Mothers, Brothers, And Sisters Of God
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV, Cycle B
Mothers, Brothers, And Sisters Of God
Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." (vv. 31-35)
On the Christianity Today website, people wrote in to express their thoughts on their mothers in relationship to Mother's Day. Several expressed their thoughts on their grandmothers.
Holly Ruddy from Huber Heights, Ohio, wrote that her grandmother was the one who took her to church at a young age and introduced her to Jesus. Her grandmother raised her during the early years after her parents divorced. She prayed for Holly as she grew up going between parents, and provided a port in the storm when parental relationships became too tense.
Holly wrote, "Had it not been for my godly grandmother, I shudder to think how my life would have turned out. Even though as an adult, I have often failed, her example to me has been my beacon and I thank God for her. To me, she was the epitome of Jesus in the earth. She truly expressed his love for me through her life."
Karon Damewood of Beltsville, Maryland, tells of her dear grandmother who always made time for her grandchildren. When she was 65 years old, she took an eight-year-old grandson to finish rearing. She was still working, but she took him in and sacrificed time and effort for this child.
Karon would spend every Saturday night with her grandmother. She watched as her grandmother would review and put the finishing touches on her Sunday school lesson. Karon particularly remembers a lesson about following the leadership of Jesus. As she wrote out the lesson, she drew little brown footprints on the page. They laughed when Karon asked her why she was using peanuts to illustrate her lesson, but the elderly woman made it clear that Jesus was to lead and they were to lean on, and trust in him.
Karon wrote, "Because of the influence and godly lives of my mother and grandmother, I saw the reality and practicality of a risen and living Lord. When I was eleven years old, I gave my heart to this wonderful Savior, who so lovingly led me to himself through their lives. How I thank my Lord for them! Both of them are in glory now, forever with the Lord Jesus whom they loved and so faithfully served."
Who is a mother? Mark tells us that when Jesus' mother, along with his brothers, came to hear him preach, he gave a new understanding to the concept of "mother." He said, "Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Jesus is saying that motherhood -- and other kindred relationships -- is separate from biology. It is about more than giving birth or sharing bloodlines. True family relationships involve doing God's will. Sometimes it is a biological mother. Others times it is a grandmother or surrogate mother.
It has been said, "We are judged by our actions, not our intentions. We may have a heart of gold, but then, so does a hard-boiled egg." True mothers are women who act on Jesus' teaching even if they have never given birth. True sisters and brothers are those who follow Christ.
Information gathered from
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Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." (vv. 31-35)
On the Christianity Today website, people wrote in to express their thoughts on their mothers in relationship to Mother's Day. Several expressed their thoughts on their grandmothers.
Holly Ruddy from Huber Heights, Ohio, wrote that her grandmother was the one who took her to church at a young age and introduced her to Jesus. Her grandmother raised her during the early years after her parents divorced. She prayed for Holly as she grew up going between parents, and provided a port in the storm when parental relationships became too tense.
Holly wrote, "Had it not been for my godly grandmother, I shudder to think how my life would have turned out. Even though as an adult, I have often failed, her example to me has been my beacon and I thank God for her. To me, she was the epitome of Jesus in the earth. She truly expressed his love for me through her life."
Karon Damewood of Beltsville, Maryland, tells of her dear grandmother who always made time for her grandchildren. When she was 65 years old, she took an eight-year-old grandson to finish rearing. She was still working, but she took him in and sacrificed time and effort for this child.
Karon would spend every Saturday night with her grandmother. She watched as her grandmother would review and put the finishing touches on her Sunday school lesson. Karon particularly remembers a lesson about following the leadership of Jesus. As she wrote out the lesson, she drew little brown footprints on the page. They laughed when Karon asked her why she was using peanuts to illustrate her lesson, but the elderly woman made it clear that Jesus was to lead and they were to lean on, and trust in him.
Karon wrote, "Because of the influence and godly lives of my mother and grandmother, I saw the reality and practicality of a risen and living Lord. When I was eleven years old, I gave my heart to this wonderful Savior, who so lovingly led me to himself through their lives. How I thank my Lord for them! Both of them are in glory now, forever with the Lord Jesus whom they loved and so faithfully served."
Who is a mother? Mark tells us that when Jesus' mother, along with his brothers, came to hear him preach, he gave a new understanding to the concept of "mother." He said, "Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Jesus is saying that motherhood -- and other kindred relationships -- is separate from biology. It is about more than giving birth or sharing bloodlines. True family relationships involve doing God's will. Sometimes it is a biological mother. Others times it is a grandmother or surrogate mother.
It has been said, "We are judged by our actions, not our intentions. We may have a heart of gold, but then, so does a hard-boiled egg." True mothers are women who act on Jesus' teaching even if they have never given birth. True sisters and brothers are those who follow Christ.
Information gathered from
