We have a biological family and we have a spiritual family. Oftentimes the latter is closer than the former. Jesus identified His disciples as family in all three synoptic gospels. The NT sees the church as the family of God, the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). As such, we are admonished to treat our brothers and sisters in loving ways (1 John 4:20-21). Jesus is both our Elder Brother and our family model. “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Romans 8:29 NLT). Jesus is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2:12-13). Go assemble with your family; our Elder Brother knows how to hold us together.
“While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46–50 NRSV).
