In answering his own question, as to who members of his family were, Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35). Later, the writer of the Book of Hebrews, says of Jesus, the one who transformed sinners into saints, that “he is not ashamed to call them [us] brethren” (Hebrews 2:11).
This family, in which we celebrate our faith in Christ, began with another father; a man like us. It was to Abraham that God promised, “I will…make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing…your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. (Genesis 12:2; 17:5).
Four thousand years have passed, and God’s promises hold true. You and I are sons and daughters of Abraham if we “follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham…who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:12, 16).
It is in Abraham’s seed – Jesus – that the world can be brought into this family of faith (Galatians 3:16). It is a marvellous thought to ponder that Jesus has brought Christians into a family relationship with the Trinity. John rejoiced in our new family status by saying: “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are” (1 John 3:1).
Those who bear the name of God are as billboards set up for everyone to see. On display are the glories of God; lives transformed into the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit.
With Jesus we come together as brothers and sisters because we share the name of our Heavenly Father. And with Jesus our voices unite in praise of the Father’s name:
“I will proclaim thy name to my brethren,
in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee.”
(Hebrews 2:12).
John Staiger
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