Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. (Luke 8:19-21)
- The Family Sword: “…desiring to see thee”
Jesus is “a stone of stumbling”and “a rock of offense”(Isaiah 8:14). Jesus would separate those who were bound to each other by the strongest of natural ties. Christ’s polarizing character extended even to His own family during His earthly ministry. Jesus was standing by the edge of the Sea of Galilee ministering to a great crowd of people when Christ’s brothers and mother “stood without desiring”to see Him. Instead of granting his family’s desire, Jesus finished his sermon and left with His disciples by boat for the land of the Gadarenes, for Jesus had to “be about His Father’s business!” Jesusseparated from his family, to free the maniac of Gadara from his demonic possession. The family sword cut Jesus from the will of his family when it conflicted with the will of His Heavenly Father.
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (Luke 12:51-53)
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26)
One who puts loved ones before Christ and submits to them instead of submitting to Christ is not worthy of Christ or to be in His kingdom. Christ demanded that his followers take up their “cross and follow me.”(Matt. 10:38)
- The Family Stand: (Vs. 20)“Thy mother and thy brethren stand without.”
“For neither did his brethren believe in him.” (John 7:5)
At this time, the Lord’s brethren were “without” (in unbelief); “within”were the hearers and doers of Christ’s commands. Jesus would not leave His crowd for His family. He would stand within His church.
Christ’s stand did not destroy the possibility of his brethren believing, but rather prompted His family’s conversion.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:14)
Jesus’ brethren were once “without”; but, at the time of the upper room prayer meeting, they were “within”! James and Jude (Jesus’ half-brothers) would go on to write the books of the Bible that bear their name.
- Family Standard: “My mother and my brethren are these…”
“And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” (Luke 8:21)
The Lord Jesus Christ never shirked His family obligations and duties (1 Tim. 5:8; John 19:26). However, Jesus made a clear declaration that His disciples (His “hearers and doers”) were His true family.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Cor. 6:17-18)
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, (Heb. 2:11)