The Family of Christ

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Scripture Reading

Mark 3:20–35 NIV84

20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” 23 So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. 28 I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” 30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.” 31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” 33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

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Introduction

Mark began this in verse 20-21

Family of Christ

We turn our attention this week to this situation of Jesus being called out by His own family, because they do not understand who He is, and the work that He’s come to do.

You will recall that last week I mentioned that there are two stories taking place within this text (3:20-35).

“In 3:20–35 a story about the scribes accusing Jesus of being possessed by a demon (vv. 22–30) has been inserted into a story about Jesus’ family in order to allow for the family’s travel time from Nazareth (cf. 1:9) to wherever Jesus was...”

But more importantly, there is theological significance for what is done here by Mark. He has done this in order “to show that Jesus’ family as well as the religious authorities misunderstood and opposed him.

Mark 3:21 NIV84

When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

But more importantly, there is theological significance for what is done here by Mark. He has done this in order “to show that Jesus’ family as well as the religious authorities misunderstood and opposed him.

“Mark portrayed opposition by one as serious as opposition by the other. Both stories contrast those who opposed Jesus and those who embraced his teaching.

“Both are pronouncement stories” [1]

In verses 28-29, there is the pronouncement concerning all the sins and blasphemies of men being forgiven them, except the eternal sin (being rejection of the work of God through His Son).

And the in verses 34-35, which we’ll see today, we see the pronouncement concerning who it is that is truly the family of Christ.

The New American Commentary: Mark 8. The Family of Jesus (3:20–21, 31–35)

In 3:20–35 a story about the scribes accusing Jesus of being possessed by a demon (vv. 22–30) has been inserted into a story about Jesus’ family in order to allow for the family’s travel time from Nazareth (cf. 1:9) to wherever Jesus was and—more importantly—to show that Jesus’ family as well as the religious authorities misunderstood and opposed him. Mark portrayed opposition by one as serious as opposition by the other. Both stories contrast those who opposed Jesus and those who embraced his teaching. Both are pronouncement stories (vv. 28–29, 34–35, respectively).

1. Introduction

1.1. Mark began this in verse 20-21

1.2. Broke away for 22-30 - spoke about another topic.

1.3. Now he returns to this matter of those close to Jesus arriving

1. The Arrival of Christ's family

We will begin our current study this morning then this family of Christ coming to Jesus.

Going back firstly to verse 21, we read...

And so in verse 21, we read...

Mark 3:21 NIV84

When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

A few things that we should note from this verse.

Firstly, the word that is translated in the NIV as “his family” is more properly translated as “those who were close to him” - but the word family is used deriving the context from verse 31 and following, where it specifically says that it was his mother and brothers who came.

More importantly, notice that concern that drove them to seek Christ out.

It says they went to take charge of Him, for they said “He is out of His mind”.

Christ’s family would have by this time heard that Christ was healing people, and that he was driving out demons.

Everyone knew who this man Jesus was.

News of Him had spread far and wide.

But just like the pharisees and scribes came to the wrong conclusions about Christ and what He was doing, so too, Christ’s very own family came to the wrong conclusions about what He was doing.

They were literally of the opinion that Jesus was not in his right mind. He’s gone crazy they think.

Why were they concerned? Probably a number of reasons.

One of those would have been that Christ seemed to have forsaken the opportunity of making a living in Nazareth with his father’s business.

His father was a carpenter, and usually in that day, the sons would continue in the father’s line of work, kind a family business, which is what we’ve seen with Simon and Peter, and James and John, who were fishermen.

Instead of continuing in this business, where there would have at least been a steady source of income, Christ had forsaken this, and he wandered from place to place as one who had no place to lay His head.

But the concern of his family was not likely limited to a concern for him only. It was in all likelihood a concern for the reputation of their own family.

In their estimation of Him, he was acting in a fanatical and even an insane way.

The religious leaders were being stirred up. The family would have heard of the opposition that he was getting from the religious leaders.

