One Big, happy family...

Matthew 12:46-50 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” As Jesus continues to press us about what it means to follow Him, He continues to contrast His worldview with that of the Pharisees. It is during this discussion with them that this event takes place, and His response must be taken in context. The Pharisees were all about excluding others: exclude sinners, tax collectors, Gentiles, Samaritans, women and children. The more people they excluded, the more special and spiritual they felt. They were insiders, everyone else was outside. Not so with Jesus: He welcomed children, sinners, even a Samaritan woman. They were all invited to be a member of God's family, if they would repent and trust in Him.