A New Kind of Family

Everybody Greg Laurie here. You're listening to the Greg Laurie podcast and my objective is to deliver hopefully compelling practical insights and faith culture and current events.

From a biblical perspective to find a more about our ministry. Just go to our website harvest.org so thanks for joining me for this podcast. Everybody welcome back the harvested home were back in our series, and the gospel of Mark which are calling the gospel for busy people and the title of my message is a new kind of family from Mark chapter 3, but let's pray together. Now, Lord, we ask you to speak to our hearts as we open your word, you called us to be a part of your forever family and what a privilege that is help us to understand what that means.

So we commit this time a Bible study to you now in Jesus name, Amen.

Again, the title of my message is a new kind of family. Family we all have a family of some kind. Some families are big and loud. Some families are small and quiet.

Pretty much every family is. I would say generally dysfunctional. If your families a bit weird. Welcome to the club we all have strange uncles and weird cousins. Did it ever occur to you that you're the weird cousin or your the strange uncle in your family. You probably are. Every family unit has its form of dysfunction I came from a dysfunctional family. Knowing the head of a dysfunctional family. It was comedian George Burns once said and I quote happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close knit family in another city." So you can probably relate to that. Just what Jesus had a family to get a mother name Mary and a father named God top that Jesus also had brothers and sisters in Jesus had a childhood a mysterious childhood, no doubt.

After all, there's never been a man who was ever walked the earth. That was fully God and fully man. He was non-a man becoming God, that's impossible. He was God who became a man, God came near, Jesus was God with skin on Jesus was God walking among us, God had a face in here in the gospel of Mark we see him beginning his public ministry.

You know the ministry of Christ lasted around 3 1/2 years but did he live 30 years before that 33 years total so what was he doing for the first 30 years of his life.

Why didn't you have a 15 year ministry.

Why only basically three year ministry answer, because Jesus was out living our life. He was breathing our air. He was experiencing our pressures he was facing our temptations and ultimately he would die are death.

I know it's hard for us to wrap her mind around the fact that God became an embryo that God came among us as a helpless little baby born in a manger that need to be cared for and nurtured and nursed, like any other little baby that's exactly what happened or what we call the nativity when he was in that major he cried like any other baby and he grew up like any other child saw like he was in the manger with you will be ability to speak hello, Mary, Joseph, on Jesus.

I'm here to mention the he was just a little baby that grew up like any other baby, and group physically and grew in every other way of back links 252 says he grew in height and wisdom and was loved by God and by all who knew him, so he had the privilege is a deity that he laid aside as he walked among us as a man, he never ceased to be God, but he walked among us as a human being. He never sinned once. Not only did he never sin, but he never even had a thought out of harmony with the will of his father in heaven.

Jesus said I always do the things that please him who could say that, but Christ himself. He always did the things that please the father and I would think he was the model child. I mean, if Joseph asked Jesus to go do some work in the carpenter shop. I doubt he would get a complaint of Mary asked Jesus to clear the table. I'm sure he did it cheerfully.

I'm confident that when they went down to the synagogue to worship Jesus totally engaged. I know he loved to hear the word of God.

I know that he was the perfect child. In fact, we know that his siblings were probably challenged by that. Can you imagine a Mary saying to the brothers and sisters of Jesus kids.

Why can't you be more like your older brother Jesus.

They might say mommy is like perfect, actually. While he was indeed perfect. He was the perfect son one now he's beginning his public ministry is recorded in the Gospel of Mark and remembered Mark is a gospel of action, the word immediately is used over and over again. Jesus is on the move. Jesus is healing people. Jesus is delivering people from demonic possession. Jesus is forgiving sin city has been confirmed by his father at the baptism when the father says of Jesus. This is my beloved son, and who I am well pleased when the Holy Spirit comes upon Jesus in the form of a dove so question how does the biological family of Jesus respond to all of this. How does Mary respond. How do the other siblings respond. That brings us to our text Mark chapter 3 verse 22 verse 21.

One time Jesus entered a house in the crowds we get together again soon.

He and his disciples couldn't even find time to eat what his family heard was what was happening.

