Jesus’ kin

And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." – Matthew 3.32-35

Sometimes it is easy to forget that Jesus had a very real earthly family. He had a mother, a foster father, and brothers and sisters. He grew up with them. It must have been hard to comprehend that the boy who grew up in their house was the promised Messiah and the Son of God. Obviously Mary remembered the encounter with the angel, but for about thirty years things had carried on basically like any other family. This was her son. That didn’t change when He reached adulthood. A mother’s children are always her children.

Jesus had returned to His home region of Capernaum. Everyone back here remembered Him as the carpenter’s son. They would have known Him with sawdust in His hair and callouses on His hands.

One day Jesus was meeting with His disciples when His mother and brothers came to see Him. That is a natural thing for family to do. When the crowd saw it they told Him that His family was there. His response was interesting – ‘Who is my family? Those who do the will of God are my family.’

At first this may seem that He was not being kind to His earthly family, but I don’t think that was the point at all. The point is that His family was so much bigger than just his earthly mother and brothers. His family is expanded to all those who submit to and do the Father’s will.

What a blessing to know that we truly are a part of Jesus’ family, as much as His mother and brothers. This wonderful worldwide family of God is a source of such joy and fellowship and family unity. Praise God that Jesus sees us as kin.