Read Mark chapter 3 first!
So now Jesus keeps healing people, and crowds flock to him. The Pharisees in chapter 3 are already plotting to kill him because he’s healing people! Demons are silenced, the 12 are called, a couple of whom we know very little about Barthalomew, the second James (not the brother of John who may have written the book of James) and Thaddeus we know almost nothing about. But we do know they were super important or Jesus wouldn’t have called them to be disciples. But even if you follow God well doesn’t mean fame or success will follow. Following Jesus is reward in and of itself and they come across a whole lot better than Peter does!
Then there’s a peculiar passage where his family and the pharisees say he’s out of his mind or perhaps possessed while demons- while he’s driving out demons. He even seems to say that his mother and brothers aren’t his family. (Sidenote: from this passage we know Jesus wasn’t an only child he definitely had brothers) But that’s not true. He’s saying that anyone who does his will is his family. Some of his own family had turned against him- but it doesn’t name names. It seems unlikely Mary was one of them- but even if it was- what a gift of grace that she isn’t named! If that was the case Jesus forgave his mom and doesn’t even allow that to be mentioned. What He’s saying isn’t something we should take as an insult to his family or any family- it should be a gift of hope. He’s saying in verse 34:34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” He’s saying you can be part of his family. Through the cross and the work of the Spirit we become part of his family in faith. Yes Mary and his brothers are part of his family. Yes we are part of God’s family too!
Marking It Up 