Whoever who does the Will of the Father: They are Jesus’ Brother, Sister and Mother

We find here that Jesus is seeking the will of His Father. He is going about His Father’s business. There are many people who want to do the will of God, and they seek to do it. Some, who are the spiritual type, talk about the will of God as some mystical thing—something that is far fetched so that they run in circles wondering if they will ever find it. You hear them saying, “I would love to know the will of God, but I cannot find it.” Or else they are telling you to seek the will of God, and if you would ask them what it is, they would say, “You can find it.”

There are other people who say that the will of God is having good sense—to do what you can with all your might. They do not seem to see how God could use them supernaturally because they are so willing to do the natural things. But these people do not please God either.

We read here in these verses, that these people are returning from Jerusalem after having kept the Passover. If we would have been with these people that day as they were returning from the feast, if we would have noticed their faces, we would see some with contented faces, satisfied that they had fulfilled the requirements of the law, satisfied that they had taken their children to the feast, satisfied that they had done all that the law demanded. What more could they have done?

When the rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked, “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”, Jesus said, “…Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.”

And he said, “All these have I kept from my youth up.”

Jesus said unto him, “Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor.” He was satisfied to do certain things, but he was not willing to do the main thing that would give him eternal life.

There are many people who are just satisfied with what they are doing—satisfied to come or go, satisfied to serve God in a measure, satisfied to give part of their money, to give their tithes, and there is a certain measure of contentment and peace in their hearts. And if you would say to them, “Why don’t you seek the will of God?”, they would say, “What more is expected of me? I am washed in the blood. I am saved. I do not see what else is required of me.”

We see Mary with this crowd of people returning from the feast, and now she is returning home to her matter of fact life where Jesus is under her care, and He must obey her. She is satisfied to go back now, to return home and let things go on as usual. This one to whom the angel had spoken before His birth and had said, “Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins,” His very name should have reminded her of this. But Mary had gotten in the humdrum of life. It was not that she was waiting for miracles to happen, but she was going home, possibly satisfied, because she had done all she could do.

We find Jesus was waiting around. Something in Him was being woven—His Father’s will. Even as it came in Jesus, thread by thread, and if it had not, he would never have had such ending to His life. Each time a thread was revealed to Him He would say, “I am satisfied to do my Father’s will.”

Here He was, just a youth. Possibly a nice looking boy because later we read that he grew in stature, and wisdom, and he grew in favor with God and with man. People noticed He probably was brighter than other children. But here we find Him not willing to go home in the humdrum of everyday life, but He had a glimpse of what His Father wanted Him to do. So He was talking to the doctors and lawyers, and they marvelled at His answers.

In the meantime, His mother discovered that Jesus was missing. She sent word down the line, “Have you seen Jesus? Is He with the crowd?”

The answer would come back, “No we have not seen him. We haven’t noticed Him for about a day.” So she sought Joseph, and they decided to go back. As they went back and found Him, the word says, Mary was amazed at the way He was talking. You would not have thought that she would have been amazed, but you would have thought she would be thinking, “Maybe some of the will of God will be done in my son now.”

She knew what Simeon had said when He was born, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel.” She should have remembered that Anna had said that He would bring redemption to His people.

But we find her saying, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” In other words, “Why haven’t you had more consideration for your father and myself? You could have told us you were staying. This seems rather thoughtless of you.” And it did to the flesh. It seemed He had given them no consideration. He was just a stripling of a youth, twelve years of age, and it would seem unnatural for Him to forget about her. She said, “Didn’t you know your father and I would be worried about you?”

He answered, “How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” In other words, “Why are you so surprised? You should have understood long ago that I must be about my Father’s business. Mary said, “Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing,” but Jesus said, “I must be about my Father’s business.” He quickly turned her attention away from His natural father, but turned her eyes to something more. To the fact that He was not born to be her child alone, to follow her and obey her all of His life, but that He must be about His Father’s business.

At that moment, it was revealed to her and to those around her, “That is why He came, to do the will of His Father.” She saw He was not going to be turned away from it.

