Who Is Part of the Family of God?
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Who is in the room? The Twelve, including Judas, are there, along with some scribes from Jerusalem. It is also possible that those encountered earlier in the chapter are still hanging around: the Pharisees (3:6), the Herodians (3:6), as well as those healed of demon possession (3:11) and of disease (3:16). And, of course, some were simply curious.
People follow Jesus for different reasons and with different agendas. Some reasons are good and others are bad. Some want Him; others want what He can give them and do for them. Some follow for who He is; others follow for what they make Him out to be. They want someone they can fit into their world, wants, plans, priorities, and preconceived notions. Oh how insightful John 2:23-25 is at this point!
He said His true family was “here,” but not all of them were included. In His next statement He narrowed it down.
Mark 3:35
Jesus provides a clear, simple, blanket statement concerning who is part of the family of God: anyone who “does the will of God.” Luke 8:21 says it is “those who hear and do the word of God.” Kent Hughes says, “Obedience does not originate a relationship with God (faith does that), but obedience is a sign of it” (Hughes, Mark, 98). Hughes also notes this new family relationship is far superior, far stronger, far more satisfying, far more demanding, and far more dear than any human family relationship (ibid.). It is an eternal relationship that is marked by unshakeable grace, and those who receive such grace are marked by humble obedience.
Tim Keller relates our text to the Prodigal Son:
The “will of God” is critically important throughout the Bible:
After studying passages like this, it is helpful to make some biblical and theological observations. In light of this text, what can be said about the family of God and the will of God?