When Family Becomes an Idol

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In the Gospels, we often hear about Jesus’ miracles, teachings, and interactions with his disciples and followers. But there is one aspect of Jesus’ life that is often overlooked: His family. In Mark 3, we get a rare glimpse into Jesus’ family life and the challenges He faced with their skepticism towards His radical ministry approach.

Cultural Values and Family Relationships

In Middle Eastern culture, honor and shame are among the highest values. Jesus’ family was concerned about His ministry approach – both his radical teachings and his viral popularity – as it could reflect badly on their family’s honor. Their purpose in trying to remove Jesus from the situation was not only to help Him but also to protect their family’s reputation. This conflict between cultural values and individual pursuits can also be seen in our modern lives, where we may feel torn between our family’s expectations and our personal pursuit of God. (Mark 3:20-21)

Family as an Idol

Jesus taught that our real family are those who pursue a relationship with Him, not just those related to us by blood. This idea challenges us to examine whether we prioritize our family over our relationship with God. When family becomes an idol, it can hinder our ability to follow Jesus and live according to His will. It’s essential to remember that God calls us to love and honor our families, but not at the expense of our faith. (Mark 3:31-32)

Jesus’ Family and Their Belief in Him

Jesus’ family initially struggled to believe in Him, even to the point of thinking he was crazy. However, over time, they came to see his teachings and miracles and eventually came to believe in him. This transformation provides hope for our own family members who have yet to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Like Jesus’ family, they too can come to believe in Him and have a relationship with God. (Mark 3:33-35)

Lessons for our Spiritual Family and Community

Jesus’ family teaches us valuable lessons about the importance of faith, belonging, and prioritizing God. As we navigate our own relationships with our families and communities, we can learn to rely on our spiritual family and trust in God’s plan for our lives. We can pursue a relationship with Jesus that goes beyond blood ties and traditional family structures and find fulfillment and purpose in our spiritual lives. (Acts 1:14)

Talking Points:

In Mark 3 we get a rare glimpse into the family life of Jesus. His family was concerned about his radical approach to ministry – and even accused him of being crazy! Mark 3:20-21
Jesus’ mother and brothers tracked him down and tried to do an intervention. In a Middle Eastern culture where honor and shame were among the highest of values, their purpose would also have been to remove Jesus from a situation that could reflect badly on the family. Mark 3:31-32
Jesus taught that his real family are those who pursue a relationship with him, not those who are related to him by blood. Family can become an idol when they get in the way of following Jesus. Mark 3:31-32
Jesus’ family eventually came to believe in his name. We can have the same hope today for our family members who have rejected Jesus. Acts 1:14, James 1:1

Discussion:

How do you see people idolize family in today’s culture? What are some signs to look out for that family, or something else, has a higher priority in your life?
Read Mark 3:31-35. Why was the family worried about Jesus? What do you think they were prepared to say to Jesus?
Why do you think Jesus responded the way He did instead of privately saying it to His family?
What are some practical ways we can pursue a relationship with Jesus that goes beyond our blood ties and traditional family structures? How can we connect with our spiritual family in meaningful ways?
In the end, Jesus’ family believes He is who He says He is – James leads the Jerusalem church; Mary and His brothers are present at the start of the early church (Acts 1:14). Do you believe that God can change the hearts of your family members like that? Explain.

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