When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” John 19:26-27a
At the Cross, before His imminent death, Jesus took the time to entrust His mother to John and John to His mother. Jesus did not sacrifice His family for ‘ministry’. His family is His ‘ministry’ too (1 Timothy 5:8). The ministry of being a responsible member of one’s family is that the biological family and church family merges. Both categories of families expand, neither contracts or diminish. Mary gained a son. John gained a mother.
Jesus not only connects people, He also restores relationships and also enlarges the concept of family. He enlarges not by dissolution of either category but by joining them together.
Prayer:Our Father, Your Son teaches us that relationships are critical in our lives with You. We may forsake our families to follow You but we continue to love and to take care of them hoping and believing that You are enlarging our families by bringing them into Your family.