Today’s Bible reading from Five Day Bible Reading: Genesis 6-8; Psalm 104; Mark 3

In Mark 3:31-35, an episode happens that may surprise you. As Jesus was teaching, his mother (Mary) wanted to see him. The crowd approaches Jesus and said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you” (Mark 3:32).  One would expect, out of honor for His mother and family, that He would immediately attend to them, especially in that culture. Yet, the question he asks about who, indeed, are his mother and brothers provide an important teaching point.

All who do the will of God are his family.  If Jesus looked at this the way many do today, he would have dropped everything and exalted His Mother.  But He included actually put his mother in her rightful place.  She, like everyone else, would be part of His family because God changed them through His Spirit to do the will of God.  

We do not know Mary’s reaction. Some have depicted her as one who was hurt by Jesus’ response. While this may be the case to some extent, Mary treasured up all that the shepherds told of the angel’s visit about how this Baby would be their Savior, Christ the Lord (Luke 2:8-21). She knew that His ministry would lead to a challenging end as told to her by Simeon the prophet (Luke 2:34-35). She even remembered how he stayed behind to teach the religious leaders (Luke 2:41-51).

She gave birth to her Savior. She gave birth to the Savior of His people (Matthew 1:21). The primacy of spiritual relationships supplants biological relationships. We whom Christ rescues are all part of the family of God and have been changed to want to accomplish His will.