When His family heard it, they went out to seize Him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” Mark 3:21 ESV¹

Read Mark 3:20-21, 31-35 & 6:1-6; Matthew 12:46-50 & 13:53-58 & Luke 8:18-21

Close your eyes and imagine yourself walking along the dusty streets of an ancient village called Nazareth.

“Picture Nazareth with a population of around 400 in the first century. The roads [are] unpaved and public buildings [are] few. The houses [are] all one story, made of mud and stones and topped with thatched roofs. The windows of the small dwellings [are] usually high ‘allowing for light and ventilation but keeping passersby from peering in on [occupants] asleep on … straw mat[s] …

[Watch as women] … grind [their] flour, cook, and eat [with their families] in … courtyard[s].’ [See as] neighbors [come] together in … adjoining courtyards … ‘Everyone [is using] limestone or chalk cups, mugs, bowls, and storage vessels.’ … [They are consuming mostly] bread [which makes] … up about 70 percent of their daily calories…

Welcome to life in the first century. They [live] en masse, [eat] with the neighbors, and [travel] in caravans. While no home is perfect, there was one in Nazareth that [houses] a boy who [is] … [This Boy’s name is,] Jesus. [He is] exceptional. Yes, utterly perfect and morally flawless.”²

But so many in Nazareth are unaware of just how special Jesus is.

Stop for a while and chat with Jesus’ mother, Mary, as she works and watches her family. Listen as she, looking into the distance, recalls the unique way her Son, Jesus, was conceived (see Luke 1:26b-38). She speaks of visits from angels and kings, giving birth in a barn, and rushing out in the middle of the night to a different country (see Luke 2:1-20 & Matthew 2:1-14). It is almost as if she cannot believe the words were coming out of her own mouth.

Notice how Mary looks at you expecting that you will be as unbelieving as her neighbors have been with the story. When she sees that you are not, she adds, “He has been such a good Son. There was just that one time, when we went to Jerusalem for the Passover, and He stayed back after we left. That frightened us. Otherwise, He has been so obedient and helpful” (see Luke 2:40-52).

Watch as Jesus tenderly interacts with His siblings, James, Joses, Simon, Judas, and the girls (see Matthew 13:55-56 & Mark 6:33). Continue to listen as Mary tells of the excitement she and Joseph felt when they discovered she was pregnant with each one. Every story is a little different, but all very similar compared to the story of Jesus’ birth. Notice as Mary gets that far-away look in her eye again, like she is mulling over something she has stored up in her heart (see Luke 2:19 & 51).

Now, fast forward; at high speed, watch the children grow and change as the town seems nearly to stand still. Pause for a moment to see the family gather around the death bed of the patriarch of the family, Joseph. Watch as the town mourns the death of a great man. Perhaps shed a tear yourself. Then speed through as the family rebounds from the loss, but pay particular attention to Jesus and how He holds His family together and comforts them in their loss.

Push play again to join this family at a party. It is a wedding. Mary and Joseph’s offspring are grown. Mary is surrounded by her children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren. Her joy is only tempered by the fact that Joseph is not there. He would have been so proud of his family. Since Joseph has been gone, Mary has relied on Jesus.

Watch as a moment of sadness interrupts Mary’s joy. Jesus is no longer her Little Boy, and He has recently been off pursuing His own interests. She watches Him from across the room where He laughs with some of His new friends. These men, whom Jesus met on His latest adventure, have become so important to Him that He invited them to the wedding! Will these new friends become dearer to Jesus than His neighbors and family, Mary wonders?

Notice as Mary’s thoughts are interrupted. Someone touches Mary on the shoulder and whispers, “The wine is almost gone.” Mary jumps up and makes her way through the crowd to Jesus. Mary is sure He will know what to do. Jesus does, and He saves the day by turning water into wine. In the process, Jesus’ new friends notice something about Jesus that will take His family much longer to realize (see John 2:11).

Join Jesus, His new friends, and His family in celebrating. Then walk with them to the nearby town of Capernaum, and spend a few days hanging out with the crew eating, drinking, working, playing, laughing, living, and reminiscing. Pay special attention to Jesus’ words and actions. Look into His eyes. Jesus knows something His family doesn’t. This will be the last time He will be free to spend uninterrupted time with them. It will be a while before His family understands what He must do. Jesus will soon be departing His earthly home to fulfill the purpose of leaving His heavenly home in the first place.

Now, open your eyes. With all that fresh in your mind, consider how difficult it would have been for Jesus’ relatives, friends, and neighbors to understand His mission. How could she who gave birth to Him know Him as Creator? How could they who had reared Him realize He was the Sovereign of the Universe? How could those who grew up with Him believe their Friend or Brother was God?

Mary had been prepared by angels for Jesus’ arrival and upbringing, but nothing could have prepared her for what the next three years would bring. The angel Gabriel had told Mary, “’Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom, there will be no end’” (Luke 1:31-33). How could she possibly know all that entailed? When His parents finally found Him in the temple after Passover, way back when He was only 12 years old, Jesus reminded them, “’Why were you looking for Me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ And they did not understand the saying that He spoke to them” (Luke 2:50). How could they?

Jesus’ siblings had grown up in the same house as their amazing Older Brother. Even if they found His perfection annoying from time to time, they likely looked up to Him, sought His advice, and tried to model their behavior after His. Yet, the events of the coming years would make them doubt His sanity.

After attending the wedding at Cana and spending a little extra time with His family, Jesus left home and “went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali” (Matthew 4:3). But He didn’t set up a carpenter’s shop, begin to build a house, or look for a mate. For a man His age, with His background, these are the things which might have been expected.

Instead, in the area of Capernaum, Jesus began His ministry. As He taught, performed miracles, dispensed healings, and cast out demons, He surprised everyone. “They were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as One who had authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22). “They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him’” (Mark 1:27).

The news about Jesus spread rapidly. Soon “a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon … heard all that He was doing, [and] they came to Him … He had healed many so that all who had diseases pressed around Him to touch Him. And whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, ‘You are the Son of God’” (Mark 3:7-8 & 10-11).

Imagine you had been a friend, neighbor, or family member of Jesus during the years He was growing up in Nazareth. What would you think of Him leaving home and beginning a ministry instead of following in the footsteps of the man you assumed was His father? And what would you conclude concerning Jesus’ ministry when you heard about all the astonishing things connected with it? What would you want to do the next time you saw Jesus?

The Bible tells us, that near the beginning of His ministry, Jesus “went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they could not even eat. And when His family heard it, they went out to seize Him, for they were saying, ‘He is out of his mind’” (Mark 3:20-21). They may have been hurt, they may have been embarrassed, they may have been less than impressed, but one thing was sure, Jesus’ family was worried about Him and wanted to protect Jesus from that which seemed to them like nonsense.

Jesus knew it was time for Him to be about the business of His Heavenly Father, not His earthly family, so, after a relatively short and tense visit, He left home again. “He went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God. And the Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means” (Luke 8:1-3).

God provided another “family” for Jesus, one who supported Him in the call God had on His life. So, when “His [actual] mother and His [real] brothers came and standing outside they sent to Him and called Him, [the] crowd [that] was sitting around Him, … said to Him, ‘Your mother and Your brothers are outside, seeking You.’ … He answered them, ‘Who are My mother and My brothers?’ And looking about at those who sat around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:31-35).

When those words got back to Mary, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas, I am sure they were hurt, offended, and angered. And, their worries about Jesus’ sanity were likely further established. In an attempt to protect Jesus and others, His mother and brothers presumably had come to talk Jesus out of all that He was doing. I do not believe Jesus intended to hurt His family with His words but to open their eyes to something marvelous that was happening before them. I believe His response was actually an invitation for His earthly family to join His heavenly family.

Matthew records, in his Gospel, that it was the very same day that Jesus’ family came to speak to Him, that Jesus began to teach in a new way. “That same day Jesus went out … And great crowds gathered about Him, … And He told them many things in parables (Matthew 13:1-3).

“When He was alone, those around Him with The Twelve asked Him about the parables. And He said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret of the Kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables’” (Mark 4:10-11). At that point, in Jesus’ ministry, the hearts of His earthly family members, as well as many in the crowds who followed Him, were not ready to accept Jesus for who He was. So, ‘with many such parables, He spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to His own disciples He explained everything” (Mark 4:33-34).

Jesus’ family wasn’t ready to follow Him, but Jesus wasn’t prepared to give up on them either. So, after He taught some in parables, He went back to Nazareth with His family and attempted to minister to those who had known Him all His life.

Matthew explained, “When Jesus had finished these parables, He went away from there, and coming to His hometown He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, ‘Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And are not His brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all His sisters with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?’ And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household. And He did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:53-58).

So, Jesus left His hometown again and went throughout all the area, teaching, healing, and casting out demons. Jesus spent most of His time in Galilee. “He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill Him” (John 7:1). With the boldness of His truthful teaching and His care for the sinners and outcasts, Jesus had offended the religious leaders one too many times. Since Nazareth was in Galilee, Jesus likely came into contact with His brothers and other family members from time to time.

Through all of this, Jesus’ brothers struggled with what He was doing. Once when “the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand, His brothers [mocked Him and] said to Him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works You are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.’ For not even His brothers believed in Him” (John 7:2-5).

Jesus consistently spent time praying to and getting direction and strength from His Heavenly Father (see Matthew 14:22 & Luke 6:12). Because of this, He was able to continue in God’s plan for Him even when, among other things, His family didn’t respect His decisions.

Slowly, but surely, though, Jesus’ family members began to see the truth of who Jesus was and why He had come. By the time Jesus was crucified, His mother and His aunt were following Him. “Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:25-27). I don’t know why Jesus felt the need to ask His dearly loved disciple to care for His mother. Perhaps, there was a division in the family when Mary began following Jesus.

But Jesus’ brothers did not continue forever in their unbelief. Sometime between Jesus’ death and His ascension, their eyes were opened, and their hearts were softened. Immediately following Jesus’ ascension, “Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers” (Acts 1:12-14, emphasis mine). God the Father joined Jesus’ natural family with the “family” He had given Him during His ministry. They all became part of Jesus’ spiritual family.

Jesus’ brother, James, later rose up as a leader in the early Church. The Apostle Paul counted James among the Apostles. In explaining the beginnings of his ministry, Paul told the Galatians, “I saw none of the other Apostles except James the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:19). Luke recorded, in writing the book of Acts, that James was part of the Jerusalem Council who made decisions about requirements for Gentile believers (see Acts 15:5-20). And James was apparently a man of wisdom; Paul sought out him for advice (see Acts 21:17-25).

Jesus’ brother, James, even wrote what is believed to be the first book of the New Testament to be written. Scholars believe he authored the book, identified by his name, between AD 40 and AD 50. That means James wrote his book even before Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote the Gospels. “In his book, James practically and faithfully reminds Christians how to live … This book aids readers in living authentically and wisely for Christ.”³ In his introduction, James identified himself as, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1). What a change! James believed. James had been Jesus’ little brother; now he saw himself as Jesus’ servant. At one time, James thought Jesus was insane; now he called Him, “Lord.”

I can’t help but think James’ change of heart and the changes in the hearts of so many of Jesus’ other relatives had much to do with the fact that Jesus never waivered from the Father’s call on His life, and He never quit loving them. Jesus was about His Heavenly Father’s business even though His earthly family thought He was out of His mind, attempted to stop Him, and mocked Him. But even though His family disapproved, Jesus never turned His back on them.

Are you confident that you are about your Heavenly Father’s business, but your loved ones aren’t so sure? Do those you know and love believe you are too serious about what you are doing for the glory of God? Do they think you are going overboard or worry you will be harmed if you don’t mellow?  Does your commitment to God make them feel you are out of your mind?

If so, you are not alone. You are in the company of some of the finest. For a time, Jesus’ family thought He was out of His mind. Some of the Corinthians thought Paul was out of his mind, too.

With love, Paul explained to his accusers the reasoning behind what made him look crazy. “We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So, we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience … If we are ‘out of our mind,’ as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. So, from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer” (2 Corinthians 5:6-16 NIV⁴).

If others are going to accuse you of being out of your mind, make sure it is because you are right with God. But being right with God never means hating people. You don’t have to agree with what others think, validate what they believe, or condone their actions, but you do have to love them. People may not agree with your passion for God, but they should never doubt that you, because of your love for them, are in your right mind concerning them (see 2 Corinthians 5:13).

This world is not all there is. Something much better is waiting for God’s Children. But He has given us a job to do here. We have a responsibility to love God and love people; we will be judged accordingly. We need to be more concerned about what God has in mind than what people think. But we should never give up on those who believe we are going overboard in our faith and with serving God. We must strive to see others the way God sees them and lovingly share what Christ has done. We should never cease to pray for those who disagree with us. We ought to pray that God would “open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in [Jesus Christ]” (Acts 26:18).

For quite some time the sleepy little town of Nazareth had no idea that God’s most precious blessing for mankind resided in the skin of a Boy who grew up in their midst. Those you know and love may not recognize or approve of the purpose God has placed on you either. Their rejection can be handicapping. Walk closely with God and keep your eyes focused on His desires for you so that you will have what you need to continue through the resistance in His plan. Those you know and love will see your persistence. Your consistency coupled with your kindness may lead them to reconsider. By the grace of God, who knows how many of your loved ones will eventually come to love the Lord as much as you do?

 

¹ Scripture quotations marked with ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All Scriptures are taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted. To aid in understanding, I have capitalized references to God.

² Moore, Beth. James: Mercy Triumphs. Nashville, TN: Lifeway Press, 2012. Pages 17-20.

³ Introduction to James in the Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Page 1215.

⁴ Scripture quotations marked with NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. To aid in understanding, I have capitalized references to God.