Jesus and Family
Reprobate sinners (Rom 1:18–32; 9:22), in their hatred for God (Jn 7:7; Rom 1:30), redefine terms expressed in the Bible. Biblical themes such as male, female, marriage, and family are under demonic assault in our day. No matter how twisted the wicked may become, Christians remain committed to the book God has given to us (The Bible).
The Spirit of God and the Word of God help pilgrims heading for Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22). The Spirit directs the Christian walk (Gal 5:16, 25), by illumining the truth of God’s revealed guidebook. The Christian life is not a solo journey. We sojourn together with our family on the narrow way (Mt 7:13–14).
It is the fact that God has adopted us (the predestined elect) that permits us to refer to Him as “Father” (Eph 1:4–5; Rom 8:15, 23; 1 Jn 3:1). We also learn about our Father from His only begotten Son (Mt 11:27; Lk 10:22; Jn 14:8–9), our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our “brother.” Right relationships are understood from the Persons of the Trinity, who have dwelt together in eternal community with their respective roles in the relationship. Here is perfect family, perfect community, to which the chosen have been incorporated by adoption and the new birth.
The failure of family relationships is in view from humanity’s banishment by God from the Garden of Eden (Gen 3). Cain and Abel, like their parents, were at odds because of sin that entered the world (Gen 4). Man has been playing king of the mountain ever since the fall into sin (Gen 3:5). Every labor and every skill are pursued for some advantage in man’s rivalry with his or her neighbor (Eccl 4:4). This is one reason Jesus taught His disciples that the greatest among them would be the servant of all (Mt 23:11).
Serving others is a sacrifice that requires and reinforces humility (Phil 2:5–11). Pride has been called the mother of all sins. Pride and humility are antithetical, even as the flesh and the Spirit war with one another in the soul of the believer (Rom 8:1–25). The family is a microcosm of the larger community. Some have pointed to the family being a smaller version of the local church. It is to be a bastion of humility because there is abundant love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
Roles in the family are taught in the Bible, and where families deviate from the biblical model, there is trouble looming. In fact, one only needs to survey the families found in the biblical narrative to learn of the deficient functioning, especially when roles are distorted from the model. We are sinners in a sinful world, hence, the problem. Still, Christians are saints being conformed to the image of the Perfect Son (Rom 8:29).
When husbands do not love their wives and serve them accordingly, then wives become malcontents. In search of the proverbial “greener pasture,” wives will usurp the role and function of the husband, by leaving the home for other gainful employment. Respect for one’s husband will abate, even to the point of her search for a different husband.
The destruction of marriage and family is the devil’s work. Monogamous, heterosexual marriage for life is God’s design, for the purpose of illustrating the right relationship between Jesus Christ and His betrothed bride-to-be, His church (Eph 5:21–33). God the Father has arranged this marriage, and His Son, who is faithful and true, has come into the world to secure His beloved (Mt 1:21; Jn 3:16; Eph 5:25; Rev 3:14; 19:11). Jesus has given His bride the token of His love, by giving her His Spirit as a pledge of His eternal love for her (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5).
In the perfect demonstration of sacrificial love, Jesus laid down His own life for those given to Him by the Father (Jn 6:37; 10:11, 15; 17:2, 6, 24), who knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19), by virtue of His choosing each one, in love, before the foundation of the world (Rom 11:5; 1 Pet 2:9; Rev 13:8; 17:8; 21:27). Jesus, in love, gave Himself for His beloved church, the Israel of God (Gal 6:16), His body of people from the whole world and from every generation (Is 49:1–6; Mt 16:18; Rom 5:8; Eph 5:25; Rev 5:9; 7:9). The Spirit of Christ, in love, is now bringing God’s chosen, adopted, children to glory (Rom 8:30). Those having been regenerated are being prepared for resurrection life and for the mansions of glory being prepared by the resurrected and ascended Christ, as their eternal home (Eccl 12:5; Jn 14:2–3; Heb 2:10; Rev 21–22).
The struggles of Christian men — to be godly men, husbands, and fathers — is real. This challenge is a product of the curse from the fall (Gen 3). The struggles of Christian women — to be nurturing caregivers at home — for their husband and children — is equally real. Few Christians live content with what they have…without fear (Rom 14:23; Phil 4:11; 1 Tim 6:8; Heb 13:5).
Fear invites the temptation of idols, who subtly allure and then deceive because they are imposters (2 Cor 11:14; Rev 9:20). Temptation comes from diverse sources, but its singular objective is to lure people into sin, down the wide path that leads to destruction (Mt 7:13–14). Temptation serves up a steady diet of distraction and deceit. A person, product, or service is promoted in a sensual marketing campaign that promises satisfaction. Rebellion has its rewards! One must only survey the state of the world on any given day, to realize the extent of dissatisfaction.
In truth, there is only one satisfaction in this world (Jn 14:6). It is Jesus Christ, alone, who satisfies. Therefore, the Christian is taught by God’s Word to keep his or her eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2), to resist the devil (Jas 4:7), to set his or her mind on things of the Spirit (Rom 8:5–6), on things above (Col 3:2). Above is where Christ is seated in glorious majesty as our all-in-all (Acts 10:36; Eph 2:6). Everything else is a cheap imitation making unwarranted claims.
Husbands and wives must be faithful to point one another to Christ Jesus by thoughts, words, and actions. They must remind one another and teach their children that God has given them a brief time here; and this present suffering is not to be compared to the glory to be revealed to those being disciplined by the Father (Heb 12:4–11; Jas 4:14), through the Spirit’s sanctification (Rom 15:16; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2), employing the Bible (Jn 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16; Heb 4:12; 1 Pet 1:2).
Deviation from the biblical model must be corrected through repentance. Turning the wayward life back to God is ever encouraged by faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word (Mt 3:2; 4:17; Mk 1:15). Intra-family communication is vital to this daily repentance back to the narrow way, which is vital for the faithful Christian witness of one generation to pass to the next (Dt 6:7; 11:19; Prv 22:6).
The means of grace are to be embraced in the home, even as they should be in the local church community. Grace abounds for those who diligently seek the Lord (Heb 11:6). Every display of godliness enriches an environment of holiness (1 Pet 1:15–16). Every spiritual act done before the Lord demonstrates a soul’s or souls’ submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Mt 11:30), when the grace of His Spirit is abounding (Rom 5:15, 20; 2 Cor 4:15; 9:8).
Are you and your family walking in humility before God? Are you in subjection to the disciplines of the Spirit of God our Father, who clearly loves us, intending the best for His adopted children, who will soon be presented to Him, holy and blameless by Christ Jesus (Eph 1:4; 5:27; Col 1:22), the church’s loving and committed husband? We are family, and it should appear to others that there is something different about us. Jesus is that difference. He is why we do what we do…and He is the One doing it, by His Spirit…in love.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
May 25, 2022
