Blood That Is Thicker Than Blood

There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

                                                                                      (Mark 3:31-35 KJV)

Family... Most of us have families that we are close to. But, many do not. Many have been abused or neglected by their families. Others have lost them to death. We may not have birth families to celebrate with; to grieve with; to live and walk with; but, we can still have a family. 

I have known too many people who have been judged because they have chosen for their own physical, spiritual, or mental health that they must distance themselves from their families of birth. There is a prevailing sense that those of the same "blood;" the same family, must support one another no matter what. Unfortunately, it cannot always be so. When one family member endangers you or others by their words or actions those actions should not be supported. Sometimes family members and friends will have to walk away for the sake of everyone involved. 

The Good News is that there is a family that will support you. We have a Father who does all things for the good of those who love him. There is indeed a blood that is thicker than blood. It is the blood of Christ that was shed for you. Because he was willing to die for us, we are willing to follow Him, doing our Father's will. We can say "Our Father" because through Jesus we have been made children of God. We have been adopted into his family.

Jesus was not disavowing his mother or his brothers when he asked and answered the question. "Who is my mother, or my brethren?" He loved them. He loved his mother; for, even as he was suffering on the cross he appointed John to look after Mary. Jesus was making the point that all who believe and follow are his family. Thus, we have the Church; the family of God.

There is the blood that is thicker than blood. It binds us together, forever. It is the blood of Christ shed for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

A Peculiar People

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

                                                                                  (1 Peter 2:9-10 KJV)

I dislike having to check the box for my race as is required on so many forms. I especially dislike having to check a box if it is related to something within the church. That may be partly due to the fact that I am a "mutt." But, more than that is the fact that no matter what blood lines I have inherited through family; I am a child of God; adopted into the holy nation the blood of Jesus. If there is a blank line for other, I usually write in "Holy Nation."

Each race has it's own culture and even within the various races the culture varies depending on the geographical region. That is also true for the people of a "Holy Nation." There may be variances in the way we live and worship; but, together we make up one truly awesome spiritual house. The differences really make no difference. What is important to understand is that we belong to the spiritual house built on the precious cornerstone, who is Jesus the Christ; the one who gave himself for us.

Since, we are members of this spiritual house, this "Holy Nation", we also ought to live as members of the holy priesthood, living in reverence and loving service to the King of all kings. According to St. Peter that means to live in loving service to one another. It's not about us. It's about all of us together living in reverence to God our Father and our Lord, Jesus the Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Thicker Than Blood

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

                                                                        (John 19:25-30 KJV)

The world was changed when Jesus hung on that cross and died for us. Of course, there are many things that have not changed. There are still some really ugly things going on in the world. But, when Jesus hung on that cross and died, we received the possibility of being reconciled to God. We who were not His children became His children. We are family. 

On very rare occasions I will refer to brothers and sisters in Christ as "friends" because they are. I don't use that term often; though, because more than friends, we are family. We are children of the most high God; brothers and sisters in Christ. When Jesus hung on the cross he told John, "Behold thy mother" and to his mother Mary he said, "Behold thy son." John was to care for Mary as a son would. Mary was to love John as a mother would. When, through faith, we are made to be children of God, we become family. We are to love and care for one another as our Father in heaven cares for all of us. 

As you gather with your brothers and sisters this Good Friday to remember what Christ has done for us; remember that the person sitting in the pew or chair next to you is your brother or sister in Christ and that together you remember and grieve that Jesus had to suffer and die for the both of you. There is a blood that is thicker than blood. It is the blood of Christ that was shed for you and for all people.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Blood Family

It is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
   that shame has covered my face.

I have become a stranger to my kindred,   

   an alien to my mother’s children.
It is zeal for your house that has consumed me;
   the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.

                                            (Psalm 69:7-9 NRSV)

The belief that family unity is a priority no matter what can devastate individuals. When adult members of a family find themselves at odds, it can send the Christian members of the family into feelings of guilt and depression. After all; are we not to love one another? How loving is it when we cannot live in unity with our genetic brothers and sisters? So they try everything they can to please the other members of the family, including not standing up for what is right. They will even provide false alibis for those who have committed criminal offenses. Even most Christians will focus on pleasing man rather than God for the sake of blood family members. They believe that it is a part of the mandate to love one another. Watching, without any intervening, someone who is destroying themselves and others around them is not loving.

