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How Jesus Related to Family Problems
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find no pardon, and they will finally lose all desire to be reconciled
to God.
Christ’s Real Brethren
While Jesus was still teaching the people, His disciples brought
the message that His mother and brothers were outside and wanted
to see Him. “But He answered and said to the one who told Him,
‘Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’ And He stretched
out His hand toward His disciples and 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.’”
All who receive Christ by faith are united to Him by a tie closer
than human family connections. As someone who believed and acted
on His words, His mother was more nearly and savingly related to
Him than she was through her natural relationship. His brothers
would receive no benefit from their connection with Him unless they
accepted Him as their personal Savior.
Their unbelief was a part of the bitterness of the cup of woe that
He drank for us.
The opposition kindled in the human heart against the gospel
was most painful to Jesus in His home. His brothers looked on
Him as needing their counsel. They thought that if He would speak
things that the Pharisees could accept, He would avoid disagreeable
controversy. They thought He was mentally unbalanced in claiming
divine authority. They knew that the Pharisees were looking for
an opportunity to accuse Him, and they felt that He had given it to
them.
They could not grasp the mission He came to fulfill, and so
they could not sympathize with Him in His trials. Their coarse,
unappreciative words showed that they had no true understanding
of His character. Instead of comforting Him, their spirit and words
wounded His heart. His sensitive nature was tortured, His motives
misunderstood, His work uncomprehended.
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His brothers often presumed to think that they could teach Him
who understood all truth. They freely condemned things that they
could not understand. They thought they were vindicating God,