His, Your, My

Pronouns that replace a noun play an essential role in every language. For a classic comedy on interrogative pronouns – who, what, where, etc. – see Abbott & Costello’s “Who’s on First” routine (script: https://mpregional.org/documents/2015/1/Whos_on_First.pdf; video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTcRRaXV-fg).

Luke recorded a scene with a similar emphasis on pronouns.

One day, “his mother and his brothers came to him but couldn’t approach him because of the crowd. It was reported to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to see you.’ He replied, ‘My mother and my brothers are here – those who hear God’s word and do it.’” (Luke 9:19–21)

His, your, my. These pronouns were repeated twice – with the mother and the brothers – although grammar didn’t require it. They were repeated for emphasis like our mothers calling us with all given names (plus some) when we’ve done something wrong and they want our attention.

Perhaps Jesus’s mother and brothers felt a special privilege; he was her son and their brother. They should have been able to approach him at any time, and he should give them priority. He should have asked the crowd to disperse or stand aside and give them time and attention. But he ignored them.

Thinking perhaps he didn’t know they were waiting outside, they sent messengers saying, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to see you.” A good son and a loyal brother would have rushed outside to see them, hug them, and spend time with them. Once again, Jesus ignored them.

Worse still, he denied them as his mother and brothers. He said, “My mother and my brothers are here – those who hear God’s word and do them.” Mary would have heard a similar response from Jesus nearly 18 years earlier. While he stayed back at the temple and didn’t return with the parents to their home at age 12, she asked why he worried them like that. His response,

“Why did you seek me? Don’t you know I must be about my Father’s businesses?” (3:49)

(I used the plural businesses because Jesus did, and I avoided “house” because Jesus didn’t say it.) From age 12, the Lord Jesus was concerned about his heavenly Father’s businesses. He had removed himself from being concerned about his family businesses, including caring for his mother and brothers.

In that culture, that would have been abominable. Jesus was Mary’s firstborn. Even if she had other sons (as stepsons from Joseph’s previous marriage or as sons through Joseph after Jesus was born), Jesus had the primary responsibility to care for her. He neglected that and gave a reason that would have pierced her heart:

“My mother and my brothers are here – those who hear God’s word and do it.”

We have families – parents, siblings, cousins, nephews, grandparents, etc. We may love them. But Jesus set an example of love that supersedes familial love – our love for fellow Christians. Yes, we must love our biological family members. But our love for Christians must excel that love. Fellow Christians are our true parents, siblings, and children.