Mark 3:31-35
Find a way to separate yourself from whatever’s going on around you so you can fully enter into today’s passage. if you haven’t read the introduction to Mark’s Gospel, read it here.
Read Mark 3:31-35 imagining yourself as one of Jesus’ siblings.
Taken out of context, this passage seems a bit harsh. Jesus’ mother and siblings just want to talk to him, right? But just prior to this, these same family members came to do an intervention with Jesus because they were convinced he was out of his mind.
Family is complicated. Growing up around someone doesn’t mean we really understand the inner workings of that person. Often, we construct our own narratives about our family members based on our experiences in the family, and these stories we tell ourselves about our parents and siblings can be deeply flawed. When someone we think we know begins to act in ways that don’t fit our storyline, it’s easy to jump to conclusions.
Have you ever assumed something negative about one of your siblings or your parents when they acted outside your expectations? Have you ever had a family member misunderstand you?
When we surrender control of our lives to Jesus and commit to following him, we are, in essence, born into Jesus’s family. Jesus is the parent and sibling who knows us better than we know ourselves and loves us unconditionally.
Read Mark 3:31-35 again imagining yourself as one of Jesus’ listeners – perhaps someone who doesn’t quite fit in their family of origin.
What would it be like to be completely known and unconditionally loved by the members of your family of origin? Sit with this question for a few minutes and share any thoughts or feelings that arise with Jesus.
Do you believe that Jesus knows who you really are, even better than do, and do you believe that Jesus loves you unconditionally? If you have trouble embracing this idea, take a moment and imagine it’s true. Let it wash over you.
If these meditations are helpful to you, please forward them to couple of friends.
Interested in going deeper? Check out The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide and blog.
