What is the one thing that makes Christianity different from every other religion?

In a word: Relationship.

We have a relationship with the Living God through Christ Jesus our Lord.

What is the one thing making Christians look like everyone else in this world?

In a convicting word: LACK of Relationship.

Any look at Jesus’ incarnate life will reveal relationships of authentic love. It is this same authentic love christians have lost in our marriages, families, friendships, churches and distracted contact with unbelievers and believers alike for whom we sacrifice no time and show little of Christ’s love.

Look at the timeline of the incarnate life of Jesus and you will see varied relationships: all perfect, all demonstrating love in the context of each precious moment for those receptive to God’s love.

Jesus was NOT distracted from His relationships of love by the day-to-day distractions of life around Him.

• He had compassion for the crowds.
• He showed love for His Disciples (along with much patience).
• He showed love and respect for His earthly parents.
• He showed kindness to strangers.
• He loved and even praised His enemies.
• He served those He loved with deep humility.

• He was not distracted ever from His relationship with God our Father and the relationship of prayer to seek God’s will first.

• Jesus would NOT be distracted from the relationships of love. 

Mark 3

English Standard Version (ESV)

13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.

20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him.32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!

35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

We know that Jesus began His earthly ministry when He was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit for forty days. We know that Mary, mother of Jesus, knows the truth that as a virgin Jesus was conceived in her womb by God!

We know that after His resurrection that his brother, James, becomes leader of the church at Jerusalem, writes a letter to the church instructing us how to live our faith, and is eventually martyred for his faith in Jesus, the Christ promised by God.

What has Jesus done here in fulfilling His teaching and healing ministries in this snapshot of a day in time? He has shown that He will not be distracted by even family who would stand in the way of God’s purposes.

Throughout His journeys through Galilee, Judea, Samaria and other places, towns and hillsides; Jesus took time to reach out to individuals.

Jesus touched individual souls with His relationship of love.

Have you ever considered that when Jesus said:  “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother;” that He has included YOU?

Christ Jesus established the church. He has just confirmed His church family(first disciples, then including others).

Christ Jesus has established the close loving relationships of family between ALL who will do ‘the will of God.’

How many times did Jesus have to take one or all of the Disciples aside and keep them from being distracted by other things than the will of God?

Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Mark 10:13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking…

Peter, James and John, the three Disciples who witnessed first hand Jesus’ transfiguration, as well as Moses and Elijah, ALL had to be rebuked by Jesus.

Don’t be distracted by what the world would do.

Pray to God our Father.

May His will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.

Just ask.

How are we doing in the love of our relationships, church?

Are we distracted?

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you,

you also are to love one another.

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”