Mark 3:31-35

“For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”  Mark 3:35 (ESV)

After Jesus’s dire warning about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, we read words of real hope.  When his family came to rescue him, Jesus used the opportunity to define those who will truly bless him—“those who do the will of God”.

It is simple but profound.  Some question how to do the will of God, or if they are even within His will.  This is a fair question but throughout the Word, we are told to do His will and the implication is that his will is not so hard to understand or follow.  Perhaps when we struggle with “his will”, it is our own will that is the problem.

We don’t usually have any problem knowing what our close friends like.  How? By communicating with them, by observing and listening.  We get together with our friends and we enjoy their company.

Jesus’ calls his obedient followers “family”…my brother and sister and mother” …intimate family.  Who knows us better than our mother, or our siblings?  How do we know God’s will and become obedient to it? By leaning in to Jesus and the Word.  By having the kind of intimate relationship with him that we have with friends and family.

We learn his will when we obey what we do know he wants.  How can Jesus reveal his will when we quit reading and meditating on his Word?  How will he lead us and comfort us when we neglect prayer and gathering together with other Christians around His table?

Perhaps the Psalmist took joy in this comfort as well:

Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long.

                                                                      Psalm 25:4-5 (ESV)