Title: The Family of Jesus
Scripture: Luke 8:19-21
Last time, we talked about listening to God’s Word, keeping it, and producing good fruit with patience. Before that, we learned that Jesus said, “You can know a tree by its fruit.”
Trees produce fruit. So when we ask, “What kind of fruit should we have?” it leads to another question: “What kind of tree should I be?”
This also connects to the story in Genesis. Adam and Eve had to choose a tree. We also have to choose. It’s not about family background or desires. It’s all about God’s grace.
This is a life question. How should we live? This is about morals and ethics. It’s also about how we continue life and give life to others.
Today’s passage shows Jesus saying, “These people are my family.”
Nothing is more important than family. Family is where we accept and forgive each other.
Today, we live in smaller families than before, but Jesus teaches us how big God’s family really is.
By saying “family,” we learn what was important to Jesus.
Jesus said, “These people who hear God’s Word and obey it—they are my family.”
Who were these people? Were they the religious leaders sitting in the holy temple?
No.
They were the people following Jesus in the fields.
They were from Galilee and came to listen to Jesus.
Some followed Him so much that they even went hungry for days.
Jesus pointed them out clearly and said, “These are my people.”
That shows us how important it is to listen to the Word, keep it, and live with patience.
Luke puts this short story right after the parable of the sower. There’s a reason.
We can guess that Luke wanted to show us something very important.
Jesus didn’t call the religious leaders—who judged others with their knowledge—His family.
Instead, He called the poor and uneducated people who loved God’s Word and followed Him no matter what.
So who is our real family?
Who can be our family?
This also means: some people are not our family—even if we are related by blood.
Jesus didn’t let His mother and brothers come in. He left them outside. That shows something.
So who can be our family?
First, it must be people who truly follow Jesus.
But what does it mean to truly follow Jesus?
It means we start to care about what Jesus cared about.
We find meaning in the things Jesus thought were important.
Why? Because we love Him.
When we love someone, we naturally care about what they care about.
We don’t need someone to tell us to do it. It just happens.
To build a family, we also need a spouse.
So it’s important to pray about our future spouse.
When I was young, I asked my mom a question while praying for a future wife.
I narrowed it down to two types of women:
One like Rebekah from Genesis, and one like Ruth, Naomi’s daughter-in-law.
I asked, “Which one would you want as your daughter-in-law?”
She just smiled and didn’t answer.
Now I think she probably thought, “Anyone is fine, you silly boy.”
In the story of Naomi and Ruth, we also see the meaning of God’s family.
Ruth 1:15–17
The Bible has many love stories—like Samson and Delilah, and love between brothers and sisters.
But the book of Ruth tells a special story: the love between a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law.
These two women had something in common: a man.
He was Ruth’s husband and Naomi’s son.
Even though they were not related by blood, they became one family.
Another thing they had in common: they were women who give life.
Giving life means continuing life. It’s a big part of human purpose.
So what do we leave behind when life is over?
When the Bible lists the family tree of Jesus, it says, “He gave birth to him, and he gave birth to him…”
Our lives can be summed up like this:
“Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so had these children.”
That shows how important it is to continue life.
Ruth, a foreign woman, became the great-grandmother of King David.
Through her, Jesus came to the world.
So even people from other nations can be part of God’s family.
Men usually play smaller roles in these stories.
In Ruth’s case, her husband died. The family line could’ve ended.
But Ruth’s faith kept the story going.
Ruth was not an Israelite, but she came to know and love God.
This teaches us what matters most in a family:
Love for God.
Ruth’s faith can be described in one word: compassion.
Love made her stay with Naomi.
Love for Naomi, and love for God.
We know this because Ruth said, “Your God will be my God.”
When we love, we don’t think about other choices.
Love helps us see what really matters.
If we love God, who becomes our family?
Jesus said even our enemies can become our family—just like in the story of the Good Samaritan.
God’s love is big.
God’s family is bigger than we can imagine.
Because we love God, we can’t walk away or choose another path.
Let’s remember: we are one family in Jesus.
Amen.
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