Proper 5
We can embrace our relationship with Jesus. Knowing it will outlast all else.
Opening Prayer: Lord thank you for our family the church. Bless those who care for us as they serve us with mercy and love.
Hymn: #26 Crown Him with many Crowns Vv. 1-3
Confession/Absolution:
LORD - we pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father.
In Your compassion forgive us our sins. Known and unknown. Things done. And left undone. And so uphold us by Your Spirit.
That we may live and serve you in newness of life. To the honor and glory of Your Name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on you. Forgive you all your sins.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ. And may He strengthen you in all goodness.
And by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
Mark 3:20-35 Then Jesus went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.”
And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.
But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.
“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Law/Gospel Theme: Sometimes when considering the Law, we might tend to think of God as a strict judge or harsh ruler. Yet Jesus reminds us that God is a loving Father.
He wants to welcome us into His family, and we can be brothers and sisters together with Christ, co-heirs of the Kingdom of God. When we seek to know the lord and do His will, we are considered part of His family!
Who is in your family? Do you have brothers, sisters, cousins? Some families are small. Some are huge. I have four sisters. No brothers. But I have four brothers-in laws.
The people in our family are very special. Relatives are a wonderful gift from God. He gives us parents to take care of us when we are young.
And brothers and sisters for companionship. He gives us aunts and uncles and grandparents and cousins.
But families are never perfect. They might fight from time to time. And sometimes they might not love each other the way that they could or should. We are human, and our earthly families won’t always be what we might hope.
But did you know that we are part of another kind of family? We belong to God. You see, when Jesus was on Earth. He didn’t always get along great with His biological family.
Of course, His mother Mary understood who He was and believed in Him. But He had four half-brothers and at least sisters.
Mark tells us later on that when Jesus returned to his home town the people said: "Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son? And isn’t he the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” (Mark 6:3)
But there were some in His family who were a bit more skeptical. In fact, in our Gospel lesson for today they wanted to get Jesus into trouble. They even said He was out of His mind!
They didn’t believe until later that He was truly God. We also hear from the book of Mark, that some people came up to Jesus and told Him that His family was looking for Him.
Jesus had an interesting reply. He looked around at the people who were listening to Him.
He said, “these are my brothers and sisters! Whoever does the will of God is part of my family.” Jesus wanted to emphasize that all people who loved and sought after God were welcome to be part of His family.
So what does that mean for us? It means that we can do God’s will and be in Christ’s family, too! Family is not just about being related by blood. But being related by the blood of Jesus.
God calls us His children. And He loves us no matter what our earthly relations might consist of. And because we are part of that family. We are brothers and sisters to one another! We are united through the bond of Christ. And He wants us to love one another.
You wouldn’t want to mistreat your brothers and sisters. So we should care for all of those around us as they care for us. Those who serve and care for us help us know and understand that we are welcomed into a Heavenly family when we love and trust God.
Whether you have four siblings or none. You are surrounded by brothers and sisters through Jesus! We are in His family. And we can rest assured that will always be so. What a beautiful blessing to be a part of God’s family!
Prayer: LORD - Thank you for letting us be part of your family. Help us to do your will. And to love one another as brothers and sisters. Thank you for your love and care. 1
[1]
https://ministry-to-children.com/family-of-christ-message/
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