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One of the way popular rock singers like to establish rapport with their audiences is to walk to the edge of the stage, reach down, and shake hands with some of the screaming fans who are pressing close to see him (or her). Those who touched the singer have the illusion that they are special to the singer. They think, “Imagine a famous person likes me!”
Today we are told of a time when Jesus spoke to a crowd of people. We are shocked at what he said (Luke 8:19-21).
“The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.’ He said to them in reply, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.’”
How insulting! Jesus, the most loving man on earth, seemed so callous to his own mother and brothers. Our first impression is that he ignored them in favor of those in the crowd. Were these people also shocked when Jesus seemed to ignore his own relatives?
Let’s look deeper into what Jesus did. We know, of course, that he loved no one on earth as much as Mary his mother and as much as the “brothers” he grew up with. This comment was his way of going to edge of the stage, looking in the eyes of each individual person, and shaking their hands. His feelings toward them were as deep as the ones he had to members of his own family. What an honor! He elevated ordinary people to the level of being mothers, brothers, and sisters to him.
We don’t know what Jesus was teaching that day, but when he was interrupted by the appearance of his mother and brothers, he shifted into a deeper gear. He quickly got to the heart of why God sent him to earth—to restore intimacy between God and man—the kind of relationship God had with Adam before the fall. If people caught onto to this message, they were never the same. They walked away from that gathering saying over and over to themselves, “Jesus, the great teacher and miracle worker, regards me the same way he regards his own mother and brothers! Does Jesus really love me that much?”
Let’s look again at Jesus’ words. Was he making a generic statement like “I love everybody?” Of course not. He was addressing those who truly listened to God’s Word and kept his words in the center of their hearts. I’m sure there were many in the crowd that day who did not fit this description.
God is looking for men and women who desire to be as close to Jesus as Mary is. This is the gift he offers today. He is looking for disciples who will be like the writer of Psalm 119 whose thoughts are shared today (verses 1,27,30,34,35,44).
“Blessed are they who…walk in the law of the Lord…(who) meditate on your wondrous deeds…(who) set your ordinances before me…”
“…that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.”
“Lead me in the path of your commands, for in it I delight.”
We can be sidetracked by the words “law,” “ordinances,” and “commands.” They sound like cold, legalistic words. Change them to “presence” to get a better understanding of how the Psalmist felt. His whole life was praying God’s Word so as to be bathed constantly in his loving presence. Being with God was the “delight” of his life. He had found the secret to life.
“And I will keep your law continually, forever and ever” (Ps 119:44).
