There’s a verse in the Bible that I always had a little trouble with because it sounded like Jesus was being uncaring for His family….dismissive.

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:31-34.

Jesus wasn’t being dismissive or uncaring and I’m sure he didn’t ignore them.

Do you ever have a random thought and realize that is the prompting of the Holy Spirit?

I had been reading yesterday about Mary and Elizabeth her cousin who bore John the Baptist. I was thinking about these two ordinary women who were chosen by God for very unique and wonderful purposes. Can you imagine? In Luke 1:28 we read that Gabriel, the angel who stands in the presence of God, told Mary “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” My favorite verse is verse 37: For no word from God will ever fail. Mary believed Gabriel. Elizabeth believed Gabriel’s message to her husband Zechariah.

As I was thinking about Mary yesterday, I thought about that troubling scripture and what Jesus said. What I realized is what Jesus was saying. I am His mother, His sister. I often think of myself as a child/daughter of God but this is different. We are family. Mary is my mother, my sister. Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:28-29.

Jesus wasn’t in any way excluding his Mom or brothers. He was including us. He was beautifully including us.

Jesus is the firstborn and in God’s time we will all be together…a family in every sense. What that says to me is how much God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit love us…we are family and there is no greater love than the love of God’s family. I can’t wait for the family reunion!