Black Sheep (Mark 3:20-35)

"One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said. Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.” Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:20, 21, 31-35 NLT)

Jesus was from a small town called Nazareth where everybody knew everybody and their business. He was no stranger in His home town. But imagine the gossip that spread when the carpenter's son suddenly leaves his job, family, and any local friends behind to wander around Galilee with a bunch of homeless nobodies without explanation. 

They talked. Everybody talked. His brothers and sisters bore the brunt of the looks around town. Their poor mother Mary, likely a widowed single mom "abandoned" by her oldest son leaving his family to care for themselves in his absence. 

"What is he thinking? Has he lost his mind?" 

Honestly we all would have thought the same thing about Jesus. Verse 21 & 31say on at least two separate occasions his siblings and his mom even tried to reach out to Jesus, maybe even planned a family intervention to get his attention. 

Services at the synagogue haven't been the same since he left. After that whole Messiah speech at church a few months back none of the religious leaders will even look us in the eye. 

For all necessary purposes at this moment in time Jesus is the Black Sheep of the family. Remember, they think he's out of his mind. Someone has to talk some sense into him. They decide to confront him while he's out performing his "miracles" and rubbing elbows with the nobodies of Israel. 

They try pushing their way through the masses of people trying to get his attention but their voices are drowned out by the noisy crowds. Frustrated they flagged down one of his apostles to deliver the message, "Jesus we need to talk. It's urgent. "

To his own family Jesus' response appears cold. He let it go to voicemail, again. Needless to say Jesus wasn't driven or swayed by the approval of others, even his own flesh and blood. He loved them, more than most, but at the end of the day He lived His life for the approval of only His heavenly Father.

Jesus commented in vs. 32 that fulfilling the will of God was His highest priority, even if it meant being misunderstood by literally everyone on the planet. 

Imagine what would be different if our lives were governed only by God's will. Completely content with only God's approval despite what anyone else says or thinks about us. If we could ever completely sell out to anything I believe God's will would be the most worthwhile endeavor ever attempted. At least Jesus seemed to think so. 

In fact, it might just change the world!

@Josh1eight