Staying True to God Through Family Messiness
Daily Scripture
Mark 3:20-35
20 Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered again so that it was impossible for him and his followers even to eat. 21 When his family heard what was happening, they came to take control of him. They were saying, “He’s out of his mind!”
22 The legal experts came down from Jerusalem. Over and over they charged, “He’s possessed by Beelzebul. He throws out demons with the authority of the ruler of demons.”
23 When Jesus called them together he spoke to them in a parable: “How can Satan throw Satan out? 24 A kingdom involved in civil war will collapse. 25 And a house torn apart by divisions will collapse. 26 If Satan rebels against himself and is divided, then he can’t endure. He’s done for. 27 No one gets into the house of a strong person and steals anything without first tying up the strong person. Only then can the house be burglarized. 28 I assure you that human beings will be forgiven for everything, for all sins and insults of every kind. 29 But whoever insults the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. That person is guilty of a sin with consequences that last forever.” 30 He said this because the legal experts were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”
31 His mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent word to him, calling for him. 32 A crowd was seated around him, and those sent to him said, “Look, your mother, brothers, and sisters are outside looking for you.”
33 He replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 34 Looking around at those seated around him in a circle, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother.”
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday
As we enter the sacred season of Lent, we invite you to join us for our contemplative Ash Wednesday service. Through the traditional imposition of ashes, moments of quiet reflection, and heartfelt prayer, we’ll begin our 40-day journey toward Easter together. Click here for details on times and locations.
Jesus should have had a perfect family life, right? Yet at least once, his mother and brothers tried to “correct” how he went about his mission. Religious leaders claimed Jesus was in league with the ruler of demons, and this seems to have frightened his family. Jesus was loyal to his family (he cared for his mother even from the cross—John 19:25-27), but he was ultimately loyal to God’s mission. His example reminds us that our highest loyalty is to God and the person God made us to be.
- Jesus broke a cultural boundary in these stories. “Refusal to give higher priority to one’s physical family would appear offensive in ancient Mediterranean culture.” * Many counselors describe people who follow their own God-given values, even when that upsets others, as “inner directed.” Given his mission, why was it crucial for Jesus to be inner directed? Did choosing the course God called him to mean he didn’t care about his family?
- The legal experts’ claim was ugly—attributing the Holy Spirit’s work to an evil spirit was “roughly tantamount to calling God Satan.” ** Jesus pushed back strongly on that in verses 28-29. He didn’t mean God is unwilling to forgive, but that seeing God’s work as demonic closes your heart to accepting God’s forgiveness. How can this incident caution you about reducing someone to a label based on one opinion or action? How can you be discerning without condemning?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you lived through the pain of being misunderstood, even by family. Shape me into a person who stays true to your call while honoring the relationships you’ve given me. Amen.
GPS Insights
Lydia Kim
Lydia Kim, who serves as a pastor of Connection and Care at Resurrection Leawood, wrote today's Insights. An avid believer that growing in faith pairs well with fellowship and food, she is always ready for recommendations on local restaurants and coffee shops.
When I realized I was called into full-time ministry, I was a few years into my career as a marriage and family therapist. I loved my job, but I felt restless. When I finally said yes to God, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. However, I did not feel at peace telling my dad that I was changing careers again. I knew my dad loved me, but we also had a history of butting heads over what I wanted to do with my life that was messy and full of misunderstandings.
I knew my dad’s fear came from a place of care and a desire to shield me from what he considers difficult situations and circumstances. However, being questioned about this decision hurt. It wasn’t a decision I made lightly–in fact, I didn’t want to become a pastor! I had established myself in my field, and the idea of starting over again made me anxious, but I wanted to be faithful to God. Therefore, even though my dad and I were at odds, I enrolled in seminary anyway.
My dad did come around to the idea of my becoming a pastor. He was the one who hooded me during my pandemic graduation, and he was more excited than I was when I was ordained in 2024. While my seminary story ended with reconciliation, I know that is not always the case. We are called to love people, but it isn’t easy. It doesn’t mean that we take abuse, but it does mean that we can let go and let God.
When I let go of my dad’s expectations and disappointment in me, I began a journey that changed my life, and I’d like to think it allowed God to do the work my dad needed. We still butt heads, but through this experience, we both grew in God’s grace. I pray the same for you. If you are dealing with a messy family situation, know you are not alone! We have a care team of pastors and volunteers who are here to walk with you.
© 2026 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Craig Keener, comment on Mark 3:33 in NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (p. 9099). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
** Craig Keener, comment on Mark 3:29 in NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (p. 9099). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
