What Mother and Brothers?

STUDY: # 939-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: APRIL 25, @ MAY 1, 2017

TOPIC: "What Mother and Brothers?" Matthew 12:46-50

Matthew 12:49-50 "And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’" Jesus clarified and pointed out who his family really was. We must learn so much, but we pay such little attention! The Word of God is what teaches us or prepares us for an eternal life. But we spend more time, and enjoy more what comes out on Facebook. We pay more attention to what fools and the devil say, than to the Word of God. Luke 8:19-21 "Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.’ But he answered them, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’" THE FAMILY OF THE LORD IS THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, AND DO IT! It is common to see, that at least during Jesus' life, his family disagreed with him. John 7:5 "For not even his brothers believed in him." We also read in Mark 3:21, "And when HIS FAMILY heard it,… they were SAYING, ‘HE IS OUT OF HIS MIND.’" Others said that he had Beelzebul (Mark 3:22 “And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul’ ... "). Jesus says in Matthew 10:36, "And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household." Jesus warns His followers that one's enemies may well be family, which the Lord Jesus seemed to be saying out of His own bitter experience. What makes a person bond more deeply to another may not be blood, but the mind and heart. True kinship is to be of the body of Christ, the Church! The definition of the Kingdom of God is: A SOCIETY ON EARTH IN WHICH THE WILL OF GOD IS PERFECTLY ACHIEVED AS IN HEAVEN. The most sublime thing about Jesus was that He is the only human being (the Son of God incarnated as an earthly man) who has managed to have His will in perfect harmony with that of God. Therefore, ALL THOSE WHO HAVE AS THEIR SUPREME PURPOSE IN LIFE TO MATCH THEIR WILL, WITH THE WILL OF GOD; ARE THE TRUE KINSHIP OF JESUS. They hear the Word of God and do it! John 7: 3-5 "So his brothers said to him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.’ For not even his brothers believed in him." Jesus' brothers looked for an opportunity to give their opinion. They did not believe in Him, and mocked Him. Those who should have understood Him did not. Jesus was hiding so that they would not kill Him. It was not His time yet. The Lord wasn’t interested in letting His enemies know His whereabouts. Why did they mock Him? The reason: "For not even his brothers believed in Him." We mentioned earlier that Mark 3:21 reads that His people said, "... He is beside Himself (He is mad!)." We can tell those that are real close are the family of faith. We can tell those whom are close to the Kingdom of God when we can ask them: "Do you remember when we fought together for the Church?” And they answer, "Yes, of course!" On the other hand, those that are close or family of the faith never say, "The Church does things so badly!” Or, "The pastor does not do things right!" These people are like Jesus’ brothers, who want to teach me, the pastor, with their false words.

Someone once met a black, old woman whose friend had recently died. He said, "You must feel really bad over your friend's death?" She replied, “Yes," without showing much remorse. He insisted: "Last week I saw you two talking and laughing amongst yourselves. I guess you must’ve been great friends." She said, "We were friends. We were always together and laughed, but IN ORDER TO BE REAL FRIENDS, PEOPLE HAVE TO CRY TOGETHER!" We call ourselves brothers and sisters, but a real kinship is based on a common experience and interests: GETTING TO KNOW JESUS INTIMATELY! True kinship depends on a common obedience! Each of the disciples were very different. For example, Matthew was a tax collector. Simon the Zealot was a nationalist. But now, they were bound together, united because they had all accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Master, and people can become friends when they share or have the same boss. It’s so sad when this doesn’t exist in some! They have the opportunity, but pass up on it because of their pride and rebellion. Kinship consists of a “common goal.” Our common goal and life: JESUS AND HIS TEACHINGS! Amen.