“[46] While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. [47] [Someone said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.”] [48] But Jesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” [49] And extending His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold: My mother and My brothers! [50] For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50)

I won’t lie. When I first read this passage back in the early 90s, I almost walked away from the faith. In my upbringing, family was EVERYTHING. Cousins were more like siblings. Aunts and Uncles were more like parents. We literally saw each other almost every weekend! So this seemed completely contradictory to everything I ever knew. But here’s a few things I’ve learned over the years.

Jesus wanted to challenge the idea of family. He was not disowning or being condescending to His blood family, but He was making the point that the eternal family (the church) is greater than our earthly family. Jesus rhetorically asks, “Who is My mother and brothers?” before He points at His disciples and proclaims that they are His family. Jesus defines His family as “whoever does the will of My Father in heaven.”

So the question for us today is the same as it was when Jesus uttered those words. Do we do the will of God? Do we?