Everyone has that one family member they just can’t deal with… Either their mother-in-law is a witch or their uncle is a bum or they have a father who treats them like they were never born.
· What’s one word, or maybe a word picture, to describe a relative in your family who really bugs you?
JESUS HAD FAMILY PROBLEMS, TOO!
READ Mark 6:3: [Jesus] is just the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters are here with us.
Jesus’ family was less than perfect. His family didn’t appreciate Him:
READ Mark 6:4: A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and with his own people and in his own home.
I wonder what he meant when he said those last five words. He went to the synagogue where He was asked to speak. Maybe the people were proud that this hometown boy had done well—until they heard what He said. He referred to himself as the Messiah, the one to fulfill prophecy.
Their response? “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Translation? This is no Messiah! He’s just like us! He’s the plumber’s kid from down the street. He’s the accountant on the third floor. He’s the construction worker who used to date my sister. God doesn’t speak through familiar people.
· If you were to go back to El Salvador, how would you be treated? How would I be treated in NC?
One minute Jesus was a hero, the next a heretic.
READ Luke 4:29–30: They got up, forced Jesus out of town, and took him to the edge of the cliff on which the town was built. They planned to throw him off the edge, but Jesus walked through the crowd and went on his way.
Jesus’ neighborhood friends tried to kill him. But even uglier than what we see is what we don’t see. Note what words should be there, but aren’t. Where are Jesus’ brothers? Why didn’t they stand up for Him? When Jesus was in trouble, his brothers were invisible.
They weren’t always invisible, however. One time they did speak. There was a time when they were seen with Him in public. Not because they were proud of Him, but because they were ashamed of Him.
READ Mark 3:21: His family…went to get him because they thought he was out of his mind.
READ John 7:3-5: You should leave here and go to Judea so your followers there can see the miracles you do. Anyone who wants to be well known does not hide what he does. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.
Jesus’ siblings thought their brother was a lunatic. They weren’t proud—they were embarrassed!
· How does Jesus put up with His family?
· How can you believe in yourself when those who know you best don’t?
· How can you move forward when your family wants to pull you back?
· When you and your family have two different agendas, what do you do?
READ Acts 1:12,14: Then [the disciples] went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.… They all continued praying together with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ brothers.
What a change! The ones who mocked Him now worship Him. The ones who pitied Him now pray for Him.
· What if Jesus had disowned them? Or worse still, what if he’d suffocated his family with his demand for change?
He instead gave them space, time, and grace. And because He did, they changed. How much did they change? One brother became a leader of the early church (Galatians 1:19) and others became missionaries (1 Corinthians 9:5).
So don’t lose heart. God still changes families.
