Utumishi Blog

Up until the era of smartphones and portable cameras people used to hang family photos on their walls at home. Now we sadly hang them on social media. But I guess that serves the purpose albeit temporarily. But a number of people still keep this tradition. Looking at their walls you get an idea of who belongs to their family. You have mum and dad in the middle and the children all around them. It is such a beautiful site, especially with big families. But imagine going into God’s home. You sit on the sofa and look all around the photos on the wall. Who do you expect to see there? The Catholics among us might have Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. The Protestants might remove Mary and Joseph and add our favourite apostles and powerful ministers. Hebrews 11 puts a lot more saints in the picture. But the question to consider is would you be in the picture? Would you naturally consider yourself good enough to be in God’s family photo?

This question is telling in many ways. First, it exposes our theology. Second, it brings in the question of our assurance of salvation and finally, it puts our identity into question. In other words, this will tell you if you are a Christian or Muslim? If your faith is based on Christ or good works. And if you are confident about your eternal future. It’s that important. But how are we to know if we would be in that photo? Is it merely because we would like to? Or is it because we go to church and pay our dues? What about those days we are feeling low? When we have missed church and let Jesus down at work? How can we know for sure that God considers us family? How can we be part of God’s true family? The answer is simple because Jesus confirms it and the Bible records it.

Jesus speaking to the disciples says something that I think should blow our minds away. He says all those who follow and listen to him are his true family. We read towards the end of Mark chapter three, that his earthly family were looking for him because they suspected he might have been losing it. He was preaching all day long and didn’t even have time to eat. People were always around him and demons were screaming his name from every corner. In addition to this, he was making the claim to be the Christ, the son of God. Just imagine your brother saying he’s God. What’s your reaction? You might think he’s a good guy most days but obviously losing it. So they come ready to cease and lock him away. He’s a bit of an embarrassment to the good family name. But amidst all this comes the opportune moment for Jesus to declare who God’s true people are. Mark records these beautiful words:

33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!
35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3.

Jesus says those who listen and follow him have not merely joined a club. He considers them family. He’s by effect saying he, and he alone brings people into God’s family. This means that if Jesus brings you in you have full rights to go up into the family photo. Actually, you have the right to enter every room in the house without seeking permission. Heaven becomes your home. Just pause for a moment and think about the implications of this. It means if you believe in Jesus then heaven is your legitimate home. If you died today you can be sure where you’d be going, home. Why? Because God considers you family on the merits of Jesus. Do you want to know why you can have full assurance of salvation? Well, because God considers you family. This then means our greatest identity is not based on some title of Apostle, Bishop, Missionary or whatever title you might have. In the end, the greatest title is to be a son or daughter in the kingdom of God. The greatest of all privileges is that God has you in his family photo. All because of Jesus.

But Jesus is also making the case that those outside of him are not in his heavenly family. Those who don’t believe and listen to his words are not in. In other words, even Mary needed to come in through Jesus. She was not an exception. She may have brought Jesus to earth but she needed Jesus to join his heavenly family. The only way to join God’s family wasn’t being related to him by blood but by faith. Luckily we know she did believe in Jesus together with at least two of her sons James and Jude. And so when we put up a family photo for God we should have not only Mary and baby Jesus but also Jude, Kamau, Li, Achieng, Sophia, Abdul, Jackson, Anya, Xavier… and all who believe in Jesus. They all join the family because of Jesus and there is no other way. But you need to ask yourself, if Mary needed to believe in Jesus to be in his family then on what ground will you be saved? If there was no exception for that “first family” then there are no other grounds to go to God’s home other than through Jesus. Only he can bring you in.

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