When Jesus Redefines Family
Sunday Worship Service: JuLY 5, 2026
When Jesus Redefines Family
Rev. Joshua Kang
46 While he wasstill speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
THERE MAY BE NO WORD THAT CARRIES MORE EMOTION THAN THIS WORD: FAMILY
Triune God: Triune God reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Spirit. We relate to God as the Father of all creation and our Heavenly Father. We understand father and fatherhood from God.
Creation: God created man in His own image and gave the role & responsibility of fathers/fatherhood.
Humanity: The very first categorized group among humanity is the family. God established the family.
Christ: Jesus redeems the family and establishes a new spiritual family.
Epistles: Metaphor frequently used to describe Christians and the church is family (brothers and sisters).
Revelation: God’s promise that “I will be his God and he will be my son” (21:7); Church as the Bride of the Lamb (21:9)
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WORLD...
*FROM J. HELLERMAN’S “WHEN CHURCH WAS A FAMILY”
THE GROUP TOOK PRIORITY OVER THE INDIVIDUAL.
A PERSON’S MOST IMPORTANT GROUP WAS HIS BLOOD FAMILY.
THE CLOSEST FAMILY BOND WAS NOT THE BOND OF MARRIAGE. IT WAS THE BOND BETWEEN SIBLINGS.
a. This meant the central value that characterized ancient family relations was the obligation to demonstrate undying loyalty toward one’s blood brothers and sisters.
b. This meant the most treacherous act of human disloyalty was not disloyalty to one’s spouse. It was the betrayal of one’s brother.
JESUS CONFRONTS OUR ASSUMPTIONS ON FAMILY
Q: WHAT IS MY VIEW/DEFINITION OF FAMILY?
1) “Blood is thicker than water.”
2) Family always comes first.
3) Success means giving your family everything.
4) My family defines who I am.
5) My family’s wellbeing defines who I am.
…BUT DOES JESUS AGREE?
JESUS ESTABLISHES A NEW FAMILY
BUT BY WHAT AUTHORITY CAN HE DO THIS?!
THE GOSPEL.
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. (v.50)
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12)
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh. In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:2-5)
JESUS REVEALS WHAT MAKES SOMEONE FAMILY
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:7-9)
JESUS INVITES US INTO A BIGGER FAMILY
HOW DOES JESUS’S RULE AND REIGN OVER FAMILY APPLY TO US?
Redefinition of family
Reorder of family of God
Resolution as Jesus’s family
“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (12:50)
