1/23 Mark 3:21

²¹ And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, "He is out of his mind."

The crowds had come once again to where Jesus was living in Peter's home in Capernaum. They were hoping to be healed or to witness a miracle. Surely they wanted to hear more from this rabbi who was so different from all the others. But Jesus' family thought that Jesus had lost His mind. He had lived with them all these years and never healed anyone or tried to teach a new doctrine. The sudden change alarmed them. His mother must have wondered if this change was what the angel who announced Jesus' birth had predicted. And there were also the words of Simeon on the day they dedicated Jesus as a baby in the temple. Simeon had warned Mary that a sword would pierce her soul (Luke 2:35).

Jesus warned others that a man's foes would be those in his own house (Matthew 10:36). He was experiencing it Himself. Familiarity often does breed contempt. How could His family understand unless the Spirit of God helped them see the truth? They probably wanted to take Him back to His carpentry shop to get Him away from the dangerous attention of the powers that ruled Galilee.

Familiarity with Jesus during His ministry bred reverence in the disciples, but it wouldn't be until after the Resurrection that the family finally came to understand that their half-brother was the Son of God. How can anyone argue with rising from the dead? Jesus' half-brother James even became the leader of the church.

If Jesus' death and resurrection was what it took to win Jesus' family, you can understand why you must be patient with your family. A consistent life of love and grace will show that you have been raised with Christ (Colossians 3:1).

Prayer: Lord, help me to be an example to my family of the new life I have in You. Help them see that You are the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).