Family Ties

Dear sisters and brothers,

How often do we hear that blood is thicker than water? What does this cliche mean? Of course literally blood is thicker than water, it carries a lot of our biological story in it, so it is more than just two parts hydrogen one part oxygen, it would be thicker. (Although with all the stuff we put in our water now adays, who knows if it still is thinner than blood, but this isn't an ecological blog. For one i am not at all qualified to talk about the environment and two i have my hands full trying to explain and grasp God...)

Anyway. Blood is thicker than water, why do we say that? Because we assume that the bondage between sister, brother, mother, or father, (plus extended family), supercedes the sometimes shallow and thin relationships between friends, colleagues, associates, etc. Right? Our familial ties stand strong, no matter what, in most cases.

But is that the way of God? When told about his family being outside waiting and wanting to see Him, Jesus replied, "Who are my sisters and brothers and mother?" And in essence Jesus ignores His own blood. He leaves them outside, looking in. I dont know about anyone else, but i have a strong sense if i did that, my mother would string me up and make sure i realized to never do that again. Not so with Jesus.

Instead Jesus points to the people standing with Him, gathered around Him, and Jesus says, these are my sisters, my brothers, and my mother. Then Jesus adds a footnote, and whoever does the will of my Father is also my sister or brother or mother. What does this mean?

I see at least two dimensions/ responses to this statement.

A. If we do what Jesus did, and if we have no idea what that is, we need to read the Gospels more. Anyway. If we do what Jesus did, if we live as He lived, if we love as He loved, if we serve as He served, and if we heal as He healed, then we will be part of this amazing family anchored in Jesus. He will point to us and say there is my sister. He will point to us and say there is my brother. And He will point to us and say, over there, feeding that hungry person, yeah that's my mother. If we do and act and exist as Jesus; we will be His family.

B. If we dont? Well I see it as an either or kind of thing. Either we are in or we are out. If living like Jesus, following His teachings, loving the unlovable, forgiving our enemies, praying for those that persecute you, if these things get us into the Jesus family tree, then it seems to stand that not doing these things will keep the door shut on us. What do you think?

Perhaps an example is needed. In Ohio there is a public high school that dominates high school wrestling, not just in Ohio, but nationally: Graham High School. When/if you go to a wrestling tournament, where Graham is present, you can tell Graham kids by a lot than the singlet they wear. Their style of wrestling. Their confidence. Their ascension to the top. And their tenacity to win. But also by the cheers when they win or lose. You see Graham wrestling has a way of polarizing wrestling fans. Either you sit in awe of their amazing accomplishments, where i find myself, or you boo them because they are simply dominating and will continue to do so. Either way you know Graham kids when you see them. They are part and parcel of the extended Graham wrestling tree, and they carry that tradition on, just like we are to be anchored in the tree of Jesus and carry on His tradition.

Are we? Does our tree bear fruit? Is the public, those hurting specifically, flocking to us seeking answers, healing, acceptance, and God? These are the markers of sisters, brothers, and mothers of Jesus. Which are we? Amen.

Shalom,
jerry