He returned with them, and was subject unto them for it was not His time yet. He was only twelve years old, and everything had to be fulfilled that was to be fulfilled. I do not believe this was the first time something like this happened, nor do I believe it was the last. When he was born, and the shepherds and wise men came to worship Him, the Word tells us, “Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”

When He returned with them to Nazareth from the feast, the Word says, “But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.” I believe the Word gives us this glimpse of Jesus as a youth to show us that in His heart there was something that would be turned in a different direction entirely. His heart would be turned away from the natural things. There was something different about this child, praise God! I thank God there was, because He was not born just to be a child, but He was born to be the Son of God. He was to die for the sins of the world.

They did not understand it all, and as time went on and different things would happen, Mary would catch a glimpse of the eternal things. I believe, at those times, the will of God was beginning to be woven in her, and I believe she was beginning to come in subjection to the Father’s will. When it was first revealed to her that she was to be the mother of this child, she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word.” While it seemed a long time she got to the place where she could understand fully, yet I believe the will of God was being woven in her life, even as it was being woven in Jesus’s life.

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” He did not only grow in parts, with just a big head and nothing else, but He grew proportionally. God was anxious that He grow to be a man. He did not want Him to be a boy all of His life, but He wanted Him to grow in the flesh and while He was growing in the flesh, He was growing in wisdom, and in favor with His Father and with man. His Father could always look down and smile, and say, “Another thread of the plan is being woven in my Son’s life.”

Jesus had the willingness at any time to do the Father’s will. He was willing to be obedient, submissive, humble. Even when He prayed in the garden, “Father, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” In other words, “Let your business come first. That is what I am here for, and I must see to it.” We do not have any more pictures of Jesus’s boyhood life, but it is wonderful we have this one so we can see how He was set to do the Father’s business.

Now we come to another picture. Matthew 12:46-50: “While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

“But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

This seems a little more sad to me. It seems more sad to me because Mary had gotten into such a practical place. Jesus has not grown up. He is out preaching, crowds are gathering around Him, He is casting out unclean spirits, healing the sick, forgiving sins. He is calling His disciples—the people are all around Him.

In one sense, He has become popular. Everyone is talking about Him, and Mary and his brethren decide to go down to see Jesus. As they come near, they find they cannot get near Him. The people are everywhere, thronging around Him—He was talking to them. And as His mother came, she probably was saying to herself, “He knows I am here. He will come to talk with me. Everything will be all right. The words are at last coming true. Maybe He will soon become king.”

I do not believe Mary was a proud person, although she had a right to be, for the child that had been given to her. As she sees this crowd around Him, she probably said to one of His brothers, “Go through the crowd, and tell Him His mother is here.” And they stood and waited to speak to Him.

Then someone said to Jesus, “Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.”

But he answered and said unto him that told him, “Who is my mother? And who are my brethren?”

I can seem to see His mother sort of shrink away and say, “Oh, He doesn’t know me anymore? He doesn’t care for me.” And she waits to see what He will say again.

“And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” He had forgotten the flesh.

Paul said, “If I knew God after the flesh, I do not know Him that way anymore.” So Jesus was the same. Jesus forgot His mother in the flesh.

“Oh, isn’t that awful?” you say. Ah, but though she was a wonderful woman, He didn’t come to satisfy His mother. He didn’t come to gratify His mother, but He came to do the Father’s will.

So He pointed to the disciples and said, “Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

I am glad He didn’t stop there, because I would have to stop here. He pointed to His disciples and said, “Behold my mother and my brethren,” but He didn’t stop—He added “whosoever.” Not only His disciples, but whosoever will do His Father’s will.

Would you like to be Jesus’s mother? When you do His will, you will be. Would you like to be His brother? Do His will, and you will be. Would you like to be His sister? Do His will, and you will be. Ah, how sad when we think how the Catholics give so much reverence to the mother of Jesus, but if you do the will of God, you are His mother.

Those disciples meant more to Him than His natural relations. And it is true with us. You, who are saved, mean more to me than my natural mother and sisters. That is what Jesus meant when He pointed to His disciples. His natural brothers probably said to Him, “If you want to be so smart, why don’t you go up to the temple, and make a show of yourself?” But it was not time yet.

