Who is Christ’s Family? (Matthew 12:46-13:9)

Christ’s immediate family desires to see him so they come to the house where Christ is teaching.  Christ does not seem all that receptive to their arrival, but rather launches into a teaching about the family of God.  Why does Christ delay in inviting them to come into the house?  Why does Christ then go on to speak about the parable of the sower?

The Christian Household (Colossians 3:18-4:1)

The Apostle Paul exhorts children to obey their parents for this is pleasing to the Lord.  It is not a surprise to us that Paul would exhort children to obey their parents, but what does this imply about their status in the church?  Why is the context of their exhortation so significant? Why is it important that this exhortation seems to echo the Old Testament?  What could this imply about children being in covenant with the Lord?

Christ’s Family (Mark 3:7-35)

We can understand why people who were genetically tied to Abraham may be tempted to think that they had a better place or a guarantee of Yahweh’s love.  They have a genetic tie to the Lord giving them special privilege or so we think.  What about the immediate family of Christ?  They are those who witnessed the birth and maturing of Christ.  They really have a right to determine His treatment.  So, why is their intervention for Christ so wrong and so encouraging at the same time?