And sometimes, there are those people that you simply don’t cross paths with or upset.

Typically those who hold much power, and aren’t afraid to use that power, you simply steer clear of, and at the very least keep them happy!

But Christ was stirring up those who in that day were the powerful in terms of Jewish society and the lives of the Jewish people.

And so Jesus’ family goes to take charge of Him.

Literally what that means is that they were going to forcibly take hold of him and take him back to Nazareth.

The same word is used in , where Herod had given the order to have John arrested.

It’s also used a number of times in instances where the religious leaders wanted to have Jesus arrested (, etc.).

So quite literally the family of Jesus were wanting to arrest Him!!

Mark 6:17 NIV84

For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.

1.1. What was their purpose?

According to verse 21

1.2. Who was it that arrived?

Let us then consider briefly who it is that arrived to arrest Him.

In verse 31, we read that it is His brothers and His mother that have traveled together the long road from Nazareth to find Him.

Firstly, we need to be aware that Jesus did indeed have brothers and sisters. He was not the only child of His mother.

When Christ performed miracles in Nazareth, and the people were amazed, they asked the question:

Mark 6:3 NIV84

Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

And so we see that Jesus had a broader family than simply his mother and father, Mary and Joseph.

Let us consider briefly something concerning Christ’s brothers and mother.

Jesus' mother and brothers.

Christ’s Brothers

Notice that His brothers knew Him, but they mocked Him.

This reminded me of Joseph and his brothers, and the time that Joseph had various dreams showing that his brothers would ultimately bow down to him. And his brothers were indignant, and spoke harsh words against him.

Well in the case of Christ, his brothers didn’t think very highly of Christ, and they certainly didn’t understand His ministry.

In we read these words:

John 7:3–5 NIV84

Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

John 7:3-5

Christ’s Mother?

Christ’s Mother?

Mother

We need to consider the strange fact that His mother was with, and that she too failed to recognise the work that Christ had come to do.

It was after all Christ’s mother who had an angel appear to her, with the message of the fact that she was with child due to the very working of God, and that the Son to whom she would give birth would be great.

These were the words of the angel to Mary:

Luke 1:30–33 NIV84

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 1:30-33

Quite literally, Mary had been directly informed that her son would be the one to sit on the throne of David. He would be the promised Messiah!!

Luke

And even Mary, this one who had seen an angel, and received this message, and had even been found to be with child even though she had had no relations with a man, was at a point where she couldn’t recognise what Christ was doing.

So confused were even Christ’s family concerning the work that He was doing.

1.3. They send a message to Christ

As a mother, she would have had a deep concern

Worried that her son not well.

And so standing at the door to the house where Christ was busy teaching, they send a message through the crowds to Him.

She would have remembered the prophecy - when pregnant...!?

Once again, the place was so full, that they couldn’t reach Him, similar to the account of the paralytic being unable to get to Christ.

Yet despite this, she came to "capture" Jesus and take Him away

So the family passes the message through the crowds to Jesus...

Mark 3:32 NIV84

A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

Brothers

2.3. They send a message to Christ

2. Christ Identifies His true family

And with that question posed, the scene is set for Christ to teach those who are following and to make the pronouncements he does concerning His true family!

3.1. Christ poses a question

He does so by first asking a question:

Mark 3:33 NIV84

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

Mark

While this may seem a harsh question, it was not meant to be. Jesus’ aim was not to destroy family. Jesus loved and cared for his mother, even at his death.

John 19:27 NIV84

and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

John 19:26–27 NIV84

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

(). But family must be viewed in light of higher priorities. Jesus’ life and mission revolved around the will of God. When Jesus asked, “Who are my family,” he was stating that there are some matters and some relationships that transcend the normal blood relations known as “family.” [2]

Jesus had a deep care for His mother, and certainly didn’t despise her.

John 2

“But family...” as with all other things in life “...must be viewed in light of higher priorities. Jesus’ life and mission revolved around the will of God.