They tried to take him away, saying these out of his mind wait, what he's doing all these miracles, he's busy doing the work of the father and his family shows up and they wanted to come back home because they say he's out. She is mine. This brings us to point number one.

The hardest people to reach with the gospel are those were closest to you. The hardest people to reach with the gospel.

Are your parents or your children or your husband or your wife or your brothers or your sisters know this is especially true in the hometown of Jesus, will we read that he could do no mighty works there because of unbelief and Jesus himself said a prophet is not without honor except in his own country.

So PP should with your family. You may think because I'm a preacher that all of my family believed immediately. The fact of the matter is, is my mom was not responsive to me when I first came to Christ. No, I have to admit I probably was a bit on the overkill side night hitter with both barrels of my gospel gun telling her she needed to repent of her sins, but it took not just years it took decades from my mother to come around. I believe in Jesus Christ and in fact she did not really come to believe in him until the end of her life and the same was true of her husband Bill who I tried to reach with the gospel. I didn't really reach him until the very end of his life.

So again the hardest people to reach are those in your family, let me say a word to you if you're married to a nonbeliever, especially if you're a woman and maybe you came to Christ and your husband is not come to Christ yet and you're saying how do I reach him preach a sermon to them every day I put little gospel tracts in the sandwiches and when he has lunch will I did to them and that'll reach a no actually what you need to do is probably not give them any more sermons you need to just live it.

First Peter chapter 3 talks about the way to reach a nonbelieving person is not by your words but by living the word is one translation puts it this side and preaching of a lovely wife, so there comes a point where they don't need more sermons and need to see it demonstrated but now as our story progresses, we see the family of Jesus showing up again.

Now I'm not sure what happened to bring this event about but they let him know that they were there and maybe they wanted special attention or a better seat in the house server.

Whatever it was, but working to Jesus, your family are here to visit with you and we read in Mark chapter 3 verse 31 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 brothers are outside asking for you. Listen to this response of Christ, who is my mother who are my brothers.

Then he looked at those who are around him and he said this is my mother.

This these are my brothers and sisters.

In fact, anyone who does the will of my father is my brother and sister and mother, Eunice, the point number two we become Christians were placed in a new family. Jesus could have elevated his mother.

At that point, or even his siblings what he think hey who is my mother who wore my brothers and sisters. Those that do the will of God reminding us that when you become a Christian, you become a part of a new family now that doesn't mean you're not still part of your biological family. But sometimes the bond between Christians can be closer than what we call the blood bond we say that were related by blood.

But what would become followers of Jesus are we not also related by blood. The blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross for all of our sins, bringing me to point number three. Jesus now establishes his new family of disciples or begin a real list of the men that are used to change the world. Some are familiar names.

Others, not as familiar. But as we look at these people we see they had such diverse personalities.

We see these people because we recognize in their probably like relatives.

We already have an eclectic bunch, no doubt about it, but these are the ones that Jesus called recently I watched an old movie from my childhood. It was called the dirty dozen ever see that movie starring Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson and others is a story of this military guy that goes to a prison and recruits a bunch of guys, some headed for death and others who would spend the rest of their lives in prison and he recruited some for a special mission, so they were called the dirty dozen.

I'm not suggesting that the 12 apostles were the dirty dozen, but I am suggesting they were very ordinary individual. We might call them questionable hires, but each one was hand selected by Jesus, and they could not be more different from one another.

We read about them in Mark chapter 3 verse 16.

Now he appointed Simon to whom he gave the name Peter, James, a son of Zebedee and his brother John, to them he gave the name Blodgett in this which means Sons of thunder.

There was Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas James said about this. Yes, Simon. The solid and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed them so right at the top of the list of very familiar name. Simon Peter, apart from Jesus himself. No other name is mentioned in the New Testament more than Simon Peter.

He was a central figure of Jesus three years of ministry and also for the first three years of the early church and Jesus spent more time with Peter than anybody else. Another thing I would point out no other person speaks as often or as is spoken to as often as Simon Peter. I might also add no other disciple is reproved and corrected as often as Simon Peter one seat with distinguished Peter from others as he would just say what he was thinking. You know how you up inside thoughts and outside thoughts and you veto a lot of things you think about don't see them.

