365 Days in the Gospels and Spirit of Prophecy
March 17
Bible discovery
Matthew 12:46-50 365DGSP 77.1
46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 365DGSP 77.2
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 365DGSP 77.3
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 365DGSP 77.4
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 365DGSP 77.5
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. 365DGSP 77.6
31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. 365DGSP 77.8
32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. 365DGSP 77.9
33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 365DGSP 77.10
34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 365DGSP 77.11
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. 365DGSP 77.12
19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 365DGSP 77.14
20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 365DGSP 77.15
21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. 365DGSP 77.16
Spirit of Prophecy Reading
The Desire of Ages pp.325-327: 365DGSP 77.17
While Jesus was still teaching the people, His disciples brought the message that His mother and His brothers were without, and desired to see Him. He knew what was in their hearts, and “He answered and said unto him that told Him, Who is My mother? and who are My brethren? And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.” 365DGSP 77.18
All who would receive Christ by faith were united to Him by a tie closer than that of human kinship. They would become one with Him, as He was one with the Father. As a believer and doer of His words, His mother was more nearly and savingly related to Him than through her natural relationship. His brothers would receive no benefit from their connection with Him unless they accepted Him as their personal Saviour. 365DGSP 77.19
What a support Christ would have found in His earthly relatives if they had believed in Him as one from heaven, and had co-operated with Him in doing the work of God! Their unbelief cast a shadow over the earthly life of Jesus. It was a part of the bitterness of that cup of woe which He drained for us. 365DGSP 77.20
Those who are called to suffer for Christ's sake, who have to endure misapprehension and distrust, even in their own home, may find comfort in the thought that Jesus has endured the same. He is moved with compassion for them. He bids them find companionship in Him, and relief where He found it, in communion with the Father. 365DGSP 77.21
Those who accept Christ as their personal Saviour are not left as orphans, to bear the trials of life alone. He receives them as members of the heavenly family; He bids them call His Father their Father. They are His “little ones,” dear to the heart of God, bound to Him by the most tender and abiding ties. He has toward them an exceeding tenderness, as far surpassing what our father or mother has felt toward us in our helplessness as the divine is above the human. 365DGSP 77.22
Of Christ's relation to His people, there is a beautiful illustration in the laws given to Israel. When through poverty a Hebrew had been forced to part with his patrimony, and to sell himself as a bondservant, the duty of redeeming him and his inheritance fell to the one who was nearest of kin. See Leviticus 25:25, 47-49; Ruth 2:20. So the work of redeeming us and our inheritance, lost through sin, fell upon Him who is “near of kin” unto us. It was to redeem us that He became our kinsman. Closer than father, mother, brother, friend, or lover is the Lord our Saviour. “Fear not,” He says, “for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.” “Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.” Isaiah 43:1, 4. 365DGSP 77.23
Christ loves the heavenly beings that surround His throne; but what shall account for the great love wherewith He has loved us? We cannot understand it, but we can know it true in our own experience. And if we do hold the relation of kinship to Him, with what tenderness should we regard those who are brethren and sisters of our Lord! Should we not be quick to recognize the claims of our divine relationship? Adopted into the family of God, should we not honor our Father and our kindred? 365DGSP 77.24