When Jesus asked, “Who are my family,” he was stating that there are some matters and some relationships that transcend the normal blood relations known as “family.” [2]

And so with the question asked, and possibly some quizzical faces around him, wondering what’s coming next…

Mark 3:34–35 NIV84

Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

...He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him...

Mark 3:

There was a pause, as Christ scanned His eyes around the room. This was a way to build tension and contrast.

I was reading just this last week, that the pause that occurs in a group meeting, where everyone is silent, can vary from society to society.

Within typical Western culture, a silence of 2 seconds becomes awkward for those present. In some cultures, that silence can go as long as 8 seconds without someone saying something, before they start to feel uncomfortable.

Christ, in his silence, drew the entire audience in as they waited with baited breach for Him to respond.

And then He said:

and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

“Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

With this sweeping statement, Christ establishes an entirely new priority within relationships.

Family relationships are not enough. To truly be united with Christ within His own family will take more than mere blood relationships.

To be a part of Christ’s family, to be the brother of Christ, it is necessary that a person does the will of God.

For a person to be considered a brother or sister of Jesus, they must believe in Jesus and put their trust in Him as their Saviour.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

A few points that I’d like us to briefly consider from this statement before we move on to some points of application, and I trust some points of encouragement to us.

What is God’s Will

Firstly, what should we understand through Christ’s mention of “God’s will”?

What precisely is to be understood by this phrase in terms of how we can be seen to be the family of Christ?

There are a few aspects that I’ll raise here. As we consider the various aspects of what all is involved in doing the will of God - thus being a part of God’s family - you will notice that there are two dimensions or considerations in doing God’s will.

There are those aspects that relate to doing the will of God which will lead to salvation.

Then there are those aspects which are the will of God, but which flow out as a result of the salvation that we have.

I’m just going to mention a few points of relevance here.

Firstly, and flowing directly out of our text this morning, is that we need to be sitting at the feet of the Saviour. We need to be in close proximity, and in close union with Jesus Christ.

From our passage, it was as Christ looked around at those sitting listening to Him, that He these were His brother, sister and mother.

If we are going to be doing the will of God, then we need to be sitting always at the feet of our Savior.

We are to be humble servants of Christ, and we are to be humble learners (disciples) of Christ.

Secondly, God’s will is that all men repent.

This is the message that our Savior brings to the world. That was the message that Jesus preached when He began His earthly ministry. That was the message that continued right down through the apostolic age, and into the church era.

In , we read of the Gospel message going out through the Apostle Paul to those in Athens at the Aeropogus.

These people of Athens were very religious people, and they had idols set up to all kinds of gods, even an altar set up “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD”.

But Paul tells them that this religion is worthless, and declared to them the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, and said to them that God commands all people everywhere to repent!

Acts 17:30 NIV84

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

God’s will is thirdly that we be Spirit-filled.

We are to be people who are yielded to and controlled by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:17–19 NIV84

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

Ephesians

These first few aspects in terms of God’s will really go hand in hand, and are the essential in terms of our salvation. Sitting at Christ feet, repenting of our sins before our loving and gracious Father, and being controlled and filled with the Spirit of God as we humble ourselves to Him.

But if we are truly saved, then there are some further aspects of God’s will that will become evident in our lives which flow out of this salvation that we have received. God’s will for us goes beyond just being “saved” but having no fruit of that salvation.

We will find

And so we find, fourthly, that God’s will for us is that we be joyful and thankful.

In ...

Ephesians 5:19–20 NIV84

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And Paul says to the Thessalonians...

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV84

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Here is one of the fruits of being a child of God, and certainly it is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.

In the familiar saying: we are to have an Attitude of Gratitude!!

This attitude of gratitude is something that even the world says all people should have. But as Christians, we really have the reason to have an attitude of gratitude. We have been given salvation in Jesus Christ. We have all the blessings that flow out of that due to our relationship with God. We have been brought out of spiritual death into spiritual life.

Our lives really ought to be filled with joy and thanksgiving!!!

