Mark 3:31-35 Jesus’ Relatives

First Things: Devotions in Mark’s Gospel

Mark 3:31-35 Jesus’ Relatives

We all belong to more than one family. Though these families may overlap, they are, nevertheless, different families.

We all have a biological family. We have a biological father and mother, and we this may also include siblings. But we also belong to the human family, because we are, in a sense, all related. But it’s different, right? We may belong to a church family, where we have certain things in common, and that church family may or may not include members of our biological family.

Jesus makes an amazing and important statement as His “relatives” are standing at the door: 

“Answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He *said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! “For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”” (Mark 3:33–35 NAS95)

Jesus does not say that the reality of his “biological” family is invalid (though remember, Jesus “biological” family is unique, having no earthly father). The command to “honor father and mother” is still in force. But Jesus is placing priority upon another family: those who do the will of God.

There is an interesting collection of verses that speak to “doing the will of God.” Jesus’ stated purpose was “to do the will of Him who sent Me.” His earthly life was fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy, “I come to do Your will, O God.”

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians establishes first our sinfulness and helplessness, saying that we “indulge the desires (will) of the flesh and of the understanding.” But later, in Christ, or, as slaves of Christ, we “do the will of God from the heart.” John, in 1 John 2:17, shows the same contrast: The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

And so, the question for each of us, if we do indeed profess to be followers of Jesus, is this: are we doing our own will, or the will of our Father in heaven? What are we committed to doing when we wake up in the morning, and upon what do we reflect as we go to bed at night? What occupies our thoughts? What claims our attention and passion? Is it our own will and desires, or the will of God?

For those who are followers of Jesus, there is an Old Testament prayer that we ought to pray. We ought to write it down and put in on our dashboard or mirror. It is found in Psalm 143:10: 

Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; 

Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.