Mark 3:31-35 “Two Families”

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Good Good Father – Chris Tomlin
• We Are Your Church – Celebration Worship
• “Back Home” – Worship Song of Grace and Returning to God’s Embrace

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• Jesus’ Mother and Brothers (Mark 3:28-35) – Bible Story for Kids
• Your Life Will Change | High Seas Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• No Matter How I Feel | Sky VBS Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Give it Away | Weird Animals VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

At that time, Jesus’ mother and siblings, who had left Nazareth after hearing rumors that Jesus was out of his mind, arrived at the house. They couldn’t get through the crowd, so they sent someone to deliver a message to Jesus (verse 31). When Jesus received the message (verse 32), he asked, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” (verse 33). Then, looking at those seated around Him, He said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” (verses 34-35). This profound statement redefines the concept of family, emphasizing that those who follow God’s will are part of Jesus’ spiritual family, transcending biological ties.

At first glance, Jesus’ words might seem like a rejection of his biological family. Some interpret his question, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” as indicating a severance from his family. However, later events reveal that Jesus did not abandon his family but instead transcended the concept of biological family to emphasize a greater, eternal spiritual family. Mary, his mother, followed him to the site of his crucifixion, and after his resurrection and ascension, his brother James became a leader in the Jerusalem church, while another brother, Jude, wrote the Book of Jude in the New Testament. Jesus’ statement was not about dismissing his earthly family but about prioritizing and sacrificing for the larger, eternal family of God. Considering this, it is reasonable to assume that after making this profound declaration, Jesus likely met privately with his family to reassure them and send them back in peace.

Jesus, as he often did, used an ordinary event to teach an eternal truth. Believers are part of a spiritual family with God as their Heavenly Father. While biological families are important, believers should not be solely bound by those ties. For those who follow Christ, the eternal family of God, united under his fatherhood, takes precedence. This spiritual family is not temporary but everlasting and rooted in God’s will and purpose.

Meditation:

For humans, the strongest relationships are often those based on blood ties, which is why they are sometimes called “sacred bonds.” The phrase “Blood is thicker than water” reflects the unique nature of familial connections. Family is the first community a person encounters at birth and, in most cases, the one with which they spend the most time. Blood relationships are further strengthened through shared life experiences. This is why losing a family member often results in profound grief and why people are sometimes willing to sacrifice even their own lives for their family.

However, the bonds of family and home are temporary. No matter how much parents love their children, there comes a time when children must leave and become independent. Even if children do not leave, there will come a time when parents pass away. It is neither possible nor desirable to hold onto children forever; they must eventually stand on their own. Likewise, even the bond of marriage ultimately ends with separation through death.

Jesus teaches that there is a bond stronger than blood ties: the eternal family of God, with our everlasting Father in heaven. Parents are entrusted with the responsibility of raising their children temporarily, acting as stewards on behalf of our eternal Father. Living as a married couple is a practice for living with Jesus Christ, the eternal bridegroom. The greatest responsibility of parents toward their children is to help them come to know their eternal Father, God.

Understanding this truth calls us to care for and love our earthly families while also focusing on our eternal family. We become part of God’s eternal family through faith in Jesus Christ and God as our Father. The church serves as a spiritual family where we experience a glimpse of that eternal family here on earth. Just as we love and cherish our earthly families, believers are called to love and serve their spiritual family, the church. Through the church, we meet brothers and sisters in faith and share life’s joys and struggles. Over time, we may even find that our faith family provides a deeper and stronger source of support than our blood relatives.

In this way, believers have two families on earth: one formed by blood ties and the other formed by faith—the spiritual family, which is the church. Both families are given to us as reflections of the eternal family with God as our Father. As we cherish and nurture these two families, we live in anticipation and hope for the eternal family we will one day fully experience in God’s presence.

Prayer:

Eternal Father, thank You for welcoming us into Your everlasting family. As we hope and wait for the eternal home filled with love and peace, help us cherish, nurture, and love the earthly and spiritual family You have given us. Teach us to love our families deeply without being bound by them alone and to love and serve the church and Your kingdom while not neglecting our earthly families. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Believers are part of two families: an earthly family formed by blood ties and a spiritual family formed through faith in Jesus Christ. Both are precious gifts from God, meant to reflect the eternal family in heaven. We are called to love and nurture our earthly families while cherishing and serving our spiritual family, the church.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • How is your church family like your family at home? How is it different?
  • How can you show love to both your family at home and your church family?

• For Middle School
  • Why do you think Jesus taught that our spiritual family is as important as our earthly family?
  • What does it mean to balance your love and responsibility for both your earthly and spiritual families?
• For High School
  • Jesus formed a spiritual family by calling His disciples. How does this inspire you to think about the relationships in your church?

How can we actively care for both our biological family and our church family without neglecting either?

• Family Discussion Question:
  • How can we show God’s love to someone in our church family this week?