The fifth aspect of God’s will that I’d like to mention is that we should be submissive servants!

The servant attitude is that which characterized our Saviour. And if we are His disciples, and are learning from Him, then certainly we should clothe ourselves in that same attitude.

This servanthood is expressed in , where Paul gave instructions to slaves, masters, parents, children. In all circumstances, our relationships are to be marked by servanthood!!

If we have not learnt to serve others, to humble ourselves and consider others as more important than ourselves, then we haven’t understood our Savior. The King of kings, and Lord of lords, who emptied Himself for our sakes, as unworthy as we were.

Why should we not serve others with that same kind of attitude?

There’s a wonderful example of humble servanthood that is found within the Macedonian churches.

2 Corinthians 8:2–5 NIV84

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.

2 Cor 8:3-5

Here were churches who gave well beyond their means, because of the great joy that it was to serve other churches. They knew what it was to receive the grace of God, and so they gave to others!! And this was in keeping with God’s will.

Here were churches who gave well beyond their means, because of the great joy that it was to serve other churches. They knew what it was to receive the grace of God, and so they gave to others!! And this was in keeping with God’s will.

We as Christian’s are to be submissive servants, particularly to God’s people, the church.

The sixth aspect concerning God’s will that we should consider is God’s will that at times we suffer.

The thrust of Peter’s first letter, from 2:15 and following is that there will be times where we as Christians suffer for our faith.

This is certainly in line with God’s will insofar as we suffer not for our own wrongdoing, but for our testimony for Christ, and in our service of Him.

Peter says in 3:17,

1 Peter 3:17 NIV84

It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Later on, he concludes the matter with these words...

1 Peter 4:19 NIV84

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Finally, a seventh aspect that comes out in God’s will for us is that we be Sanctified and Conformed into the image of the Son.

Again, this aspect flows out of our salvation, but must be present as an evidence, or a fruit of our salvation.

If we are those who have repented, and come to know the Savior, then our lives will be marked out as those which are growing in godliness and Christ-likeness.

1 Thessalonians 4:1–7 NIV84

Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Romans 12:1–2 NIV84

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 8:28–29 NIV84

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Those Who Do God’s will are Family

We’ve considered then what it is to do God’s will.

We should consider then the consequence that Christ brings forward, and that is that those who do God’s will are His brother, sister and mother.

Flowing

Christ emphasised the fact that

This is a message of great encouragement and blessing to all who know Jesus Christ and serve Him. To all who do the will of God!

We are brothers and sisters of Christ

As such God is our Father

To be part of the family of Christ is to be part of the family of God. It’s interesting to note from our current text that when Christ speaks of others being part of his family, he speaks of brothers, sisters and mothers, but makes no mention of fathers.

“The absence of “father” may ... indicate that the role of father cannot be transferred symbolically to others. No one except God can be called Father by Jesus. The divine Sonship of Jesus is unshared, and his unique relationship with God as Father is nontransferable.” [3]

It was in this sense that Jesus said to the various religious leaders of His day:

Matthew 23:8–9 NIV84

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

The family that was being spoken of was a Spiritual family, and there can only be One Spiritual Father - our heavenly Father!

But what a delight to consider that we are indeed children of a heavenly Father!!

John wrote in his Gospel...

John 1:12–13 NIV84

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

It is because we have this heavenly Father, that we delight as His children in all the blessings that flow out of that relationship!!

As our heavenly Father, we can know the love and compassion beyond and greater than even the best of earthly fathers...

Psalm 103:13 NIV84

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

...He is our provider...

2 Corinthians 1:3 NIV84

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

2 Corinthians 1:13 NIV84

For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that,

1 Corinthians 8:6 NIV84

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

As our heavenly Father, He exercises his providence and care...