Peter seem to just blurt out whatever he was thinking.

You always knew you where you stood with a big fisherman. I think he always meant well. He just didn't think things through. So if we were to compare this to our family reunion. Peter, sort of like your lovable loud uncle who will hold court you know after the meal, telling great stories and entertaining everybody that was Peter very out spoken, and on one occasion he made this amazing statement to Jesus. He said in Matthew 1927 the Christ Lord we left everything to follow you. What then will there be there for us the words you say Lord we given up everything to follow you one scented for semi-one thing to just blurt out that was Peter. He thought, it's only thought.

I'm just going to say where the most familiar statements of Peter speaking is that when Jesus was transfigured, he took Peter, James and John with him, and by the way, we often think the reason that he took those individuals with them is because they were the more elite apostles.

After all, he took Peter, James and John with him in the garden of Gethsemane. It should, Peter, James and John with him when he went to raise the daughter of gyrus at each of Peter, James and John with him to the moment of transfiguration. I have a different theory. I think the reason you may have taken them with them more often than the others, is because he wanted to keep his eye on them when I was in school I was always disrupting class in more than one occasion the teacher would say Greg Lori I want you to pull your desk up right next to mine so I can keep an eye on you.

Maybe that's why Jesus Peter James and John close dirty and will anyway hear Peter James and John.

They fall asleep and they wake up in one of the see picture this.

Here's Jesus Christ shining like the sun on one side of Kim is Moses on the other side of Kim is Elijah and they're having a conversation now this is what we would call a holy moment.

This is one of those times are you say nothing. You just take it in.

You just observe it, but Peter thought it would be a good moment to say a few words. So, he says out loud, it's good we are here. Let's build three tents, one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah and one of the gospel tells us this he said because he did not know what to say hey here's a thought, when you don't know what to say don't say anything. There's an old proverb it's not a biblical one, but it has some truth in it which basically says when you don't know what to say don't say anything because it's better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and dispel all doubt. Will Peter blurted that out. You almost wonder if Moses turned to Jesus and said who was that guy see with you. It's Simon Peter. He gets a little excited.

You know it's good we are here Peter blurts out on another occasion Jesus revealed the Peter. The fact that he was going to be martyred for his faith.

Peter immediately pivots over to John and says what about this man. In the words of Joni Barnard I'm a tremble excited about that. What about Kim and Jesus gives an amazing response. He says if I choose to keep him alive until I returned. What is that to you.

As for you, follow me my speaking to somebody right now that is just wondered why their life is gone the way it's gone.

Maybe you've looked at somebody else's life and you've said, Lord, why why are they being blessed more than I've been blessed to why did this tragedy will follow me. Why are these things happening in. Here's a responsive price to you. What is that to you. You just follow me. Listen Peter was not only inquisitive. He had initiative one occasion Jesus said who do men say that I am. And Peter says while they say a lot of things without you.

Why think you are Jesus and okay go ahead, he says, I think you're the crisis.

Some of the living God and Jesus says flesh and blood did not reveal that you Peter, but my father who is in heaven. And then he says your name is Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church not appear in court. But on the statement that Peter made your the Christ the son of the living God, the church is not built on the foundation of Simon Peter got helpless up to this, the church is built on Christ himself.

The chief cornerstone.

But Peter got a right and then Jesus went on to talk about the fact that he was going to be betrayed in crucified him. Peter begins to rebuke and Jesus right to his face and rebuke them think that far from you, Lord, and in Jesus said get behind me Satan, for you do not understand the things of God. So I want again Peter was being led by the father what he said and on the other hand the devil God in the details and he made that statement discouraging Christ from going to the crucifixion flawed character. Yes, according to church tradition.

Peter did die the death of a martyr and according to church tradition, Peter was crucified upside down, but he was faithful to the end Osher. He denied the Lord, but he was there with Jesus in the last hours of his earthly ministry, along with the apostle John, and though he had his lapse in this setback. He also had his mega come back when Jesus recommissioned him again. Yet he was part of God's family. Then we have Andrew, the brother of Peter.

