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Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.” Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

-Mark 3: 31-35

In the context of a King speaking to an inner group the meaning of this paragraph is astounding, truly astonishing. In the context of reading something inviting us to become wise, helping us grow in wisdom, it is something that should shake our worlds.

These are the words of the king, we are not being told about any old family here, we are getting to know about some dynamics of God's family. This is a member of the trinity saying this. Jesus was saying that allegiance to him, shown by making his priorities our priorities, leads to us being included as part of his crew. This inclusion is not slipping in at the bottom level but we are included as part of the royal family.

Take v34&35 in as a description of your reality, a statement about your position in this creation. When you give your allegiance to King Jesus you become part of his royal family. We are being invited to meditate on this and become wise. Making wise decisions about your life will become easier if you think often about this truth.

Let us remind ourselves that there's opposition out there but the victory Jesus won on the cross means that everything that needed to be done so that we can have victory over all that would oppress us has already been done.

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Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.

-Mark 3: 13-14

The four gospels aim to make us wise by helping us get up close to the life of Jesus and seeing how he lived his life. The gospels invite us to imagine ourselves into the stories that the characters in the story were faced with. Jesus’ actions as King during the time he was walking around on earth are intended as a template for us.

So when Jesus came preaching about God and putting right the evils of this present age, healing diseases and oppression, the bible fits this into the context of God coming to act as the ruling king. God was beginning a promised transformation of this earth. The phrases ‘the kingdom of God ‘ and ‘son of God’ have very similar connotations, the active working of God as King of the world in real time.

Jesus’ action as king involves others. Those who were being blessed by the transformation which had begun and they were being drawn in by this movement of God as king. There was a level of allegiance involved. But Jesus calls people closer, “Come be more involved with the work of the king.”

When we see our calling in the context of a King reclaiming a lost kingdom we can see what our response should be. If the true king of this world is coming to act within this world the correct response is our allegiance, our loyalty. If Jesus is the Son of God the promised King then my actions and purposes need to be aligned to the actions and purposes of the King. Not just for a moment but a set daily allegiance to the King.

If we see our relationship with Jesus in terms of being loyal subjects of the true King of the cosmos we can also realise that all aspects of our existence from the minutiae of life to the grand narrative of humanity can all come together as a coherent whole with Jesus.

Our calling comes from a king who knows who you are and knows your strengths and weaknesses. We can choose to become more wise by meditating on the fact that God has chosen us. We here are called to be TVC to be part of King Jesus’ ongoing transformation of Woolwich, of London, of this world.

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Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. - Mark 3:4-5

This amazing story of an unusual miracle service, bringing hope and healing to a man with a ‘withered’ hand says so much about Jesus the radical and courageous rabbi. His miracle ministry to the hurting and broken, acceptance of those rejected and evident relationship with the Father was truly remarkable and groundbreaking. Yet in other respects He was also orthodox, engaging fully in the Hebrew Scriptures, synagogue services, annual feasts and customs of the Jewish people.

His love and compassion for the hurting and courage to heal despite extreme opposition reveals a man on a mission. Jesus knew His calling, ‘to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives..’

At the same time this story in Mark’s Gospel also says much about the people who were opposing Him, the Pharisees.

Although they occupied a place of prominent spiritual leadership, the ministry of Jesus revealed a darker, more sinister side to the motivations of envy and jealousy that fuelled these religious leaders. Their thoughts and actions were of course extreme and seem distant to us, yet we can ask questions that may help us avoid missing Jesus and His works in our own time and context.

What is fuelling my spiritual journey?

Is it a love for God? Fear? A desire for acceptance or approval? Routine?

How can I make sure I don’t make the mistake of missing seeing Jesus at work?

How can I demonstrate the courage that Jesus did, reaching out to bring healing to others despite opposition and criticism?