You have seen pictures on Christmas cards picturing the holy family: Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus, his mother, Mary, and baby Jesus. Mark 3:20–21 and 31–35 introduces you to the holy family of Jesus — and lets you know that as you are connected to Jesus, you are part of that family!
Who is Jesus? Was he making false claims? Jesus had been making astounding claims, Mark 2:10, 27–28, so astounding that the leaders of Israel were seeking to kill him, Mark 3:6. In the scene sandwiched between his dealings with his relatives, at which we will look in more detail in the future, he is accused of being in league with Satan, Mark 3:22–30. According the religious leaders of Israel, Jesus was a liar, a false prophet, and was possessed by an evil spirit.
Was he out of his mind? Mark is the only Gospel that records the little incident found in Mark 2:20–21. His “family” or “friends” set out to take charge of him (the word is added in our translations–Mark merely tell us that “his” came to take him). Perhaps “his people” conveys the idea. And from the perspective of concerned relatives, the theory that Jesus was beside himself, mentally unbalanced, seemed to have some merit. He seemed to go out of his way to cross swords with the leaders of Israel. He was attracting large crowds, and was so busy that he and his disciples did not have time to eat. Verses 31–35 are tied to verses 20–21 by location. In both the location of Jesus is specifically a house — likely the same house. The relatives of the first part are more specifically identified in the latter as his mother and brothers. They set out to go to him in verse 21, and arrive at the house in verse 31. They don’t wait for him to finish his teaching but send in word that they are there, summoning him to come out. After all, they are there to take charge of him. We will return to that exchange.
Is Jesus the triumphant conqueror? Mark does not agree with the assessment of the family. Nor, clearly, does he agree with the opinion of the leaders of Israel. Instead he presents you with a Jesus who is perfectly sane, and who is speaking the truth. You are shut up to the same three possibilities today when you are confronted with Jesus of Nazareth. Mark presents you with a Jesus who is not only a prophetic figure, heralding the arrival of the kingdom. He is that, but far more. He is the majestic figure who can heal the sick, who has authority over evil spirits, the one who is strong enough to bind Satan, verse 27. Do you recognize and trust in the Jesus that Mark presents to you?
The question with which Jesus confronts you is, are you part of the family of Jesus? Your relationship with Christ is closer than family. “Your mother and brothers are outside,” is the message by whoever squeezed his way into the house or passed in person to person.The response of Jesus, formally a question, sounds strange to us. To Middle Eastern ears, with the strong sense of family loyalty, it is an almost unthinkable response. Remember that Jesus’ brothers did not believe in him during his earthly ministry, John 7:5, though they did after the resurrection. And while Mary did, her understanding of her Son’s role had to grow, see John 2. Jesus’ language is strong, but it is not disrespectful of Mary. After all, Mary is the only mother in history who had a Son who obey perfectly the command to honor his father and mother! John’s Gospel tells us that among the final words of Jesus from the cross, shortly before his death, was his entrusting Mary to the care of John, the beloved disciple. But the language is strong because the attempt by Jesus’ family to take him in hand, well-intentioned though it may have been, came between him and the work given him by his Father in heaven. Jesus makes clear that because of who he is there is a relationship that is closer than any familial relationship. Jesus turns to those around him, including the twelve, but most likely a broader group, and said, here are my mother and my brothers. Those who do the will of God are the brothers, sisters, and mother of Jesus. (The Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, written over a hundred years later than Mark’s Gospel, records this incident, but throughout puts “brothers” ahead of “Mary,” and drops the reference to sisters. The Gospels of Scripture do not have an anti-feminist agenda, as the Da Vinci Code suggests.)
“He tells us also, that there is no tie of relationship more sacred than spiritual relationship, because we ought not to think of him according to the flesh, but according to the power of his Spirit which he has received from the Father to renew men, so that those who are by nature the polluted and accursed seed of Abraham begin to be by grace the holy and heavenly sons of God.”
John Calvin, Commentary on Harmony of the Gospels)
Who are these people who are so close to Jesus? Those who do God’s will are the mother, the brothers, and the sisters of the Lord. Jesus is making the point emphatically that he is not just a family member, but he is the Messiah, the Savior. As you trust him, as you do the will of God, as you enter his kingdom, your position is closer to him than that of his earthly family.
“This was an enormous challenge to the disciples because Jesus was saying to them: ‘Is your relationship to me “natural” or “spiritual”? Does it depend merely on the “accident” of birth and upbringing, or on your knowledge of who I am and your personal commitment to me?’…. Jesus was also giving the crowd an insight into the significance and costliness of his obedience. He called them to put the kingdom of God first in their lives even before their families (see Luke 9:59; 14:26). But he was not inviting them to a pathway of discipleship he had not walked himself. He himself had left home and family for the sake of the gospel…. But Jesus was also giving encouragement to those who were prepared to follow him. Those who do the will of God hare his brothers and sisters (v. 35). What greater privilege could there be than to be identified with Jesus and his family? We have intimate fellowship with him now, but we ae also fellow-heirs with him of the glory of God — provided that we suffer with him (Rom. 8:17).”
Sinclair B. Ferguson, Let’s Study Mark, pages 49–50
No, he is not saying that we, in this life, fulfill perfectly the law of God. Calvin comments (on the parallel passage in Matthew):
When he says that they do the will of his Father, he does not mean that they fulfill, in a perfect manner, the whole righteousness of the law; for in that sense the name brother, which is here given by him to his disciples, would not apply to any man. But his design is, to bestow the highest commendation on faith, which is the source and origin of holy obedience, and at the same time covers the defects and sins of the flesh, that they may not be imputed.
Those who trust in Christ are also those who do his will. You who belong to him, you who are part of his kingdom, are his brother and sister and mother.
Your picture may not show up on a Christmas card as part of the holy family, but as you trust in Jesus as your Savior, as you walk in obedient fellowship with him, you are Christ’s brother, sister, and mother.