St. Paul wrote: "Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Gal 1:10)

It is difficult when someone is put in the position of having to choose between doing what is right and what will keep your birth family tolerating you and your faith. I often hear stories of families who have a very difficult time even being in the same room together. In fact, I know very few families that do not suffer this division. Many times the differences that cause these breaks in relationships have to do with varying lifestyles; with varying degrees of faith or lack of faith. Christians can normally live in peace with those who have very different lifestyles than themselves. They can and will continue to love and have empathy for those they see going off on a path that will lead them to destruction. However, it becomes most difficult when the Christian is ostracized and persecuted because they will not join their family members or friends on a path other than the one that Jesus leads them on. 

When working with young men in juvenile correctional facility, they would often express their desire to return home to their families. Some of the parent(s) of those teen-age boys had introduced their sons to substance abuse. Some had their sons selling drugs on the street for them. Some beat them unmercifully for minor offenses. 

As a foster parent for teen-age boys, I heard their pleas to be returned to their parents no matter how awful their lives had been. They were convinced that their parents would somehow have figured out, in the absence of their children, that they would now start loving them and caring for them instead of neglecting and abusing them. I don't recall one case of that actually happening.

When working with these children who were fast becoming adults, I would often remind them that the blood that is thicker than blood is the blood of Christ that was shed for them. 

It can be devastating for a child or an adult not to be firmly connected with their birth families. To live with people who choose a lifestyle that persecutes those who would follow in "the way" that is more peaceful and productive is difficult. There are times when the persecuted must distance themselves for their own sakes and for the sakes of the ones they love. It does no one any good to close your eyes and shut your lips to the injustices that occur in the family or the community. Never doing or saying anything about injustices is not a solution.

It is better to speak the truth than ignore the destruction that is happening around you for the sake of peace with the one who is going down and leading others down the wrong path. Speaking the truth may indeed win you more persecutions.  But, correcting others in love may also help them turn around and go in the way that they should go.

Standing up for the truth; standing up for Jesus, will not win a lot of accolades in many families. It is not even always accepted within the visible church. But; if we do not, we contribute to the downfall of the community; we contribute to the downfall of the visible church on earth. 

Persecutions will come by standing up for Jesus. They will come even from family whom we love. When your family persecutes and even disowns you; lift up your head and remembers that there is a blood that is thicker than blood. It is the blood of Christ that was shed for you. 

I pray that this does not sound to convoluted to you. It is my attempt to remind you that no matter what the world around you thinks of you, the world was not pleased with the prophets nor was it happy with Jesus. No matter who persecutes you; whether it is firth family or friends, you are a beloved child of our Heavenly Father. You have family in Christ! You get to live life as a child of God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Blood Thicker Than Blood

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13 NIV)

Jesus had said that members of families would come against one another. (Luke 12:51-53) Sadly, we witness this every day. It can be very hurtful to the entire family. People find themselves very much out in the cold, alone, and very lonely.

However, there is Good News. There is a blood that is thicker than blood. It is the blood of Christ that was shed for you. All who believe that Jesus died for them are reconciled to God our Father. All who believe in Jesus have been born again; not of flesh and blood, but by the Spirit of God. All who believe in him are the children of God.

We are family!

God's Peace - Pr. J

A Blood Thicker Than Blood

"While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
     He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”" (Matt 12:46-50 NIV)

What is family? Jesus knew that family went beyond mere blood lines. We were not; after all, born into the family of Abraham, the family of promise. But, we were adopted into that family, by faith, through the blood that Jesus shed for us.

There is a blood that is thicker than blood. It is the blood of Christ that was shed for you. Because he was willing to die for us, we are willing to follow Him, doing our Father's will. We can say "Our Father" because through Jesus we have been made children of God. We have been adopted into the family of God.

When Jesus pointed to the disciples claiming them as family, Jesus was not disavowing his mother. He loved his mother; for, even as he suffered on the cross, he appointed John to look after Mary. He was making the point that those who believe and follow are his family. Thus, we have the Church; the family of God.

There is the blood that is thicker than blood. It binds us together, forever. It is the blood of Jesus shed for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

A Blood Thicker Than Blood

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1

There is a blood that is thicker than blood. It is the blood of Christ shed for you. Jesus told us that the world would not understand those who believe. In fact, even as Jesus was persecuted, those who cling to this world will also fear, hate, and persecute Christians in various ways. Genealogically connected family members will even look with suspicion upon believing brothers and sisters. They, too, will join in the persecution of those who love the Lord. Families will suffer division.

But, the good news is that the family of God is reconciled to God and to one another for all time. There is nothing that can separate us from our Father's love which is found in Christ Jesus. (Rom 8:39) There is nothing in this world that can destroy the family of God.

There is a blood thicker than blood. It is the blood of Christ, shed on the cross, that binds us together as family.

God's Peace - Pr. J