Jesus’
ministry took Him from village to village. He was becoming well known and
crowds of people were following Him (for different reasons).
There
was a group of people who followed Him faithfully, day by day. We met some of
these people in our reading last week (Luke 8:1-3).
I
suggested to name the group – the kingdom community. This kingdom community is
nothing else than the future church, which Luke describes in his second book –
The Acts of the Apostles.
Today,
the Gospel of Luke reveals another dimension of God’s kingdom. This dimension
opens a window into God’s heart…the loving heart of the heavenly Father. It
all started with an unexpected visit.
“Now Jesus’
mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him
because of the crowd” (Luke 8:19).
Firstly,
we note that Jesus had at least two brothers. Which means that Joseph and Mary
had other children after Jesus was born. The Gospel of Mark reveals that Jesus
also had at least two sisters (Mark 6:3).
Secondly,
we know almost nothing about Jesus and His family. What we know is that at one
point, they came to take Jesus home, because they thought He had lost the plot
(Mark 3:21). We know that His brothers were not His keen supporters, at that
time (John 7:3-6).
If
we read these verses in isolation, we are left with an unfortunate chapter in
Jesus’ ministry, one that appears as if Jesus ignores His family and places more
importance of His listeners.
Jesus’
answer can be understood as saying, “My family is greater in number than my
mother and my brothers – all “…those
who hear God’s word and put it into practice” (Luke 8:21). What does this
all mean?
While indeed God’s kingdom implies a kingdom community, it actually
reveals something more: that God is gathering a family for Himself – the
kingdom family. “For you did not receive
a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of
sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15).