Mark 3:34
And he looked¹ round about² on them which sat about³ him,
and said⁴, Behold my mother and my brethren⁵!
¹) Looked around about Him self
²) Round about, could mean in a circle, around Him.
³) Around, or near Him.
⁴) Can also be rendered as ‘told (them)’ – (taught)
⁵) A brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother, belonging to the same people.
From other translations:
And looking around on those who sat in a circle about Him, He said, See! Here are My mother and My brothers; [AMP] And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! [ESV] Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! [MSB] And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! [KJV] Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! [NIV] Then he looked at those around him and said, "These are my mother and brothers. [NLT] And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! [NKJV]
Now let us see what this verse is telling us.
My mother and my brethren!
The spiritual family is larger than the biological family.
He looked upon those that at about him, and pronounced those of them that not only heard, but did, the will of God, to be to him as his brother, and sister, and mother; as much esteemed, loved, and cared for, as his nearest relations, (Mark 3:33-35).
This is a good reason why we should honour those that fear the Lord, and choose them for our people; why we should be not hearers of the word only, but doers of the work, that we may share with the saints in this honour, Surely it is good to be akin to those who are thus nearly allied to Christ, and to have fellowship with those that have fellowship with Christ.
And woe to those that hate and persecute the Christ’s kindred, that are his bone and his flesh, every one resembling the children of a king (see Judges 8:18,19); for he will with jealously plead their cause, and avenge their blood.
× 0 ×
Who are you related to?
That question is quite important.
We value family ties. You too will have heard people say “You can really see whose daughter she is” or “That is clearly his son”
Jesus’s family is concerned about Him, and they strive to reach Him and bring Him to what they see as “His home”. After all, they thought it was not going well with Him.
The people told Him: “Your mother and Your brothers are looking for You”.
Jesus’ answer indicates that in the Kingdom of God, kinship is not the most important thing. There is another order: “Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and my sister, and mother”.
To do the will of God is to believe in Him whom He has sent.
In other words, repent and believe the Gospel.
Who are you related to?
Who are the mother and the brothers of the Lord?
It is the question the Lord asks when it is reported to Him that His mother and His brethren are outside.
Mary and her sons are outside.
But the brethren of the Lord, we know from the gospel of John, did not believe in him. The Lord has again and again tasted and experienced enmity through the unbelief of His brethren.
It’s not the carnal ties that bind people to Him.
There are other values in the kingdom of heaven than the bonds of flesh and blood.
It’s about hearing His Word and doing the will of His Father.
They sat around Him in the house where He spoke, who were bound to Him by the bond of His Word and who, in listening to Him, fulfilled the will of His Father. For has not the Father Himself called from heaven, “This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased? Hear Him!”
Well, that is the Father’s will.
And he that hears Him, and does what He says is related to Him, is His mother and are His brothers. That is the spiritual family of the elder Brother. Those belong to the heavenly family.
Now let me ask you again: “Who are you related to?”
× 0 ×
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
Pinterest: https://pin.it/G0h7Mgi
Internet: http://harryschoemaker.nl
Website: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwide.ekklesia/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/302675914424623/
About Author
