The Promise of a New Family


I spent half my week working on an exegetical paper for Mark 3:31-35.

31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers [and your sisters] are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said,“Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”


We were asked to look into four different aspects of this section but there is one that stood out to me most: the theology and truth Christ spoke into my heart through studying this passage.

Jesus introduces this radical new idea of family.  The blood family unit is no longer the core foundation for what it means to be family.  Jesus experiences alienation from his kinship because they think he’s crazy, but he simultaneously builds a family that goes beyond blood and the people you live with.  Family becomes the larger body of Christ.

As I sat in class yesterday, I thought about how I could never leave my mom behind for Jesus.  If I had lived in the time when Jesus walked this earth, I would never have been able to leave my mom behind, and then a very sobering, very promising, thought hit me.  I already have.  My mom means the world to me. I have worries and cares and loyalty that I could not imagine breaking. My emotions and my intellect told me that I would never leave her behind, but the faithfulness of God pulled me away without a second thought until I’d already given up everything to follow the call of Jesus. 

What does this even begin to mean for my life?  What does this mean about the love I have for my mom? The love I have for Christ? 


I have entered into this new journey of what it means to be a faithful disciple. I have entered into this promise of a new family.  I have a community around me that not only listens to my sacrifice, but they understand it.  The listen and they stay.  We’re all in this crazy new family together and we all understand what it means to leave everything behind for something that doesn’t make sense.  I have found comfort in watching my new family hear my story and not also having to watch them walk away because it’s "too much".  While I miss my home, and I miss my mom, I am thankful for this new family.  The promises of Jesus stand; God is always faithful.





Comments

  1. My DelightOctober 2, 2013 at 9:47 PM

    Hmm i love you Meg. I am so happy for you pursuing your dreams and loving Jesus every minute of it. It is so evident that He has provided for you this season in your life. I hope you know I consider you a huge part of my spiritual family too! I love this post :)

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