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9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped 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.”

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

 

Jesus tells the women to “Go tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee”. He refers to those who have followed him as his brothers and sisters. This is not the only time Jesus refers to those around him in such familial fashion. In Matthew 12:49-50, we hear Jesus explain is outlook on his companions in this way: ““Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

 

To be frank, I have struggled with this aspect of my relationship with Jesus. It is much more comfortable to know Jesus as teacher, Savior, Redeemer, Shepherd, and Lord. These define my outlook on Christ in ways that nurture my soul and give me peace. Brother seems too informal of a relationship for the one to which I owe my freedom and life. I mean, he is Jesus after all.

 

But as I read this, I realize how important my church family is too me; those I frequently call my brothers and sisters in Christ. These are the people from whom I get hugs at church. These are the people I work alongside all day with joy in my heart at Lab. These are the youth I instruct and laugh with weekly. The ones who bring me peace when the world seems full of anything but said peace. Maybe, I need to see Jesus like that. Through him and him alone, the people I call my brothers and sister have been changed into the people I desperately need in my life. By Christ’s life and death alone have I been transformed into someone who is part of this family I treasure.

 

So maybe it is time I get comfortable with viewing Jesus as that sibling who is first amongst many in God’s family

 

God, thank you for your Son, my Redeemer, Savior, Shepherd, rabbi, and brother. Amen

 

Chad Ryberg Cryberg@livinglord.org

 

Prayer Concern: Kindness for those in need.