The disciples said, “Tell us what that certain parable means so we can preach it and tell others. Jesus, explain to us just what your Father wants us to do.” My, didn’t that mean much to Jesus?

And so will we mean much to Him, and be close to Him, doing the business of the Father. It isn’t in saying, “Jesus is coming soon.” It isn’t in saying, “He has done so much for me.” Those things have a part, but if we want to get closer it means, “My God, let me know your will.”

Again, I believe Mary searched her heart, and she said, “That is right. He is doing right.” At twelve years of age, He said things, and Mary kept them in her heart. This time, I believe she was hurt in the flesh, and as she came away from that crowd, I believe she yielded to the Father, and moved on another step towards His will. As we yield to the Father, we will move on, but each time we want our own way, we hinder the will of God. Let Him tear away the flesh, then something will be woven in.

We have another picture, which is the saddest of all. John 19:25-26: “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!”

This last scene we have causes our hearts to be rent with pain. They have led Him to Golgotha, the place of a skull. He is being crucified, Pilate has written over Him, “Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews.” They have stripped Him of his raiment, the seamless robe they cast lots for, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. Mary’s heart is wrung with pain as she looks upon this scene.

What would you do if you were in such a place? Suppose your child, who was a good person, had done everything right, was taken out by a mob of people and mocked at, scoffed at, nailed to the cross, and spat upon? Your heart would cry out in pity for it all.

Jesus was in the hands of sinners. She could not even give Him water when He cried out, “I thirst.” She couldn’t go and push back His hair and help Him. He was dying, and soon He would be gone into eternity. He looked down. Some were there who came to hiss, some to ridicule, but Mary was there, and her heart was going out to Him filled with love. It was something to have Him there, and it was something for Jesus to look down and see His mother there.

A sword was going through her heart, as she saw the soldier pierce Jesus’ side. She would have rather had it go through her own. She would have rather cried out and said, “Put it through my own heart, but let Him live.” I know Mary would have thrown herself in the gap to save her son, for He was in a hopeless condition. Naturally speaking, He could not come down because He was dying for you and for me.

John 19:26-27: “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” These were Jesus’ dying words, and dying words are valuable.

You hear people who have had some loved one to die say, “Oh he said so and so right before he died.” Or, “She whispered this to me when she was dying.” Dying words are valuable. You know with each tick of the clock that loved one is nearer to eternity, and you would listen to see what they said at the last moment.

John had come close. Mary had come close. She wanted to hear His parting words. Soon He would be gone, soon His breath would be gone, it was getting shorter and shorter, the blood was dripping down his side into the ground. He looked down, but He was not thinking of Himself. He was not thinking how He was going to get by, but He was thinking of those who loved Him. Verse 26: then He looked at John and said verse 27, the woman who was going to do the will of God. Their relations were different now.

Mary was probably thinking, “If I could only have Him back. I wish somehow God would let Him come back.”

But Jesus was saying, “There is a son for you. Go home with him.”

John was probably thinking, “If He would only come down, and tell these Jews that He is the Messiah, and that He doesn’t have to stay on the cross.”

But no, He said to John, “There is your mother, take her home with you.” The will of God was that Jesus should die for the sins of the world, that John should take Mary home with him, and that Mary should go home with John. There is no rebellion in Mary’s heart. She went with John, and I believe as she turned away, another thread of the will of God was woven within her heart.

Then we read, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst… When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.”

What was finished? His Father’s business. What was His Father’s business? Doing the will of God.

Tonight you might think, “I do not know the will of God for my life, so I will let it drift on.” But Jesus at 12 years of age was anxious about it. He knew He could not die at that age, yet He started and set His face as flint towards the cross. He knew He came to do the Father’s will. When He, crying out and praying—He knew the time was soon upon Him to depart from this world. He thought, “Shall I cry out to the Father to save me from this hour?” No, for He had come for this hour. His whole life led up to this hour. He said, “Father, glorify thy name.”

And the voice spoke from Heaven, “I have both glorified it, and I will glorify it.” Jesus was praying for the Father’s will. He was praying that the work might be finished, and Jesus did the will of His Father.

