Who Is My Mother?
Matthew 12:46-50 (Mark 3:31-35)
Mary, the mother of Jesus, will be mentioned during the next few weeks more than any other time of the year. Christmas is about the virgin birth of Christ. You cannot talk much about His miraculous birth without making some reference to His mother Mary.
Since Jesus’ mother played such an important role in the birth of Christ, I want us to consider the question Jesus’ asked in Matthew 12:48, “Who is my mother? and who are my brethren” (repeated in Mark 3:33). It is a question of FAMILY.
BACKGROUND OF QUESTION (see Mark 3): Jesus has had very busy day:
- Healing multitudes (vs. 10-11)
- Ordained the 12 apostles (vs. 14-19).
- Enters a house where more people come to Him (vs. 19b-20). Can’t even eat.
- Accused of being crazy and in league with Satan (vs. 21-30).
- Finally His mother and brethren show up seeking Him (v. 31).
Our text reveals Christ has two families.
I. The EARTHLY family of Christ (Mt. 12:46-48).
The Bible records the names of four of Christ’s step brothers and mentions He had at least two sisters (Mk. 6:3). NOTE: This truth refutes the Roman Catholic doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary (cf. Mt. 1:18-25).
A. The INTERRUPTION of Christ’s family (vs. 46-47).
Jesus was teaching some great spiritual truths when His family sought to interrupt His teaching.
We do not know the exact reason why Jesus’ family wanted to talk to Him.
Were they concerned about what He was teaching?
Were they confused about the claims He was making?
Were they worried He may be over working Himself?
Were they embarrassed that His behavior was leading people to think He was crazy (Mk. 3:21)?
B. The INQUIRY of Christ’s response (vs. 48).
Jesus responded with a strange question—“Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?” Was Jesus ignoring His mother or showing disrespect? No. It is obvious He cared about His mother by making sure she would be taken care of after His death on the cross.
Jesus could have reacted in a number of different ways.
- This was a perfect opportunity to exalt Mary above everyone else, as in Roman Catholicism. But Jesus doesn’t do that. Mary was not more important than anyone else in the house.
- If Jesus would have dropped everything He was doing and submit to the wishes of Mary, He would be showing Mary had more influence in His life than the ministry God called Him to do. The fact that Mary was Jesus’ earthly mother, did not give her greater access to Jesus than anyone else.
- Notice how Jesus controlled the situation. Christ turns the interruption into an opportunity to teach a great spiritual lesson—Besides a person’s relationship to his earthly family, there is also an eternal family that is more important.
II. The ETERNAL family of Christ (Mt. 12:49-50).
Earthly relationships are temporal, but spiritual relationships are eternal.
Partial Sermon: CLICK HERE for full sermon PDF