They couldn't be any more different if Peter was like her a lot uncle at the family reunion. Andrews like the quiet cousin. While Peter's talking Andrews clearing the table and working behind the scene. The packet was actually Andrew who brought his brother Peter to Jesus in John 141 we read the first thing Andrew did every realize that Jesus was the Messiah.

Was he brought his brother Peter and he said to him, we found the Messiah and he brought Kim to Jesus that's with Andrew was always doing bringing people to Jesus and wanted great thing to be known for bringing people to Jesus.

Remember the story of the feeding of the 5000 and the people were hungry and they didn't know what to do and Andrew Whitten found the little boy was some loaves and fishes any broad human to Jesus and you know we give a lot of attention to the Simon peters of the world, but we must not forget the fact that there are also the Andrews remember if there were no Andrews.

There would be no Simon peters people that work faithfully and quietly behind the scene so we got Peter allowed one we've got. Andrew acquired one and now we have James and John, the fiery wants it peters like your loud uncle Lynn Andrews required cousin.

These are the brothers who were always arguing. You know there at the family reunion. They turn everything into do a bit to a big debate to get very upset about things is that the tenant people that when they post on social media. It's all in caps right there always fired up about something and that is a good description of James and John there described as the Sons of thunder for good reason that fiery temperaments one occasion the disciples went into a village of Samaria and the people were not responsive. They were not hospitable. So James and John come to Jesus and he said, Lord, shall we call fire down from heaven on these people like Elijah did.

Jesus is like what call fire down from heaven, and then he had to remind him what his mission was. He says guys you don't know what kind of spiritual or of the Son of Man did not come to destroy people. He came to save them so you think guys, I didn't come to toast people. I came to forgive people to pee. Simon give me a break, but these guys were were very full of fire and passion and sigh and so they were upset that people were not responsive to what Jesus had to say. They can also be very insensitive because Jesus talked about his impending crucifixion with them. On one occasion and that he says the Son of Man is going to be betrayed and he is going to be condemned to death and they will flog him and kill him and three days later arise again. I mean imagine hearing Jesus say that that's heavy stuff you would just sit in stunned silence, you would know what to say will not. The Sons of thunder.

They had plenty to say because then they blurt out well. We were wondering if you would do would ever we want you to do what way.

What Jesus just got done saying that he is going to die and they say interesting. What can you do for us so that would be like some of the Savior. Why just found out I'm very sick and I'm dying and I only have a few weeks to live. And then you respond yes so we need to do with that car you just vodka, but I have it so the content conversation continues on, we want you to do whatever we ask you to do so. Jesus is okay, I'll bite. What you want me to do. We would like to sit on your right and left hand in glory. Well, they should be thankful.

Jesus did not answer that prayer because what happened shortly after this, Jesus went and was crucified and who was on his right and left hand to criminals who were crucified next to him.

See if you would have answered their prayer they would have been the ones on the crosses on each side of Jesus. So thank God for unanswered prayers right so we got the loud one Simon Peter.

We got the quiet one, Andrew. We've got the fired up ones.

James and John, the Sons of thunder.

Now we have the skeptical one another courses. Thomas when you're at a family reunion you know everybody seizing the certainties things a certain way and Thomases like that the relative also. I see a completely differently than the rest of you, that's just his nature. He was a guy who thought for himself. Of course we remember Thomas because he did miss the resurrected Christ. After Jesus was crucified, he rose again. Then he appeared to the disciples in the upper room and they told Thomas a man you should've been there last night just to shut up Yahoo, sets Jesus. He appeared to us all right yeah Thomases I'll believe that when I could put my hand in the Prince of the nails and put my finger into his side will the next time they got together for a meeting. Thomas was there. And guess who shows up Jesus will Thomas seen the risen Christ is said by Lord and my God and he believed on the spot to be: doubting Thomas. I don't think he was a daughter.

