Who is Jesus? No, “His own people” didn’t agree with the scribes. Oh, Jesus’ family had seen His miraculous power from the time that He changed water into wine at a wedding in Cana (John 2). But they didn’t think He was possessed by a demon. They just thought that in some way He had “lost His senses,” that He had perhaps become overwhelmed by the adulation of the insistent, adoring crowds.

Now, we modern Evangelicals would never attribute Jesus’ divine power or authority to demons. But I wonder if we don’t at times join His mother and brothers in thinking that He is going to extremes. After all, does it really make sense for us to love our enemies? Which of us would really be willing to lend without expecting to be paid back (Luke 6:35)? While we are happy for Jesus to die for us, how many of us are willing even to be inconvenienced for Him, let alone take up our own cross and deny ourselves in order to follow Him (Mark 8:34)?

And given the emphasis we rightly put on marriage and family issues, how many of us would actually be willing to give up our families for the gospel’s sake, regardless of what kind of reward we might be promised (Mark 10:29-30)? How many of us would go so far as to hate our fathers and mothers and wives and children and brothers and sisters in order to be Jesus’ disciples (Luke 14:26)?

Well, when “His own people” refused to acknowledge His authority, when they thought He was out of His mind, He turned His back on them. He said that “whoever does the will of God” is actually closer to Him than His own blood kin.

So if we really want to draw close to Jesus, our allegiance to Him must come first, even ahead of those to whom we are related by birth. For some Christians, following Jesus might mean being disowned by their parents. For others, it might mean losing popularity or approval of close friends. But for all it means considering those who share our faith as our new, true family – for, after all, it is they with whom we will share eternity.

Mark 3:20-21, 31-35 (NASB)

20 And He came home, and the multitude gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal.
21 And when His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”

31 And His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him, and called Him.
32 And a multitude was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.”
33 And answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”
34 And looking about on those who were sitting around Him, He said, “Behold, My mother and My brothers!
35 “For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”