Who is my Family? (Video)

All of us grew up in some sort of family – whether it was with biological parents, adopting parents, a single parent, grandparents, relatives, family friends, or others who raised us.

We have all been shaped by our families. Families have great potential for blessing… or messing. The legacy of our family influences us for the rest of our lives.  If your family has been a place of acceptance, understanding, mutual support, and healthy boundaries, chances are you have a sense of self-worth and confidence.  If your family of origin was dysfunctional, then the wounds can last a long time. This is also true of “church families”.

Jesus was not always understood by his immediate family.  Like when at the age of 12 he had an extended stop-over at the Jerusalem temple (Lk 2).  Or when his brothers bagged him out about getting to Jerusalem to bolster his public image (Jn 7:3-5).  Or when his mother and brothers turned up in Capernaum because they thought he’d lost his mind!

The leaders of ‘God’s family’, the teachers of the law did not know what to make of Jesus.  They treat him with suspicion and hostility.  They constantly find fault with him and accuse him of breaking the law. They label him as a drunkard and a glutton, a friend of sinners, a blasphemer, and as being possessed by the devil!

This Sunday, we see how Mark weaves two stories together where Jesus experiences “family misunderstanding”.  In effect, Jesus ends up asking the question: “Who is my family?”

Jesus’ answer is both simple and profound, revealing and challenging.  Come along to the Good Shepherd family gathering this Sunday: where we come together in God’s name, celebrate what it means to belong to his family, listen to his word, share in the family meal (8:45am), and then live out the grace and truth of Jesus in our families and communities.

Joy in Jesus!

Pr. Rolly Stahl