~ by Blaine Detwiler
Matthew 12:46-50
While he was still speaking to the crowds,
his mother and his brothers were standing outside,
wanting to speak to him.
Someone told him,
‘Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside,
wanting to speak to you.’
But to the one who had told him this,
Jesus replied,
‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’
And pointing to his disciples,
he said,
‘Here are my mother and my brothers!
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven
is my brother and sister and mother.’
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4 Things I noticed in the above scripture lesson for this Sunday:
1. Family Relationships
Jesus had them. We have them. Think of your family relationships that are close and what is valuable about them. And think of your family relationships that are strained or broken or unknown and why there is a distance.
2. A ‘go between’ person
A ‘someone’ makes an appearance in this scripture lesson. A bit part in the drama. No name given. But a message deliverer nonetheless. Do you ever play this part of a ‘news deliverer?’
3. A Jesus question
‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ There it is, the Jesus question of the day. But Jesus is in full teaching mode with the disciple posse squarely in front of him. Do you have a sense of what Jesus is trying to get across?
4. And a Jesus answer with a hook attached
Sometimes Jesus will let his questions dangle. This time he does not. He answers his own question. Quickly. Whew, nice! But there is a hook. Something to do with the will of the Father in heaven. Oooooh boy. Here we go!
