Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia
Internal Circulation
August 2012
Family
August 2012
10th Edition
think Jesus had a healthy childhood, learnt carpentry, learnt the Scriptures, listened to the entire story that was passed around the community and learnt various other responsibilities. Most importantly, it was the family which nurtured him. Though they did not understand who he was, they were not a stumbling block that needed to be dealt with. His family felt fear of harm to Jesus, as the above text tells us, but eventually they understood, in a painful way I think, and followed him. I often ask myself what it could have been like for Jesus to be part of a family. Surely Mary, Joseph and their children loved him. I think they knew how society can sometimes be cruel and that was why when they heard of the commotion that was caused in Galilee because of Jesus’ teaching, the whole family quickly went after him in order to save him. But Jesus responded in a way that is often inexplicable!
In the gospel of Mark 3: 1933, the evangelist reported that “Jesus entered a house.” He was ministering to the people. He and his disciples were hungry when this decision was made. As Jesus was proceeding to reach this house in Galilee, the news of his ministry was causing a great stir. Mary, his mother, and his brothers had left home to “seize him” like a story in an old Tamil movie. Jesus arrived but the house was empty and the crowd had not left him. As he was cautioning the people about blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, Mary and her other sons arrived and could not enter the house. So they stood outside and sent word to him. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.” Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Looking around at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark did not tell us if Jesus or the apostles had a meal that day, but I am sure Mary would have found a way to feed them with some food on that day.
A Calling of God As the year progresses, my thoughts are increasingly drawn to the nature of our own families, the way we make decisions and a need to reassert a biblical and sensible approach to families. There is always a rumble in the diocese over positions, over resources and over recognitions and so forth. Sometimes, feelings are hurt and, sometimes, we feel irreconcilable. These are part of life and, particularly, Church life and we should be better than that. Nevertheless, as long as they do not consume the better part of our Church life, it is alright! It is in our human character to quarrel and fight over small
Jesus had a family. God our Father ensured that he had a moving and caring earthly father and mother and siblings to grow up with. They were the reason that we
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