Getting to Know Jesus #31

As we continue on in Luke 8, Jesus is going to town after town, preaching the Good News and healing those who were brought to Him, when apparently he came to a town not far from his hometown:

19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Ouch. Family is one of the greatest institutions God has created; it can also be one with lots of hurts. It is almost like Jesus "could not be bothered" with His family.  But realistically, was not Jesus' family a lot like that of Joseph in the Old Testament. They could not believe that someday He would be their Savior. Sure, Jesus was the oldest, but He was "different" than the rest of them.  The Jews, like many peoples, put a lot of stock in their ancestry, and their descent from Abraham - a little too much. The thought it got them an automatic "pass" from God.  Jesus was not denying his family relationships as much as contrasting them with His Father's side of the family, the family of faith.  He was also indicating that his earthly family needed salvation just as much as their neighbors and even the Gentiles. None of us are saved by our heritage or human relationships, only by the bloodline of Christ.