Jesus’ True Kin by Craig Marlatt

by Craig Marlatt © 2008

“While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”    Matthew 12:46-50

Did you know that God has a will? You might even say that the New Testament scripture is God’s Last Will and Testament. Please don’t think me sacrilegious for thinking this way, for the writer of Hebrews himself spoke in this manner in Hebrews 9:15-17, saying in essence that the death of Christ was God’s signature upon the New Testament (covenant, agreement, will, etc.), that in his death He left an inheritance, and that the beneficiaries would be those of his immediate family.

Although most theologians might agree concerning the benefits of this ‘Last Will and Testament’, there is, as in many probate hearings, much disagreement as to whom the beneficiaries are. Yet I think that it becomes quite clear if we consider verse 50 from the scripture verses quoted: “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother”.

            In saying this Jesus was not trying to belittle his natural family, but rather laying the foundation for entrance into the Kingdom of God. Certainly it would have been a blessing to be born into the family of Joseph and Mary and to be a natural born brother or sister of Jesus Christ. No doubt it was a blessing to be the chosen mother of the Christ child, but that in itself would not qualify one for an inheritance according to the New Testament. In fact there is an incident recorded in Luke 11:27,28 that substantiates this: “And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, yeah rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.”

Many hopeful beneficiaries of God’s ‘Will’ place their trust in church tradition, but Jesus made it clear that this was not the correct way: “Making the word of God of none effect, through your traditions, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye” (Mark 7:13; Matthew 15:5, 6; Isaiah 29:13). Neither can we obtain the inheritance through church attendance: “But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).  Nor by lofty spirituality: “Many will come unto me in that day and say, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye workers of iniquity” (Mt. 7:22, 23).

There are no “4 Steps to Eternity” and no concept or success plan which can grant entrance into the family of God, or guarantee an inheritance which has been laid up for God’s children. We must have an absolute upon which we can base our faith, and that absolute is the Word of God. Isaiah said, “ . . . . the grass  withereth, the flower fadeth; but the Word of God shall stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8). Other scriptures confirm this thought repeatedly: (Matthew 5:18; 1 Peter 1:25, 26; Psalm 19:7; Isaiah 59:21). We can no longer settle for what others have told us that Christ said, or leave it to the preacher to get to know God for us. Every person who names the name of Jesus as Savior and Lord must give personal attendance to the words our Lord has spoken.

I used to think that saying swear words with the Lord’s name attached to them was taking the Lord’s name in vain. More recently I’ve come to believe that calling yourself a Christian without a real commitment to Christ is also taking his name in vain. We hate to say ‘Jesus Christ’ as a profanity, but we don’t mind calling ourselves Christians , even though our hearts are empty and void of any real love and dedication to the Holy One behind that wonderful name.

            This is not an easy message to share and I have no hopes that it will change the course of history and turn everyone into ‘Super Christians’. It is not a new message, which has not been heard, but rather an old one that has largely been rejected. I pray that God will find even one person reading this today that will listen to the Holy Spirit, and cast down the teachings and traditions of men to walk in the pure light of God’s Holy Word. May your eyes behold his Glory.