Are You Related to Jesus?

Daily Devotional – Sunday, March 26, 2023
For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.
Mark 3:35 (NKJV)

Blood relations matter. We draw our identity from them. Our relatives give us a sense of belonging. We expect them to stick with us in good and bad times, though they sometimes fail us. When you kin occupies a position of authority and influence, you want people to know you have people in high places.

Your Mother and Your Brothers Seek You

This often happens when a person rises to power. Suddenly, real and imagined relatives arise. The cousin of the grandmother, the uncle of the grandfather, the half-brother of the father and other ridiculous titles gain currency. As John Kennedy once said, “Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.”

In Mark chapter three, Jesus finds himself in a similar situation. He has gained celebrity status in his neighbourhood. His relatives want a piece of the pie. While Christ is busy preaching and healing, someone informs him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” (Mark 3:32).

Here are My Relatives

Considering how important these relatives were to Jesus, His reaction was unexpected. “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” (Verse 33). Obviously, He knew who His relatives were. Today, though, they were hindering His work. They had forgotten or were ignoring the fact that His mission was bigger and more importan that earthly blood ties.

To ensure that his mother, brothers and the masses realized He was on a divine mission on earth, “He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”” (Mark 3:34-35).

Are You Related to Jesus?

You are not a son or daughter of Mary and Joseph but Jesus considers you His sibling. Obedience is what defines your relationship with God. If you obey God, you are related to Jesus. It is as simple of that. You do not need to have blood ties to a prominent person to inherit the kingdom of God.

Jesus will return soon to take His relatives home because a family needs to live together. Your blood or ethnic relationship with Him will not matter. They only issue He will look at is whether you have an active personal relationship with Him. Are you related to Jesus?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You because by faith and through a living connection with You, I am your relative.