"You are really cool you are married to an European!! How cooler can you be??"
Fisherman Pecheur
"Smarty Pants"
Mad Matt
"Oh, you did not ask for Bonhoeffer's opinion did you? You wanted mine..."
the SOFYST
"You are like the master at this "feelings" stuff!
Kind Kristi
"I enjoy your comments, but they are always delightfully enigmatic"
Dyspraxic Fundamentalist
47Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 12 (KJV)
offered by Kc | 10/03/2005 07:33:00 PM
17 Comments:
Yep, left 'em with their jaws hangin', just like when he answered the question, "Who is my neighbor?"
A modern day Samaritan parable: A pastor is stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire. One by one, Christian after Christian pass by him on their way to a Purpose-Driven Chili Cook-Off event. Finally, some queer pulls over and chats up the pastor while he calls AAA on his cell phone.
What, did you think the gay guy was going to get his hands dirty changing a tire?
Zeke I think the docrines of jaw-hangology are the easiest to understand and the hardest to accept. ;-)
Matt I tend to avoid theological issues that might cause division such as the patriarchal concept that a right of ownership is bestowed upon a husband, but as a matter of fact now that you mention it...YES That’s my Corry! ;-)
I hope to use a lot of her work in the future. This is one of the few drawings she’s done that didn’t have a scriptural origin. Most of her drawing is inspired from her study of scripture and she references the verses on the drawing.
Matt, the use of the word "queer" was not meant as an insult. It was to increase the contrast between this pastor's nominal neighbors the Christians, who did nothing, and those Christians' nemesis, the queer guy.
If you want to know where I stand, see http://onefortruth.blogspot.com/2005/09/zeke-adulterer-on-grace-for-gays.html
That was not a very nice response from Jesus.
My wife's Italian family (esp. her father, the pastor) go nuts when I bring up this passage in the suggestion that my relationships with other believers compete with(or even supercede) my blood relations:
"That's not what that means!"
"Then what does it mean?"
... (silence)
... (visible vein in forehead)
"Well, it doesn't mean that!"
Now I just bring it up for fun just as I'm walking out of the room, (like I read in a cookbook, "stir, and let simmer.")
Is that wrong? ;-)
Dorsey if you have to ask then you know it’s just plain WRONG! (But still funny given the circumstance hehe This also supports my perception that people never know whether to slap you or hug you). Of course the hope we all have is that our family is part of THE family.
Who's in the family? I'll tell you I did not pick 'em. God had to.=)
Hugs and slaps, I kinda like 'em both (oooh naughty!).
There's just no winning with me.
Send help.
Good thing for Dorsey eh Pech? hahaha
Why was this not a "nice" response from Jesus?
Do we know the tone of His voice when he made these statements?
I believe our Lord was telling those around Him that not only are those outside wanting to speak with Him are His mother and brother but all those who do His Fathers will are to.
Jesus did not reject Mary and His brother, He was telling all those around Him that He was God and all those who do His will are "in the family" also.
Amen Pastor. THE Blood is thicker than water!
It was not nice because they come to Him and tell Him that His mom and brothers are waiting on Him and He basically says that they are not His family, these (whom He is with) are His family.
How would you like it if you went to visit your brother or your son and he tells you that you are not his family, he has a new family?
It is also not a very nice statement given that His 'mothership' or 'brotherhood' is all dependent upon whether or not they obey Him.
Jesus is the only one who can say you can be my friend, but you have to do EVERYTHING I tell you to do.
We would normally be aghast and call such a display selfishness and rudeness. If I was to tell you that you could be my friend BUT ONLY if you washed my car and fed my dog...you would be looking for a new friend.
But Jesus says you can be my friend if you obey me...not very nice.
Adam,
Read the passage again. He does not say that Mary is not His mother. He simply asked the question, who is my mother and brothers. I used to read it the same way you read it, but I finally saw that He was making a point that He was not just their son & brother in the flesh but that He was the Son of man and whoever done the will of His Father were to.
Yes, that is a good interpretation fo the passage. You said you use to read it as I do now, please tell, what made you change?
I understand why your interpretation COULD work, but I would like to know why my interpretation DOES NOT.
I think that Jesus had to be pointing out that even intimate relations as Mary and Christ's half-brothers had to believe in Jesus for their Savior just as we do. Jesus was going to die on the cross for their sins too, not just for ours. Faith relations are eternal and stronger than blood. You can disinherit those related by blood to you, not so with a brother/sister in the Lord. Their eternal inheritance comes from the Lord.
Yes, Sof, it is a hard saying. Jesus had many that were, but the point He was making was so very important. Where does salvation come from? It's not something that can be earned by our work, it's not something that can we can buy, it's not something we're born into. Salvation comes from Jesus Christ, a free gift to those whom He chose from the beginning of time. We all have to believe in Him, as did Mary and His brothers. Our obedience to Him is a result of that faith and something that He helps us to do. The saying is hard when we rely on ourselves for understanding, for faith, for obedience. It shows us that none of faith, salvation, and the hope we have is of ourselves. That's hard for us as sinners to accept, but so beautiful when we do.
Adam,
To answer your questions fully it would take several pages and would be better answered in a person to person conversation, but that is not possible at this time. So I will try to summarize an answer on my blog. Thank you again KC for allowing me to use your space here. I am not savy enough in posting links like under the word "my blog" so I will just post my blog address.http://okie-dokies.blogspot.com/
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