Matthew 12:48 “But he answered and said unto him, ‘Who is my mother? And who are my brethren?’”

It appears at first glance that Jesus was putting off his family. If you didn’t know better you would think he is just being rude. But…we know better.

Jesus said this to point to the fact that He had come to break down simple familial lines. He came to make us all brothers and sisters through Him. Have you done that? Have you accepted someone as your brother or sister in Christ that you probably would not want in your own family?

Even though we are “kin” in Christ, we still battle the flesh and our desires. We sometimes just don’t like some people, whether they are in the body of Christ or not. Jesus came to break down all those thoughts and feelings. He came to bring us together in Him. We can’t do it without Him.

My brother-in-law says something that applies here. “You can’t, He never said you could. He can and He always said He would.”

Let me ask you a question. If you have more than one child, do they ALWAYS get along? If you answered “yes” then you need to repent cause you are lying. Lol. Seriously, every set of siblings have moments when they don’t get along. When that happens again, pull out this verse and explain how Jesus saw family. It extends beyond just blood. And if we can’t love our own, how in the world do we expect to love others.

The next time YOU are struggling with a brother or sister in Christ, remember that. He can love anyone through you, but you can’t love anybody without Him.