Mary went home with John. She did not get her son back. She could not take Him off the cross, but she had John, and she had the will of God. I do not find Mary resentful, but I find her resigned to the will of God. She was going home with John, her heart broken, but the will of God working in her. Wasn’t that wonderful? “Wonderful,” you say. You say it seemed too unloving. It didn’t seem like He loved His mother. He did, but He loved His Father better. And if we love God, we will love people better. Though the flesh may say we are thoughtless (if we will not rebel), God will weave in us the thread after thread of His plan, and we will be able to do His will.

Maybe you have had someone taken from you. You might say, “I am praying for so and so to return.” But you must be resigned to the will of God in the matter. It is all a question of whether or not you rebel. God will give you back your son if it is His will. “Will He give me back what I want?” you ask. He might if it is His will, but He did not give Mary’s son back to her. Praise God, the will of God must be done.

Mary did not get her son, but she did get a son. And she got the will of God. Maybe you will not get what you want, but you will get God’s will. Your flesh will crave for what you want, but if you will only give in, God will give you something back—not what your flesh wants, but the will of God. Isn’t that best after all? You hold on to what you want tightly, and have it pried out of your hands, but it will do you no good if God wants it. All you will have in your hand in the end will be ashes.

But if you will say, “Not my will Lord, I want you to have your way with me.”

Then God will say, “All right, I will give you something back in its place,” and what you get will be God’s will. For your puny little bit, you will have His great all.
It isn’t mystical. It seems it is, because it is supernatural, but He will work it out in your life. His way leads to eternal life, but our way leads to eternal destruction.

Some people think it is so straight and irksome, and you hear them say, “I cannot do this now.” But to us who want His will, it is God’s word, and the standard is high, and I would rather have it that way. If it ends with but a few, it is better than 10,000 who rebel at the way. One person doing the will of God is better than a million who want their own way.

Tonight you can be among that number who are wanting God’s will.

Mary went quietly home after the death of Jesus with her son John. Jesus went to be with His Father, and His will was accomplished in His Son’s life. When He gave up His breath, He said it was finished.

We can be in that place too, if we want His will. I believe in our dying moments, we will be able to say “It is finished.”

C.T. Studd’s last word that he wrote was “Hallelujah,” and the last word he spoke was, “Hallelujah.” I believe the will of God was done in his life.

I do not believe anything short of it will please God. I do not believe it should say, “She failed. Yes, the poor thing died of heart trouble.”

I believe it is God’s will that we will be able to say, “I have finished my course, I have fought the fight, I have kept the faith.” I believe Mary went home broken-hearted in one sense of the word, but glad that her son had died in victory.

His last words were, “It is finished.” I believe those words satisfied her heart, showing her that the will of God had been accomplished in His life, and those words that He would save His people from their sins were fulfilled.

Where do we stand tonight? Do we want the will of God or do we want our flesh?
Tonight there will be a choice for you to make. Something will say to you, “Just go on as you are.”

Or God will say, “Let me tear that thing away from you.”

You will turn from it, or you will say, “Yes, Lord, I will give in.” These coming days will be deciding days for victory. If you give in to your flesh, you will never be able to say “Hallelujah” when dying.

By the grace of God we want to die in victory. The predestination of the flesh is we must die if the Lord tarries. Wouldn’t it be better to die in God’s will than to die from an attack from the enemy? You say, you wouldn’t go to the foreign lands, you might get killed. Well, you must die anyhow, so why not die with a bullet than just staying at home and dying with some ailment? I would rather die in God’s will than stay at home, and let the flesh have its way. It takes the fright out of you to venture for God. It takes away that fear.

If you are serving God, you won’t die before your time. That mob could not kill Jesus before God’s time. He was crucified in God’s will. Which shall it be for you? Will you die in His will, or will you allow the enemy to snuff out your life? You can die tonight, spiritually speaking, to the flesh, but as you die, you will become alive in the Spirit. Praise the Lord! Let us ask God to have His way that we might become more alive to the will of God and die out more to the flesh. Amen.