Obedient

Luke 8:19-21 (The Message)

His mother and brothers showed up but couldn't get through to him because of the crowd. He was given the message, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside wanting to see you."

He replied, "My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God's Word. Obedience is thicker than blood."

I recently heard legendary Atlanta Braves' pitcher Tom Glavine talk about winning his 300th major league game.

300 wins is a major milestone. Few pitchers in the entire history of the game have done it.

At the time, Glavine pitched for the Mets. He said that after winning his 299th game, he realized his next start would be in Chicago against the Cubs.

"What went through your mind?" the reporter asked.

"How am I possibly going to get 40 tickets for my family at Wrigley Field?" he said.

At this point in the Gospel of Luke, the situation is becoming something like that for Jesus.

The crowds are pushing in on him. Everywhere he goes, it's a sold out stadium.

On this particular day, the crowd was so thick that Jesus' own family couldn't get through to see him. He had become a celebrity. His response to their messenger's request is remarkable.

"My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God's word. Obedience is thicker than water."

What must Jesus' family have felt?

Abandonment? Confusion? Pain? What could this mean?

I think that Jesus never misses a chance to teach important lessons. Perhaps the lesson of this difficult saying is this: obedience matters more than entitlement when it comes to relationship.

Jesus' message was not only for his physical family, or even Abraham's family, the Jews. He was to be the messiah for everyone. No one, through right of birth, has any more claim to him than anyone else. It's not the Jesus mother and family were "out," it's just that anyone can be equally "in." The test is obedience.

How can we be part of Jesus' "family?"

Listen to his words, receive them into our hearts, and do what he commands. Love God, and love neighbor. And welcome to a place at the table.

Prayer: We pray to become more obedient to the teachings and grace of Christ. Forgive us for assumptions of privilege and free us to follow you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.