Was Jesus Disrespectful to Mary?

Pastor Doug: All right, with that, we're going to get back to the phones talking next to David. What line are you on? You're on line 6. David, you're on the air with Bible Answers Live.

David: Hi, Doug, can you hear me?

Pastor Doug: Yes, loud and clear. You got to turn the radio down in the background or you’re going to get-

David: I don't have a radio. Hang on.

Pastor Doug: Okay, you get some feedback.

David: Can you hear me?

Pastor Doug: I do. I hear you and your question?

David: Okay. I'm confused about something here. I've been studying the book of Luke here. In Luke 8:19-21, it says, "Then his mother and brothers came to him and could approach him because of the crowd. And was told by Him by or it was told Him by some who said, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside desiring to see you.” But He answered and said it out, "My mother and brothers are these who share my Word of God and do it."” I'm confused here because this can-- to me it sounds like He's really upset with His mom. I know a couple of places He was-- He scolded His brothers and sisters, His father or sister, or His family and He really rebuked them.

Pastor Doug: Well a couple of things happen. In John 2 at the wedding feast, His mother’s saying, "Jesus, they're out of wine, can you do something?" And He said, "Woman it's not quite my time." But then He does a miracle and He multiplies or He turns water to wine. Then you can read at the cross, one of the last acts of Jesus life was to submit the care of His mother to the Apostle John to make sure someone would be there to watch over her. Because Mary at this point is-- she must be close to 50 and Jesus is 33, if she was 17 when He was born. That's older for a woman back in Bible times, they had a higher mortality then.

He puts the care of His mother in John's hands and says, "Woman, behold your son." And Jesus is evidently nodding towards John and He says, "Son, behold your mother." It says, “From that point on John took Mary into his home and cared for her.” Jesus was not disowning His mother, He loved His mother. When she came to Him with the brethren and said, "Look we're out here, we need to talk to you." Jesus was saying basically, "Look, the priority is God's work. I am not going to drop everything because my family says we need to have a family intervention because the crowds are getting too big." He says, "No, my family’s is ones who hear the Word of God and do it." Now. Mary did hear the Word of God and do it.

Then you’ve got even when He was 12-years-old, similar message. His parents lose track of Him while they visit in in Jerusalem. Jesus is pre-occupied in asking -- in answering questions in the temples with the Rabbis and elders. Then Mary and Joseph say, "Why did you not stay with us? We've been searching for you sorrowing." He said, "Did you not know I'd be about my father's business?" Christ several times during His life told His mother, His father, His brethren, "My primary mission is not just to be a family member but to build a family of God."

I can understand that when you first read it you say, "Well, that sounds like it’s almost a little disrespectful. What's He doing there?" But He was just letting His family know that His primary mission was to teach the truth. I appreciate your question, David. By the way, we do have a website, it talks about Mary the mother of Jesus. We got an article, a video, and a book. It's called Mary truth, marytruth.com. You'll find more there.