I think he was a skeptic and he wanted what everybody else had he wanted to see and know for himself and by the way, you don't have to live out somebody else's faith. It's okay for you to say the Lord make yourself real to me. Help me with my doubts help me with my questions.

I certainly did that when I was a brand-new believer. I was filled with skepticism and I said to Jesus if you're real, you're getting up your mate make yourself known to me because I have a hard time believing some of these things for myself and you know what he did and he does and he'll do the same for you. Yeah Thomas a B didn't understand something would talk about it out loud.

One occasion in John chapter 14, Jesus it on my father's all start many mansions there were not so I would've told you.

I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you want to myself and where you go, you know, in the way you know I think all the disciples were probably not even in unison in agreement. Yeah XD that is really true and it's solid.

Sue says on choosing hundred of the raises and I requested yes Thomas we'll know where you're going and we don't know the way I like that he was honest and what is Jesus say he doesn't rebuke him. He says I am the way the truth and the life no man comes of the father, but by me. Listen. Skepticism is not assigned that a person is wrong and may be a sign that he is thinking you may have children who are pushing back on the way you raise them in your Christian home, they have their own questions. Hey mom, how can I know the Bible is the word of God. Hey dad, I'm grappling with this question. Your they get older we done we bill their kids know the thinking for themselves are like Thomas to help them work through those things and help them develop their own faith.

I wish I had time to go to all the others that are on our list, but there's one last name that I want to end with, and that would be Judas Iscariot. So Peter's like your loud uncle Andrew is the working behind-the-scenes guide James and John are always fired up about something Thomases the skeptical one whose Judas. He's not the evil guy.

You may think you know when we see movies about Jesus or a religious art depicting the disciples.

You can always figure out who Judas is because he looks so treacherous is always hiding over in the shadows. All the other disciples were wearing white robes.

He's got a black robe, a black leather robe with a collar turned up wearing sunglasses right now, really, but you get the idea. All that students that is not the way Judas appear. He appeared as the most virtuous of a lot. Judas is sort of like yourself righteous relative was always moralizing judging and putting others down. And one day you find out he is the biggest hypocrite of the mall Judas is the literal definition of a hypocrite that I don't think we even know what the word hypocrite means we throw it around a lot.

We say someone who claims to be a Christian and slips out. That's hypocrisy that's on hypocrisy that humanity, everyone of us as followers of Jesus best we make mistakes we say the wrong thing we do the wrong thing. Hopefully we own it and admitted that's not a hypocrite, a hypocrite, literally defined as an actor at the performer. It's a person who is pretending to be something they are not.

That was Judas. He appeared to be the most virtuous guy a ball when in reality he was the most wicked. Here's a perfect example of the disciples were gathered together for a meal and we read how Mary began to wipe the feet of Jesus with some very expensive perfume and the fragrance filled the air. So this perfume that she wiped his feet with because she was given an insight in the fact that Christ was going to go suffer and die on the cross she wanted to do something extravagant, something next level. Something to demonstrate to Jesus how much she loved him so this is probably a family heirloom worth thousands and thousands of dollars so she's in knowing seen the feet of Jesus with this beautiful fragrant perfume and Judah says our perfume is worth a small fortune. It could have been sold and the money given to the poor. The other disciples probably nodded in unison said you know that's that's true, Judas and Marilyn know that was the good stewardship.waste our perfume and the feet of Jesus but them were given this little detail in the Gospel of John and John 12 six Judah said that not because he cared for the poor. He said it because he was a thief and he was in charge of the disciples funds and he took some for his own use, while so at the moment. He appeared to be the most virtuous, he was actually the most wicked and it's his greed for money that destroyed the life of Judas Iscariot. Let's not forget he sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and how did he betray Christ with a handshake with a pat on the back, although you know the answer. He betrayed him with a kiss. He told the religious rulers, the one that I kiss.

He's the one you're looking for. So there in the garden of Gethsemane.

Here's Jesus and Judas approaches him and kisses him in the original language it's implied he kissed them over and over again, not just the peck on the cheek he kissed them. I go I love you so much Jesus but he was just identifying Christ so he could be arrested. He was the worst kind of hypocrite out there, but you want to know something amazing he could have been forgiven. Jesus knew Judas would betray him. Jesus knew Judas would abandon him, but Jesus offered to Judas an opportunity to repent.

When the disciples gathered together in the upper room for what would become Last Supper, we read that Jesus wash the disciples feet. Now that doesn't make a lot of sense to us.

But back in these days when you would go visit a person's house. The servant in the home would wash your feet. So Jesus was taking the role of a servant. He watched their feet and he came to the feet of Judas Iscariot wants him up.

I was Jesus. I would not watch the feet of Judas. I would've broken the feet of Judas, but the Lord even washed his feet and then he identified Judas as the betrayer and then he said to do this. Whatever you do, go and do it quickly, and we read that Satan filled the heart of Judas, so he was not some helpless pond know he made a deliberate decision to betray Jesus. But even there in the garden of Gethsemane as Judas approach we read Jesus said to them, friend, why have you come if Judas had repented of his sin. Jesus would've forgiven him. Even there, but he was never part of God's family. He could have been, but he was a wicked man. Listen we can all be a part of God's family is a how do you do that well you're born into the family of God. All you're saying you have to be raised in a Christian home, no, not at all you need to be born again in the family of God.

Jesus said you must be born again.

So when you turn from your sin in US God to forgive you. You become a part of God's family Bible says, for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons of God, so you can be in this incredible family of God.

No matter what you've done. Maybe relate to one of the people I've talked about in this message may be like Simon Peter and you walk with the Lord.

For a time but you messed up and you failed, and you sinned, and in the case of Peter. He denied three times that he knew Jesus but he was forgiven. Or maybe you're like Thomas you believe but you had your down so or your like some of the others who have had setbacks but Jesus loved every one of these men he loved every one of these women that followed him and he loves you. And if you're part of his family. He wants to maintain fellowship with you. You know when were sinning against God. We don't break off the relationship.

We break off fellowship you're still in the family, you're just not communicating and it's because we've broken communication down by our sin, but the Bible says a bull confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us arson and cleanse us from all unrighteousness and communication can be restored. Maybe I'm talking to somebody right now the wants to join God's family somebody right now the maybe doesn't have a family to speak up now. I mentioned that till we all of the family had a pretty dysfunctional family growing up. My mother was married and divorced seven times and was a raging alcoholic. I never had a father I had a very unstable upbringing but when I became a Christian I join God's family, and suddenly I found brothers and sisters. I did not know that I had that work fellow believers in Jesus Christ and God can do the same for you last a weekend for Harvest at Home. Someone watch the service and they wrote me this little note and I'm reading it now. She says I just want your message on harvest and it brought me tears of joy.

I needed to hear what you said you answered all of my questions and it brought me so much peace because I pray that prayer and I'm looking forward to heaven when that day comes, thank you for sharing that today. Praise Jesus.

She says when I prayed that prayer what prayer the same prayer that I'm a lead you in right now, our prayer will you will say to God you're sorry for your sin and you want Christ to come into your life and you want to become a part of God's family.

If you don't know right now that your sin is forgiven. If you don't know was certainly right now that you go to heaven when you die if you're not sure if you're in the family of God. You can join our family right here right now. Wherever you are in a Legion with a simple prayer I mentioned multiple times that Jesus went to the cross and died for arson. Three days later he rose again from the dead and now he stands at the door of your life in the Knox and he says if you hear his voice and open the door he will come in so listen if you want Jesus Christ to come of your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to join God's forever family or if you failed and you want to recommit your life to the Lord lead you in a simple prayer for Christ comes to live inside of you. If you want Christ to come in your life and you want him to forgive you of your sin, pray this prayer after me up that you could print out loud right now if you like. Just pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. Now I put my faith in you and I choose to follow you from this moment forward in Jesus name I pray, amen. Everybody Greg Laurie here. Thanks for listening to our podcast and the learn more about harvest ministries. Please subscribe and consider supporting this show.

Just go to harvest.org and by the way, if you want to find out how to come into a personal relationship with God. Go to know God.org that's key NOW GLD.org