My brother, Jesus

So one of the people there said to him, ‘Look, your mother and brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak with you.’

Jesus answered, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ Then he pointed to his disciples and said, ‘Look! Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother, my sister, and my mother.’ (verses 47-50)

Read Matthew 12:43-50

Did Jesus have a low regard for his mother? Is that why he ignored her on this occasion? No. Later, when he was on the cross, even the brutal pain he was experiencing didn’t prevent him from showing care and concern for her.

Jesus loved his mother and his brothers and sisters. But on this occasion he was acknowledging a wider family that was just as precious to him—those who, like him, were committed to doing the will of God.

Jesus asked, ‘Who are my brothers?’ You can answer, ‘I am!’ You can rejoice that Jesus loves you so much that he calls you his brother, his sister, his mother. That’s true acceptance. That’s true forgiveness.

Father in heaven, thank you for sending Jesus to earth to be my brother. Amen.

by Julie Hahn, in ‘Refreshment for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2003)

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