Psalm 68:5 NIV84

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

When Christ preached that great sermon on the mount, He said that we should not worry about tomorrow, and we should not worry about our daily needs, because our gracious Father in heaven knows our every need, and if He cares for the birds of the air and

When Christ preached that great sermon on the mount, He said that we should not worry about tomorrow, and we should not worry about our daily needs, because our gracious Father in heaven knows our every need, and if He cares for the birds of the air and

As our heavenly Father, we can know that we have an intimate relationship with Him.

He cares for us.

He consoles us.

He guides us.

He nurtures us.

We have a true Father in glory - all powerful, all loving, tenderly, lovingly, compassionately watching over our lives as His very own children!!!

We are Family together.

But further than this, the implication is that we together are family.

There is no closer, or at the very least, no more important bond in life than the bond that we share with one another as co-heirs with Christ.

Our lives are to be lived in relationship with one another as we seek to gather one day with our heavenly Father in glory.

There are many implications of this.

One is certainly that we are to live in harmony with one another.

Ephesians 4:3–6 NIV84

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

We know also, that because we are family, because we are brothers and sisters in Christ, we are looking forward to receiving an inheritance one day!!

Romans 8:17 NIV84

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

We are heirs of the kingdom of God...

Luke 12:32 NIV84

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Encouragement and Application

Being a part of the heavenly family is far more important, far more significant, and a far greater reward, than being part of any earthly family.

In fact, it may even require you to leave your earthly family and to be disowned by them.

Luke 14:26 NIV84

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.

The point that Christ made when He said those words was that He was of far greater significance than any earthly family.

But let us be greatly encouraged from that! What a privilege to be a part of this family....this family in Christ.

A family where our bond is rooted in the love of our great God. The love of our glorious Saviour, who shed His very blood on the cross in order that we may have this fellowship.

If anyone today has felt alone, isolated, without the love and care of family, let me encourage you this morning… God is in the process of adopting children into His own family.

If you are one doing the will of God, as Christ stated to those around Him, then you too are a part of this heavenly family, of which this very church here today is a small part.

If you have not submitted yourself to Christ; if you are not doing the will of God, and you know that you’re not, then I urge you to repent, to turn to Jesus Christ in humble submission, and to be welcomed into this family with all its great benefits.

Quite honestly, I fail to understand how anyone would choose to remain outside of this family.

Let me then encourage all of us here today, to remain steadfast in our commitment to one another as family.

May our love for one another grow deeply as we humbly serve one another, caring for each others needs.

Let us demonstrate Christ’s love to one another!

Conclusion

Not referring to Scribes.

In conclusion, let me read the words of Paul to the church in Colosse, as he spoke about how he prayed for them as a body:

It could be that the scribes had left

Colossians 1:9–14 NIV84

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Alternatively, Christ excluded them by His words "those who do God's will"

Possibly, Mark is putting together incidents that didn't take place at same time.

Those who do God's will...

May need to forsake other family

Example: Son of Hamas

Whoever does not

This marks the distinction of those who belong to Christ's family, and those who do not.

It is thus important that we understand God's will!

3. Encouragement and Application

4.1. We are Christ's family - who do His will!

We have the benefits of family

We have the love of Christ

There is an affection between Christ and those in His family.

4.2. Subtopic 3

Bibliography

Brooks, J. A. (1991). Mark (Vol. 23, p. 73). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

The New American Commentary: Mark 8. The Family of Jesus (3:20–21, 31–35)

In 3:20–35 a story about the scribes accusing Jesus of being possessed by a demon (vv. 22–30) has been inserted into a story about Jesus’ family in order to allow for the family’s travel time from Nazareth (cf. 1:9) to wherever Jesus was and—more importantly—to show that Jesus’ family as well as the religious authorities misunderstood and opposed him. Mark portrayed opposition by one as serious as opposition by the other. Both stories contrast those who opposed Jesus and those who embraced his teaching. Both are pronouncement stories (vv. 28–29, 34–35, respectively).

Cooper, R. L. (2000). Mark (Vol. 2, p. 54). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Edwards, J. R. (2002). The Gospel according to Mark (p. 125). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos.