Jesus's True Family
"Here are My mother and My brothers"
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
So many people crowded around Jesus that he couldn't eat, and his family came to take him home, saying he was out of his mind. Scribes from Jerusalem said he drove out demons by the devil's power, but Jesus answered that a house divided against itself cannot stand, and that he had come to tie up the strong man. When his mother and brothers sent for him, he looked at the people around him and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother."
Where it is in the Bible: Mark 3:20-35
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God.
- Jesus's family: His mother Mary and his brothers. They are worried about him.
- Scribes from Jerusalem: Teachers of God's law who have come to check on Jesus.
- The crowd: So many people that there is no room to eat.
Setting
- A house in Galilee, probably in Capernaum.
When
- About 2,000 years ago, early in Jesus's work in Galilee.
Before the Story
Crowds were following Jesus everywhere. He healed many people and drove out evil spirits (3:10-11).
Jesus chose twelve apostles. He gave them authority to preach and drive out demons (3:13-15).
Leaders were starting to plot against him. After Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, some leaders made plans to kill him (3:6).
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. "Out of his mind" | 3:20-21 | Jesus's family comes to take him home |
| 2. A divided house | 3:22-27 | The scribes accuse Jesus, and he answers |
| 3. A serious warning | 3:28-30 | Jesus speaks about forgiveness |
| 4. "Here are my mother and my brothers" | 3:31-35 | Jesus says who his family is |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 4"Out of His Mind"
Jesus went home. Again a crowd gathered, so many that Jesus and his disciples couldn't even eat.
His family heard about it. They went to take him home.
"He is out of His mind" (3:21), they said.
Scene 2 of 4A Divided House
Some scribes had come down from Jerusalem. They said Jesus had the devil in him. They said that was how he drove out demons.
Jesus called them over and spoke to them in pictures. "How can Satan drive out Satan?" (3:23).
"If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand" (3:25).
If Satan were fighting himself, his kingdom would fall apart.
Then Jesus gave another picture. To rob a strong man's house, you first have to tie up the strong man.
This is a comparison. The strong man is Satan. Jesus is stronger. He came to tie up the devil and set people free.
Scene 3 of 4A Serious Warning
"Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter" (3:28). Blasphemy means speaking against God.
But Jesus warned that anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.
Jesus said this because they were calling the Holy Spirit's work in him evil.
Scene 4 of 4"Here Are My Mother and My Brothers"
Then Jesus's mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent someone in to call him.
The crowd sitting around Jesus told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside, asking for You" (3:32).
"Who are My mother and My brothers?" Jesus asked (3:33).
He looked at the people sitting in a circle around him. "Here are My mother and My brothers!" (3:34).
"For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother" (3:35).
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "He is out of His mind" (3:21) | Even Jesus's family didn't understand him yet. |
| "How can Satan drive out Satan?" (3:23) | The scribes' accusation made no sense. |
| "Ties up the strong man" (3:27) | Jesus is stronger than the devil. He came to set people free. |
| "Will be forgiven all sins" (3:28) | God's forgiveness is huge. |
| "Blasphemes against the Holy Spirit" (3:29) | Calling God's saving work evil and refusing it. |
| "Whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother" (3:35) | Jesus welcomes people into God's family. |
Back Then
Beelzebul was a name for the devil. It may come from the name of an old Philistine god.
Family honor mattered a lot. A son acting strangely brought shame on the whole family. That may be why they came to take him home.
Later, Jesus's family believed. After the resurrection, his mother and brothers prayed with the disciples (Acts 1:14). His brother James became a leader in the church.
Literal Reader Alert
What is the "unforgivable sin"? Have I done it? If you are worried that you have, you haven't. The scribes saw God's Spirit at work in Jesus and called it evil. They were pushing God away. Anyone who wants God's forgiveness can have it. Jesus said "all sins" will be forgiven (3:28).
Was Jesus rejecting his mother? No. Later, on the cross, Jesus made sure his mother would be cared for (John 19:26-27). Here he is opening his family to everyone.
Did Jesus have brothers? The Bible mentions his brothers. Some Christians believe they were Joseph's sons from before, or cousins. Others believe they were Mary's younger sons.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Jesus's family | Worried | They thought he was out of his mind (3:21) |
| The scribes | Hostile | They said he had the devil in him (3:22) |
| The crowd | Welcomed | Jesus called them his family (3:34) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What does family mean to you right now? Tap one.
My family is great
That's a gift. Jesus's family is bigger still, and you belong to it.
My family doesn't get me
Jesus's family didn't understand him either. He understands you.
I feel alone
Jesus looks at people around him and says, "Here is my family." That includes you.
I'm afraid I've gone too far
Jesus said all sins will be forgiven. If you want God, he wants you.
You Might Have Heard
"I've done something God can never forgive."
What's true: Sin is serious. Jesus warned the scribes seriously.
What the story is mainly about: Jesus is stronger than the devil, and God's forgiveness is huge. If you are worried about being forgiven, that worry shows God's Spirit is still at work in you. And Jesus calls people into his family.
Where Jesus is: In a crowded house, looking around at ordinary people and calling them his family.
Good News
Jesus is stronger than the strong man. He came to set captives free.
"Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother" (3:34-35).
Jesus opens his family to everyone. You don't have to earn your place. He calls you his.
Jesus is stronger than the devil. He forgives, sets people free, and welcomes them into his family.
Big Idea
Jesus is stronger than the devil. He forgives, and he calls everyone who follows him his brother, sister, and mother.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther taught that the Christian church is like a mother. Through it, the Holy Spirit gives birth to believers and feeds them with God's word. He called it a family where everyone is brother and sister.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year B, it reads Mark 3:20-35 in early June (Lectionary 10).
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.
How did that feel?
You finished Jesus's True Family.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Lectionary 10 Year BGospel, Mark 3:20–35
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Jesus's True Family, explained in plain words. His family thinks he's lost his mind. Jesus looks at the crowd and calls them family. About 8 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/jesus-true-family/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church