~Where Did THAT Come From?~

Do you ever read what Jesus says in the word, and think "wow, that was harsh" or "where did that come from?" {Like something is said "out of the blue"..}

Like when He told Peter, "get behind me Satan"(Matthew 16:23), right after He had said some amazing things to him...

Or when He said to the Pharisees, "you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." (Matthew 23:27)

The one in particular that I am talking about today baffled me when I first read it...

Matthew 12:46-50: While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. Someone told Him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You." He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to His disciples, He 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."

Umm... Hello? Honor your mother and father? (I was confused... until I read it in Mark)..

On a side note: I LOVE the gospel of Mark! Guys just want you to say it, and not hear the whole process... Us ladies want to go on a journey with you... Mark is a man after a woman's heart, he GIVES THE DETAILS!!! Not that he put all the stories and parables in his book, but when he did, it was so much more detailed... Many "WOW!" moments for me...

I heard someone talk about how there are titles in the bible, and it makes us think that each part is a new story, or that they are not connected with what you just read. So, I started reading it as if the titles weren't there. Like in my bible, (an NIV version) it has this story in different parts. One of the titles says "Jesus and Beelzebub" and the other says "Jesus' Mother and Brothers", but THEY ARE connected, and it is all the same account. I am going to add emphasis to things that stood out to me, as I read it in his account. And I feel, it showed me why He gave the answer He did that day...

Mark 3:20-35:

Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples were not even able to eat. When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind."

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub!" By the prince of demons He is driving out demons."

So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself it cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry of his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.

He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit."

{{{{then they put in the new title: "Jesus' Mother and Brothers", but it is still a continuation, not a new story.}}}}

v. 31: Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call Him. A crowd was sitting around him and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."

"Who are my mother and my brothers?" He asked.
Then He looked at those seated in a circle around Him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

See!! Isn't it awesome!! Mark, I thank you for making it clear in your gospel! And see guys, sometimes you do need to hear all the details. ;-)

Now, it makes sense! And, it also made me think that people, and sometimes even those closest to you, like your family (and maybe even those who got a visit from an angel telling about you) will not always understand what the Lord has called you too. (I know it would bother me if my kiddos were going without food, and not resting.) But when the Lord has called you to something, you just have to keep pressing forward. Even at the risk of being misunderstood by those who know and love you and are even closest to you...

Be blessed by His word!

Love,

Tracy