Mark 3:32-35 and John 19:26-27

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 around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:32-35)
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. (John 19:26-27)

Comment:

In the Jewish society in which Jesus lived and taught, nothing was more important than the bonds and demands of family. The passage from Mark represents one of many times in which Jesus emphasizes that our spiritual commitment must be pre-eminent over all others, including family relationships. It’s not that he holds negative views of families and family ties. His own relationship with his mother, at least, was clearly close and loving. But family demands can never take priority over spiritual commitment and spiritual growth. If it were up to his mother, he would surely not be going through the crucifixion experience to which he had been spiritually guided. He can’t let concern for her feelings block his spiritual progress. But he can and does, in the passage from John, express his love by entrusting her to the care of a close friend and disciple.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed