A New Family

Because of Christ, our family expands. We have new brothers, sisters, sons and daughters.
Thanks be to God! (Family vacation in Italy - 2000) 

Scripture

Matthew 28:⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Observation

The women were at the tomb, shocked by the discovery that the stone had been rolled away. Recognizing Jesus, they begin to worship him. They are the very first to see the risen Lord, while the disciples are off at a distance. Interestingly, he tells them to go to Galilee — to go home — and tell the brothers that they will see him there. 

Earlier in Matthew Jesus had called his disciples his “brother, and sister, and mother” (12:49-50), as a way of indicating that their relationships were changing, both with Jesus and also to each other. What Jesus was saying through these sisters was that even though the brothers had forsaken him, they remain family. Through his death and resurrection Jesus made complete adoption possible and now, his plan is for restoration for those who feel that they have failed. 

Application

These are trying days for many families as the quarantine has put people together in ways that some have not previously experienced. Children can’t go to school. Parents can’t go to work (or are working from their bedrooms and dining room tables). Even if we wanted to get away from one another, we can’t. Some people are having to relearn what it means to be together as family, and what it even means to be a family. While that may be difficult, it can also be very good. 

Learning to be a family means that there has to be give and take. No one person gets to have their own way all of the time. Little by little we learn to share space, and television, and the food (including the quarantine stash of peanut butter!). At the same time, family sometimes means that you hurt one another’s feelings, and have moments of disappointment. Family means that we don’t give up on one another but that we intentionally try to work things out, and figure out how to get along. 

Jesus invites us into his new family. This is one of restored relationships that are filled with love and healing. You are worthy to be called sister and brother, even if you have failed. None of us can earn our way into the family. We are accepted into the family because we belong by virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection. 

During this quarantine season, you are invited to come home and be with family. Jesus is waiting. 

Prayer

Lord, I know far too many who have left home and weren’t sure if they would ever return to the family. In this time of insecurity, may they know that they are always welcome to come home. I know that you are waiting — may the rest of us be waiting with open arms as well. Amen.