We are family
Reading for Tuesday March 14
Mark 3:19-35
The tremendous popularity of Jesus filled his home town, Nazareth, with crowds.
In the somewhat distant capital of Judea, the teachers of the religious law heard about the crowds and came down to see what Jesus was preaching. They watched the people being healed, saw the people who had hosted evil spirits being set free, and could not explain how Jesus had such power over sickness and evil. The religious leaders had spent their lives studying God’s word and they could not do what Jesus did. To save face they pronounced, “He is in league with the devil and therefore the evil spirits obey him.” Jesus called to them and said, “If I were doing this by the power of the devil, then the devil is divided, he is opposing his own self, and his end has come. No one can enter the territory of a strong power unless he first disables the power itself.” Jesus had begun to disable the devil and would ultimately defeat him by overcoming death, but it was too early to explain that to a group of visiting lawyers, concentrating of legal language and rational explanations.
Jesus family heard of the miracles, frightened by religious leaders and the close vicinity of the Roman army they announced that Jesus was ‘out of his mind.’ They went to take charge of him, and bring him away. A messenger got the message to Jesus that his family was waiting outside. Jesus did not leave; instead he looked around at the crowd surrounding him. People he had never met before, who had come from as far away as modern Lebanon, Syria Jordan and Samaria. “Here, he said, looking at the, crowd, is my family. “Whoever does the will of God is my mother, my sister and my brother.”
His mother would remember those words. When Jesus was being crucified he called to her and to the disciple he loved and committed them both to a mother and son relationship, in order that they might care for each other.
Therefore if we are doing the will of God in Heaven, everyone who also does God’s will is our mother and sister and brother. We have a large family. People we have never seen before. In the spirit of Jesus, who manifested undying love, we extend our hands and our hearts to each other. We pray for those we have not seen. Even now we are members of God’s family and we look forward to the time when the Kingdom of God is established on earth and we all will live together; all the people who accept and do the will of God. Because God is present with us, we will understand each other (for surely love involves understanding) and at last, with God’s guidance, treat each other with fairness and respect.
Note: Because Jessie is leaving town it is possible there will be no post for Wednesday
Mark 3:19-35
The tremendous popularity of Jesus filled his home town, Nazareth, with crowds.
In the somewhat distant capital of Judea, the teachers of the religious law heard about the crowds and came down to see what Jesus was preaching. They watched the people being healed, saw the people who had hosted evil spirits being set free, and could not explain how Jesus had such power over sickness and evil. The religious leaders had spent their lives studying God’s word and they could not do what Jesus did. To save face they pronounced, “He is in league with the devil and therefore the evil spirits obey him.” Jesus called to them and said, “If I were doing this by the power of the devil, then the devil is divided, he is opposing his own self, and his end has come. No one can enter the territory of a strong power unless he first disables the power itself.” Jesus had begun to disable the devil and would ultimately defeat him by overcoming death, but it was too early to explain that to a group of visiting lawyers, concentrating of legal language and rational explanations.
Jesus family heard of the miracles, frightened by religious leaders and the close vicinity of the Roman army they announced that Jesus was ‘out of his mind.’ They went to take charge of him, and bring him away. A messenger got the message to Jesus that his family was waiting outside. Jesus did not leave; instead he looked around at the crowd surrounding him. People he had never met before, who had come from as far away as modern Lebanon, Syria Jordan and Samaria. “Here, he said, looking at the, crowd, is my family. “Whoever does the will of God is my mother, my sister and my brother.”
His mother would remember those words. When Jesus was being crucified he called to her and to the disciple he loved and committed them both to a mother and son relationship, in order that they might care for each other.
Therefore if we are doing the will of God in Heaven, everyone who also does God’s will is our mother and sister and brother. We have a large family. People we have never seen before. In the spirit of Jesus, who manifested undying love, we extend our hands and our hearts to each other. We pray for those we have not seen. Even now we are members of God’s family and we look forward to the time when the Kingdom of God is established on earth and we all will live together; all the people who accept and do the will of God. Because God is present with us, we will understand each other (for surely love involves understanding) and at last, with God’s guidance, treat each other with fairness and respect.
Note: Because Jessie is leaving town it is possible there will be no post for Wednesday
posted by Jessie Coates at 12:37 PM
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