True Family
READ
There’s no drama quite like family drama. It's a story as old as time – and in today’s passage, we see it play out in Jesus' own life with shocking intensity. His family thinks He's lost His mind. The religious leaders accuse Him of being demon-possessed. And in the middle of this chaotic scene, Jesus redefines what family really means.
Let’s take a moment to read 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 Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak 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, that house 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 without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
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.”
REFLECT
The first part of the passage is almost comically intense. Jesus is so consumed by His mission that He and His disciples can't even find time to eat. His family hears about this and decides to stage an intervention. They come to "take charge of him," believing He's gone mad. Can you imagine? Your own family thinking you've lost your mind because of your passion for God?
But the religious leaders take it a step further. Unable to deny the miraculous power of Jesus' ministry, they resort to the most devastating accusation possible: He's working by the power of demons. Jesus confronts their accusations with pure logic. "How can Satan drive out Satan?" He asks. A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. His miracles are proof of God's power, not a sinister or crooked influence.
Then comes the most revolutionary moment. When told His mother and brothers are outside wanting to speak with Him, Jesus makes a stunning declaration: "Who are my mother and my brothers?" Looking at those seated around Him, He says, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
This wasn't a rejection of His biological family, but an expansion of what family means. Jesus introduces a radical new understanding of belonging – one based not on blood relationships, but on spiritual connection. Family is no longer defined by genetics, but by shared purpose and spiritual alignment.
For those who feel like outsiders – who've been rejected by their biological families, who struggle with family relationships, or who feel disconnected – this passage offers profound hope. Jesus creates a family that transcends traditional boundaries. Your spiritual family can be just as real, just as meaningful, as your biological one.
But Jesus doesn't minimize the seriousness of spiritual matters. His warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is sobering. It's a reminder that our spiritual choices have real consequences. Repeatedly and deliberately rejecting God's work is a dangerous path. A divided heart can never lead to wholeness and thriving.
The passage challenges us to examine our own understanding of family and belonging. Who are the people who truly know you? Who shares your deepest values and purpose? Where do you find true connection – biological or spiritual?
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
How do you define family beyond biological relationships? Who are the people in your life that feel like true family? How can you create spaces of belonging for those who might feel like spiritual outsiders?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Lord Jesus, thank you that You create a family bigger than blood relationships. Help me recognize the spiritual connections You've placed in my life. Give me eyes to see the family You're building around me, and the courage to be a brother or sister in Your kingdom. Expand my understanding of belonging beyond my limited perspective. Amen.