Aunt Karlyn loved holding baby Keightley as much as any of us. Enjoying family during the holiday season is my favorite part.
After flying home from Denver the day after Thanksgiving, Susan and I enjoyed seeing John Turner, who was in town. John moved with his mom to Foley, Alabama, this school year. We miss him terribly, but he loves it there and we pray he thrives in high school, in wrestling, and in ROTC — which he really enjoys.
I don’t think Jesus intended to belittle His earthly family, but He redefined His relatives in an interesting way: “While Jesus was 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 with 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.’” (Matthew 12:46-50)
What is the ‘will of the Father’? What caused Jesus to call these disciples His family? I think they had come to a simple conclusion: “This Man is no ordinary teacher. He is the Chosen One, our Messiah that the prophets of old predicted would come to redeem God’s children. I am going to follow Him all my life. I am going to listen to Him and do exactly what He says because He is the Son of God.”
Jesus embraced such individuals as ‘mother’ and ‘brother’ and ‘sister’… and He still does. “My Father is your Father; My God is your God. You are part of My family.”
“Then they asked Him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.’” John 6:28-29
“To the Jews who believed in Him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” John 8:31-32
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35