by David Sellnow
While Jesus was yet
speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside,
seeking to speak to him. One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your
brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you.”
But he answered him
who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” He
stretched out his hand toward his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother
and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father who is in
heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:46-50).
Jesus made it clear that having a
relationship with him is a matter of faith. Doing the will of the Father--which
means believing in Jesus as the source of life (cf. John 6:29,40)--is what
makes us Jesus’ brothers. Even Jesus’ own blood relatives on earth had no more
special relationship with him or with God than is accessible to us through
faith in Jesus.
On the night before his sacrificial death, Jesus spoke to his disciples as brothers, bracing them for what lay ahead (John 16:17-33). He emphasized that their relationship with God would not become diminished by his absence, when he returned to the Father. Rather, their relationship would be just as direct--they could go straight to the Father with any request. He assured them, “The Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God” (John 16:27). The same is true for us today. We may have trouble in this world, but we cling to God with confidence, knowing Jesus has overcome all things in this world on our behalf.
It is significant that in his first appearance after rising from death (John 20:10-18), Jesus emphasized to Mary Magdalene his relationship with all the believers. He said to her, “Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (John 20:17). Believers are Jesus’ sisters and brothers, and his Father is our Father. Through our living Lord Jesus, God listens to us and loves us just as he listens to and loves his One and Only Son.
The writer to the Hebrews (2:10-18) summed up what Jesus has done for us as our brother. He became like us, one of us, in order to overcome sin and death for us and bring us into eternal life with him and the Father. He is not ashamed to call us his brothers, saying, “I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the congregation I will sing your praise” (Hebrews 2:12). Especially significant for our prayer life is the last verse of Hebrews chapter 2: "For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). Jesus, our Brother, understands every temptation and struggle that we face. When we go to him in prayer, he is not far-removed or detached or unsympathetic. He walked a harder path on this earth than any of us will ever walk. He knows just how we hurt. We are able to confront and endure life’s trials with him at our side.
On the night before his sacrificial death, Jesus spoke to his disciples as brothers, bracing them for what lay ahead (John 16:17-33). He emphasized that their relationship with God would not become diminished by his absence, when he returned to the Father. Rather, their relationship would be just as direct--they could go straight to the Father with any request. He assured them, “The Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God” (John 16:27). The same is true for us today. We may have trouble in this world, but we cling to God with confidence, knowing Jesus has overcome all things in this world on our behalf.
It is significant that in his first appearance after rising from death (John 20:10-18), Jesus emphasized to Mary Magdalene his relationship with all the believers. He said to her, “Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (John 20:17). Believers are Jesus’ sisters and brothers, and his Father is our Father. Through our living Lord Jesus, God listens to us and loves us just as he listens to and loves his One and Only Son.
The writer to the Hebrews (2:10-18) summed up what Jesus has done for us as our brother. He became like us, one of us, in order to overcome sin and death for us and bring us into eternal life with him and the Father. He is not ashamed to call us his brothers, saying, “I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the congregation I will sing your praise” (Hebrews 2:12). Especially significant for our prayer life is the last verse of Hebrews chapter 2: "For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). Jesus, our Brother, understands every temptation and struggle that we face. When we go to him in prayer, he is not far-removed or detached or unsympathetic. He walked a harder path on this earth than any of us will ever walk. He knows just how we hurt. We are able to confront and endure life’s trials with him at our side.
All Bible quotations from World English Bible (WEB), public
domain.
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