let us not fall into the same trap, but introspect Pharisaical attitudes in our lives.
What pharisaical attitudes do we see in the church today?
Which of these are seeping into our own lives?
What lessons can we learn from Jesus to tackle them?
Condescending Family – appointed family
In the absence of his father, Jesus had probably been playing role as head for a while. We know his brothers did not believe in him (ref John 7:1-4).
John 7:1 After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. 3 Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For not even His brothers were believing in Him.
Condescending Family – appointed family
In another situation (passage in John 7:1-4):
- They did not realize his life was in danger
- They misunderstood his motives/ desires ”seeks to be known publicly”
- Their advice turned counterproductive
- They did not consider themselves in the category of his disciples
condescending Family – appointed family
Observe the behaviour
Matthew 12:46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.
While he was speaking, they:
- wanted to interrupt
- were standing outside
- wanted to talk, (not listen)
- approached him through someone ..
What attitudes do we sense in his brothers?
Condescending Family – appointed family
Even people in the hometown were offended. They reject Him.
Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well? And they took offense at Him. 4Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is without honor only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household.”
Even Jesus was “amazed at their unbelief” Mark 6:6
Reflection
So near and yet so far
We, as God’s chosen people, also tend to take Jesus for granted and shut out what he is saying. Even the devout Mary, his mother, seems to be in the defaulter’s category at this point. She is as human as all of us.
How do we do that – interrupt, talk, require mediators?
Celebrating devotee Family – adopted family
Clearly Jesus knew the motives of his mother and brothers presence (leaving us guessing that probably it was to protect him). He also uses the mediator to contrast them with his disciples.
Matthew 12:49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
Celebrating devotee Family – adopted family
They are inside
They are listening
They are obeying
They are not interrupting
They are not using mediators to talk
They honour me
They are my REAL family
Reflect on what each of these mean today for us to deserve to be called His disciples..
Celebrating devotee Family – adopted family
Outsiders or insiders?
Only one criteria – doing God’s will qualifies us to be part of THE ROYAL FAMILY
Being inside Jesus’ zone often means
- Being outside popular zones
- Valuing what others don’t
- Having associations despised by others
- Letting go to let God.. and much more..
Privileges of being in His family
We are being ministered by angels.
Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Privileges of being in His family
Everyone who has or will receive salvation should be served by us their brothers and sisters. Jesus views that service as to Him. Those in His family should receive special treatment.
Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Discussion
1.What mindsets represent the Royal Family?
2.What situations cause us to interrupt or ignore Christ?
3.What changed Christ’s brothers from neutral advisors to strong believers?
4.What do we need to do to strengthen our position in the Royal Family?